60 Years of Ecological Sciences at Edinburgh

The School of GeoSciences has marked 60 years of Ecological Sciences teaching at the University of Edinburgh with a weekend of celebrations bringing together alumni, students, former staff and current colleagues from across six decades of the programme.

Attendees of the 60 Years of Ecological Sciences event pose for a group photo outside the Noreen and Kenneth Murray Library. — Group photo from the Symposium taken during the celebratory weekend (credit Boyd Wild).

The celebrations on 23 and 24 May reflected the enduring impact of the UK’s first ecological sciences degree programmes, established in 1966 and continuing today as Ecological and Environmental Sciences within the School of GeoSciences.

More than 1,850 graduates have studied through the programmes over the past 60 years, going on to careers spanning research, conservation, environmental management, policy, sustainability and international development.

A celebratory symposium held at the Nucleus Building on King’s Buildings campus explored the history and future of the programme through talks from former staff, and current students and staff. There was a strong sense of community throughout the celebrations, with alumni sharing stories, experiences and reflections on how the programmes have shaped their careers and providing advice for those in the early stages of their careers.

I’m immensely proud that the School of GeoSciences hosts the pioneering ecological sciences degree programmes, the first to be established in the UK, in which our students are taught critical thinking, fieldwork and data analysis from active researchers in the ecological and environmental sciences.

The weekend also included field trips showcasing ecological research and restoration work in and around Edinburgh, alongside opportunities for alumni to reconnect with each other and with the next generation of ecological scientists.

Students sitting on grass conducting field work. — Image taken during a field trip to the University’s Forest and Peatland Programme site at Drumbrae (credit Kate Heal).

The University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Sir Peter Mathieson, opened the anniversary events and highlighted the continuing importance of ecological sciences in addressing global challenges.

I was delighted to open the events celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Ecological Sciences degree programmes at the University of Edinburgh and was deeply impressed by the evident commitment to the subject of our staff, students and alumni. It is particularly gratifying to know that so many of our students go on to help address the ecological and human challenges we face in Scotland and beyond.

Since its launch in 1966, the programmes have evolved alongside the rapidly changing environmental challenges facing society, while maintaining a strong emphasis on field-based learning, critical thinking and research-led teaching.

Today, students engage with topics ranging from biodiversity loss and climate change to sustainable resource management and ecosystem restoration. Dissertation projects undertaken by current students span subjects as diverse as elephant ecology in the African savannah to the development of sustainable seaweed-based plastics.

The combination of ecology and environmental science in the EES programme remains to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of the programme, and the combination of subjects illustrate how interdisciplinary our course is. Because of our cohort size and the field trips we go on, I have developed strong relationships with my coursemates and had the opportunity to learn about their specific niches, which makes our course so unique. Imagine having an aspiring marine biologist and a soil scientist on the same course!

The programmes also continue to contribute to major University initiatives linked to sustainability and environmental research, including the Edinburgh Earth Initiative and the Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes.

The anniversary celebrations recognised the programmes’ distinguished alumni community, including the late astronaut and climate scientist Piers Sellers, who graduated in 1976 before going on to fly on three Space Shuttle missions and spend more than 559 hours in space, including aboard the International Space Station.

Despite his international career, Sellers maintained strong ties with the University. During a 2006 Space Shuttle mission, he took a velvet University crest into space with him. The patch has since been sewn into the bonnet used during University graduation ceremonies, creating a lasting connection between the University and one of its most celebrated alumni.

Current students joined alumni throughout the weekend, reflecting the programmes’ continuing commitment to building connections across generations of ecological scientists and environmental leaders.

I often think of Ecological and Environmental Sciences as training “Earth doctors” — people who learn to observe, diagnose, and predict interactions between organisms, ecosystems, and Earth’s spheres. Through a combination of fieldwork and computational skills, the programme teaches us to use the right tools for the right questions, depending on their scale and context. Thanks to the breadth of expertise and enthusiasm of our lecturers, I discovered a passion for soil carbon research and its role in addressing climate challenges. I am excited to see what’s ahead for graduates and impacts they make on our environment!

As the School celebrated the milestone, the events offered both an opportunity to reflect on six decades of achievement and a chance to look ahead to the future of ecological and environmental sciences at Edinburgh.

I had a brilliant time at the event...I am feeling very much inspired to go forth and do my own interesting things from atop 'the shoulders of giants'

Thank you again for such an amazing weekend. I thought it was an incredible event, with lots of interesting conversations and a great opportunity to network within our community.

The School would like to thank the following, whose generous support and funding helped make the 60 Years of Ecological Sciences celebrations possible.

Elizabeth Sinclair Irvine Fund

Global Change Research Institute, The School of GeoSciences

Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes, The University of Edinburgh

Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability, The University of Edinburgh

Development and Alumni, The University of Edinburgh

The School would like to thank the following, whose generous support and funding helped make the 60 Years of Ecological Sciences celebrations possible.

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