Ms Stephanie Holt
UK Biodiversity Training Manager
Division: LS Angela Marmont Centre
Summary
As UK Biodiversity Training Manager, my role supports the core remit of the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity – to support, engage and inspire people to study and record the wildlife in the UK. Over the past 3 years I have been managing the Identification Trainers for the Future project; a HLF funded project through the Skills for the Future programme run in partnership with the National Biodiversity Network Trust and Field Studies Council. Through this project we have developed and delivered 15 year-long work based traineeships based on UK species identification and scientific communication skills. In addition through this programme we delivered 62 natural history workshops, involving 33 Museum experts from across Life Sciences which were attended by 172 non-trainee participants. Our trainees have gone onto careers with Wildlife Trusts, Natural England and RSPB to name a few, as well as coming back to the Museum in various roles.
Looking forward, I am now involved in developing a new training strategy for the AMC for the next 5 years. Through this we will be delivering new modes of training in UK natural history, building on the experiences and lessons learnt from the Identification Trainers for the Future project to continue to support people from all backgrounds to develop their interest and knowledge of the fascinating flora and fauna of the UK.
Qualifications
- PGCE, Grenwich University, UK, 2008 - 2010
- PGDip, Birmingham University, UK, 2001 - 2003
- BSc (Hons), Bournemouth University, UK, 1996 - 1999
Degrees
Employment history
- Lecturer (Senior Practitioner) & Course Tutor (BSc/FdSc Conservation & Wildlife Management), Sparsholt College, Game, Wildlife & Conservation, UK, 2007 - 2011
Academic
Non-academic
Senior Ecologist, Ecological Planning and Research, 2012 - 2014
Senior Ecologist, Hampshire County Council, Environment, 2003 - 2007
Assistant Ecologist, Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre, 2001 - 2003
Grants
Next generation monitoring of urban biodiversity using citizen science
Role: Principal investigatorTweddle J
Co-investigator: West S
Funding: National Geographic Society
Total value £14,864 (to Museum £14,864)
Dates: 2018 - 2019
Delivery phase - Identification Trainers for the Future
Role: Principal investigatorTweddle J
Funding: HLF - Heritage Lottery Funds
Total value £463,700 (to Museum £463,700)
Dates: 2014 - 2018
Delivery phase - Identification Trainers for the Future
Role: Principal investigatorTweddle J
Funding: HLF - Heritage Lottery Funds
Total value £463,700 (to Museum £463,700)
Dates: 2014 - 2018
Fellowships
Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, Linnean Society of London, London, United Kingdom, 2009 - on going.
Fellow of the British Naturalists' Association, British Naturalists Association, United Kingdom, 2009 - on going.
Committees
Member, British Naturalists Association, 2021 - on going.
Chair, Linnean Future, Linnean Society of London, London, United Kingdom, 2020 - 2021.
Member, Linnean Society of London Council, Linnean Society of London, London, United Kingdom, 2018 - 2021.
Member, CIEEM Training Education & Career Development Committee, Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, Winchester, United Kingdom, 2016 - 2021.
Member, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management South East Section, 2005 - 2013.
Memberships
Member, Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, Winchester, United Kingdom, 2002 - on going.
Society for the History of Natural History, London.
British Society for the History of Science, London, United Kingdom.
Museums Association, London, United Kingdom.
Editorships
Board member, Evolve, Natural History Museum, 2018 - on going.
Board member, Wild World, Natural History Museum, London, 2018 - on going.
Events
Conference Attendance
Chair, Invited Keynote Address, Identification Trainers for the Future Symposium, (Symposium),
Workshop Attendance
Invited speaker, Outreach Workshop of the International Year of the Salmon North Atlantic Steering Committee, (Workshop), 2018 - 2018.
Organisation
Organising committee, The Explorers Project Conference, (Conference),
London Recorders Day 2019, (Conference),
Organising committee, London Recorders Day 2021, (Conference),
Organising committee, London Recorders Day, (Conference),
Organising committee, Fit for the Future: Developing an Ecologically Resilient Protected Sites Network, (Conference),
Organiser, Identification Trainers for the Future Symposium, (Symposium),
Publications
West S (2020) The Mystery of the Long-Eared Bat, In: L: 50 Objects, Stories and Discoveries from the Linnean Society of London, Berwick L, Charmantier I (Eds). null :
Holt S (2020, 18 7) Gilbert White: The Modern Naturalist.
Lotzof K, Van Grouw H, West S (2018, 23 10) Bye-bye dark sky: is light pollution costing us more than just the night-time?.
West SVL (2018) Suffrage and Science: Museum women in 1918. 30 - 34.
West SVL (2018) Identification Trainers for the Future: Inspiring the next generation of British natural history experts. 17 - 17.
West SVL (2018) Book Review - City Birds: An Urban Birdwatching Logbook. 18 - 18.
West S (2018) What Next for the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity?. 10 (April 2018) : 8 - 10.
West SVL, Roach APG (2018) Identification Trainers for the Future: Developing the next generation of expert naturalists at the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity. Journal of Natural Science Collections, 5 : 78 - 88.
(2017) Identification Trainers for the Future: Bridging the skills gap in natural history. Linnean Society Taxonomy & Systematics Plenary Session 'What is the Future for Biological Surveys? Are specialists for key taxa at risk of becoming extinct?', 79 9 - 7 9 9
West SVL (2017) The Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity: Inspiring and Supporting Natural Historians Across the UK. British Naturalist, 6 - 8.
West SVL (2017) Going Batty for Moths. 18 - 19.
West SVL (2017) Identification Trainers for the Future. New Nature, 39 - 39.
West SVL (2015) Engaging New Audiences and Bridging the Skills Gap. CIEEM Autumn Conference - Reconnecting People and Nature, 311 11 - 3 11 11http://www.cieem.net/previous-conferences-2015-autumn-conference-669
West S, Tweddle J (2014) Identification Trainers for the Future - Inspiring the Next Generation of UK Wildlife Experts. In Practice, 23 - 25.
West S, Tweddle J (2014) Identification Trainers for the Future - Inspiring the Next Generation of UK Wildlife Experts. In Practice, 86 : 23 - 25.
Holt S, Potts K (null) Guide to Common Terrestrial Invertebrate Groups.
Contributed Publications
Lotzof K, Van Grouw H, West S (2018, 23 10) Bye-bye dark sky: is light pollution costing us more than just the night-time?.
West S (2018) What Next for the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity?. 10 (April 2018) : 8 - 10.
(2017) Bridging the Skills Gap in UK Species Identification: Lessons Learnt & Next Steps. NBN Conference 2017 'Data - What is it good for?', 1611 11 - 16 11 11
(2017) Identification Trainers for the Future: Bridging the skills gap in natural history. Linnean Society Taxonomy & Systematics Plenary Session 'What is the Future for Biological Surveys? Are specialists for key taxa at risk of becoming extinct?', 79 9 - 7 9 9
Dixon J (2015) Fledgling Naturalists Lap Up Their Masterclass.
Courses taught
Other: Level 1 UK Natural History Course
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
4/2020 - on going.
Short course: Introduction to Amphibian Surveying
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
5/2018.
BTEC National Diploma in Game and Wildlife Management
10/2007 - 12/2011.
BTEC National Diploma in Conservation & Wildlife Management
10/2007 - 12/2011.
FdSc Conservation and Wildlife Management
10/2007 - 12/2011.
BSc (Hons) Conservation & Wildlife Management
10/2007 - 12/2011.
Introduction to Botany
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Introduction to Entomology
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Developing Skills in Natural History
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Introduction to UK Natural History
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Course developed
Co developers: Holt S
Level 1: Intro to UK Natural History, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
1/6/2020
Invited and keynote speaker
Keynote speaker, The Skills Needed to Identify and Record in Natural History, Skill Development for Biological Recording: The Gateway, Shrewsbury, 10/5/2018.
Cross-Museum Working: Holy Grail or Unholy Mess?, NatSCA Conference 2018 - The Museum Ecosystem: Exploring how different subject specialisms can work closer together: Leeds City Museum, 27/4/2018.
Invited speaker, Bridging the skills gap in UK species identification: lessons learnt and next steps, 17th National Biodiversity Network Conference: National Museum Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom, 17/11/2017.
Invited speaker, Training at the Natural History Museum - Identification Trainers for the Future, Celebrating 21 years of Biological Recording: Manchester Metropolitan University, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom, 9/9/2017.
Invited speaker, Identification Trainers for the Future: Bridging the skills gap in natural history, Linnean Society Taxonomy & Systematics Plenary Session 'What is the Future for Biological Surveys: are specialists for key taxa at risk of becoming extinct?: Linnean Society of London, London, 7/9/2017.
Invited speaker, A History of the Natural History of Bats, Gilebert Whites House & Museum Winter Lecture Series: Gilbert Whites House and Museum, Selbourne, 19/1/2017.
Invited speaker, Identification Trainers for the Future: Inspiring the Next Generation of British Wildlife Experts, CIEEM SE Section Annual Meeting: Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management, Winchester, 13/2/2016.
Invited speaker, Identification Trainers for the Future: Inspiring the Next Generation of British Wildlife Experts, CIEEM Autumn Conference: Reconnecting People and Nature: Opportunities and Challenges: Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, Winchester, 3/11/2015.
Guest lectures
Invited speaker, The Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity: Supporting London's Biological Recorders, London Recorders Day: Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, 10/11/2018.
Invited speaker, Kick Start Your Career in Ecology, British Ecological Society Undergraduate Careers Conference: British Ecological Society, London, United Kingdom, 12/2/2018.
Invited speaker, The Nocturnal Wanderings of a Bat Ecologist, NHM Nature Live: Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, 27/1/2018.
The Nocturnal Wanderings of a Bat Ecologist, NHM Lates - Nature Live: Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, 25/8/2017.
Media
Broadcasts
Nature Live, How Can We Create New Habitats for Insects?, 2/3/2021.
Linnean Society, Launch of L50: Objects, Stories & Discoveries from the Linnean Society of London, 30/11/2020.
Open Country, Gilbert White's Selborne, BBC Radio 4, 5/11/2020.
Linnean Podcast, Gilbert White, 18/7/2020.
Nature Live, Gilbert White: A Modern Naturalist, 5/5/2020.
BatChat (Season 1, Episode 6), Bats at the Natural History Museum (Part 1), 8/1/2020.
Linnean Society, The Linnean Society's Batty Mystery, 17/4/2019.
Wild Voices: Behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum, Steph West (@BatGirlSteph78) is UK Biodiversity Training Manager at the Natural History Museum. In this episode I got a fascinating behind the scenes look at the work the NHM does but that you may not have heard about: training the next generation of specialist ecologists (http://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/identification-trainers-for-the-future.html) and helping to conserve the world’s wildlife, as well as preserving specimens of dead animals and lost species. I also learn about Steph’s early fascination with bats. And she tells us that the skills she developed in the financial sector translate directly across to her career in conservation. Steph also shares her view on what it’s like to work at the Museum, as well as telling us about how and where specimens are stored and some of her favourites, including the mysterious ‘spirit birds’. You can read more about Steph at this link: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/departments-and-staff/staff-directory/stephanie-west.html The Wild Voices Project podcast tells the stories of people saving nature. We are part of WILDVoices media, a global production team bridging emerging storytellers with aspiring environmental professionals. Find out more about us at wildvoicesproject.org. Learn more about the global community at wild-voices.org., Wild Voices Project, Williams M, 11/9/2018.
NHM_Live: Who's Afraid of the Dark, Science Communicator David Urry is joined by Museum ecologist Steph West, Senior Mammal Curator Louise Tomsett, and Physiology and Behaviour Expert Dr Robyn Grant, to talk about creatures that thrive at night. We'll answer questions such as: •Which mammal can sniff out a meal several miles away? •Which animal has eyes bigger than its brain? •What might the most perfectly adapted nocturnal mammal look like? •What are scientists learning about the way whiskered animals use their fine follicles? You'll also meet Ken Greenway, Tower Hamlets' resident ecologist, for a night-time walk in the cemetery on the lookout for some of the borough's bats. This #NHMLive program was broadcast at 17.30 BST on Wednesday 11 July 2018., NHM_Live, Urry D, 11/7/2018. Who's Afraid of the Dark #NHM_Live
The British Garden: Life and Death on Your Lawn, The British back garden is a familiar setting, but underneath the peonies and petunias is a much wilder hidden world, a miniature Serengeti, with beauty and brutality in equal measure. In this documentary, Chris Packham and a team of wildlife experts spend an entire year exploring every inch of a series of interlinked back gardens in Welwyn Garden City. The want to answer a fundamental question: how much wildlife lives beyond our back doors? How good for wildlife is the great British garden?, BBC Four / Windfall Films, Packham C, 11/7/2017. The British Garden: Life and Death on Your Lawn
NHM_Live: Fantastic Mini-Beasts and Where to Find Them, Invertebrates in UK urban gardens from the perspective of the NHM's Wildlife Garden, NHM, Urry D, 7/7/2017. Fantastic Mini-Beasts and Where to Find Them (NHM_Live)