UKCEH Engages Public with SYBERAC Research at Open Farm Sunday

A team from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) brought their scientific work to the public at the RSPB's Open Farm Sunday event at Hope Farm, United Kingdom, on June 9, 2025.

Dr. Melanie Gibbs, along with early-career researchers Ivy Ng’iru and Leah Griffiths, engaged with visitors, sharing insights from their research, which is a key component of our EU-funded project. The team's work at Hope Farm (close to Cambridge) investigates whether creating habitats for beneficial species like pollinators and pest predators in crop field margins can offset the potential risks from pesticide exposure.

The day was filled with interactive activities designed to make the science accessible. Over 60 visitors participated in a hands-on DNA barcoding exercise, learning how researchers identify juvenile moths, butterflies, and spiders found in field margins during pesticide application periods. This activity effectively demonstrated the molecular techniques used to understand complex farm ecosystems. DNA barcoding is a method also applied in the SYBERAC case study 1A and case study 5.

This research contributes to SYBERAC's broader goal of enhancing environmental risk assessment for chemicals. By integrating data on species traits, toxicology, ecology, and genetics, the project aims to better identify species at risk and improve monitoring strategies following pesticide exposure.

For a deeper look into the day and the research discussed, you can read the full article.