Freshwater forensics: Using DNA to solve mysteries of biodiversity change

Professor Bernd Hänfling, Director of Research at the Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation at UHI Inverness, will explore how population genetics and environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches are transforming our ability to detect hidden underwater biodiversity. His talk will highlight how DNA-based methods enhance our understanding of ecological change and provide powerful tools to support evidence-based conservation. He will also reflect on his personal and academic journey in molecular ecology, sharing insights from his career studying freshwater ecosystems.

Join us at UHI Inverness for a landmark academic occasion as Professor Bernd Hänfling delivers his inaugural professorial lecture. This special event celebrates his outstanding contributions to molecular ecology and his pioneering research into the ecology and evolution of freshwater organisms.

In this engaging and thought-provoking lecture, Professor Hänfling will explore how population genetics and environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches are transforming our understanding of underwater biodiversity. By applying cutting-edge DNA-based tools, his research reveals hidden diversity beneath the water’s surface, tracks ecological change across time and space, and strengthens evidence-based conservation efforts.

With extensive experience in studying freshwater ecosystems, Professor Hänfling’s work centres on understanding the interplay between natural and anthropogenic processes that shape the geographic distribution of biodiversity. His earlier research investigated the phylogeography and population genetics of freshwater fish and invertebrates, uncovering colonisation histories and dispersal pathways of both native and invasive species. Through population genomic approaches, he has also examined how local adaptations arise and persist within aquatic populations.

More recently, he has been at the forefront of advancing environmental DNA methodologies for monitoring freshwater diversity. He has contributed significantly to the development of eDNA metabarcoding techniques to estimate fish community diversity, particularly within the framework of Water Framework Directive (WFD) monitoring of lentic ecosystems. Alongside applied monitoring, his fundamental research using eDNA continues to address key ecological questions in aquatic environments, demonstrating how molecular tools can illuminate complex ecological processes.

A passionate advocate of evidence-based conservation, Professor Hänfling is committed to translating scientific discoveries into practical management strategies and policy development. He actively collaborates with stakeholders to ensure that robust scientific evidence informs conservation decisions and supports the sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems.

The lecture will also offer a personal reflection on his academic journey, from early research in population genetics to leading innovations in molecular ecology, providing insight into the challenges, breakthroughs, and motivations that have shaped his career.

This inaugural lecture promises to be an inspiring and accessible event for academics, students, environmental practitioners, policymakers, and anyone interested in biodiversity, ecology, and the future of freshwater conservation.

5pm Registration opens

5.30pm Welcome followed by laudation: Professor Chris O’Neil, Principal and Chief Executive of UHI Inverness, welcomes attendees and gives a brief highlight of Professor Hanfling’s career and achievements.

5.40pm Inaugural lecture: Professor Hanfling presents lecture titled ‘Freshwater forensics: Using DNA to solve the mysteries of biodiversity change’ and his personal and academic journey.

6pm Q&A session: The audience engages with Professor Hanfling through an interactive discussion

6.15pm Vote of thanks: Final words of appreciation from Professor Chris O’Neil

6.20pm Welcome to the Professoriate: Professor Hanfling is formally welcomed into the professoriate by Professor Brian Williams, Deputy Principal Academic and Research of the University of the Highlands and Islands.

6.30pm: Reception and networking: An opportunity to connect over refreshments and nibbles

7pm Event finishes

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Host or Publisher University of the Highlands and Islands