Irene Manton Lecture 2024

This lecture is free to attend and will take place in person. It is open to everyone with A-level students especially welcome. 

Please note: This event is in person only, however we will be recording the lecture for attendees unable to join us on the day. The recording will be uploaded to our dedicated YouTube page. You can sign up to receive the recording link via email by registering for the 'recording' ticket during registration. 

The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health in collaboration with The Linnean Society of London and Manchester Museum, will host the 2024 Irene Manton lecture, celebrating the significant contribution made by women to the Natural Sciences. 

For this year’s extra special event, marking the 10th anniversary of the lecture, as well as the University’s bicentenary year, we are delighted to welcome Amanda Bamford, Emeritus Professor of Plant sciences, The University of Manchester. Amanda is also the Academic Lead who initially formed the Linnean/University partnership, so we feel that it is especially significant that she delivers our 10th lecture.  

Amanda will journey from her roots in industrial Essex to interdisciplinary conservation collaborations in Central America, and along the way present how we can study nature and connect with others to create a more positive future for wildlife. 

Amanda will be joined by Matthew O’Donnell, curator of Herpetology at Manchester Museum, to present the Museum’s in-situ and ex-situ conservation work with endangered Costa Rica frogs. 

We will also be joined by Robbie Blackhall-Miles, Fellow and former Vice-president of the Linnean Society of London, who will tell the fascinating story of Irene Manton’s vital contribution to botany. 

Taking place in person at Manchester Museum, the event will be recorded for attendees who can’t join us on the day. Attendees joining us on the day can also enjoy a tour of the Museum’s bold new exhibition ‘Wild’ which looks at how we can go 'wild' to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis. Just register for the tour ticket as well as your in person ticket during registration.  

Venue accessibility information can be found on AccessAble. Should you have any specific requirements, accessibility needs, or other specific requests please notify [email protected] by Friday 4th October.  

Further information will be sent to registered attendees prior to the event.  

We look forward to seeing you there for what promises to be a truly inspiring evening! 

To read about previous Irene Manton lectures hosted by the Faculty visit: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016. You can also watch a recording of the 2020 event, 2021 event, 2022 event and 2023 event. 

Event blurb: From Essex orchids to tropical frogs: studying and conserving nature 

Amanda hopes to persuade you that her work examining human impacts on nature, starting at school in industrial Essex with its cement works and open quarries, is a joyous one. She will talk about her career, taking opportunities to engage with nature, conserving nature, and the vital importance of connecting with people and communities.  

A central part of her work has been inspiring others to work towards a sustainable future for humans and wildlife. She will talk about her early struggles to save a chalk quarry in Essex that was home to many beautiful orchids, which led her to be the first in her family to go to university. She now collaborates internationally with scientists, schools, and community partners in Panama and Costa Rica to help save endangered tropical frogs and Great Green Macaws. 

She will be joined by her colleague, Matthew O’Donnell, curator of Herpetology at Manchester Museum, who present the Museum’s in-situ and ex-situ conservation work with endangered Costa Rica frogs. 

Speaker bio: Amanda Bamford, Emeritus Professor of Plant sciences, The University of Manchester 

Amanda has held leadership roles at University of Manchester including University Lead for Sustainability and Associate Dean for Social Responsibility. Her research and teaching interests include pollution and climate change. She leads a field course to Costa Rica each year and collaborates on several international conservation projects in Central America. 

Speaker bio: Robbie Blackhall-Miles, Vice president of the Linnean Society of London 

Robbie is a conservation scientist, ecologist and horticulturist blending gardening and conservation. He has held positions in practical conservation NGOs such as the RSPB, he is an honorary lecturer at Bangor University and holds a honorary professorship at Nottingham University. Robbie Teaches ecology at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and is horticultural consultant at the Natural History Museum, London. He also works for the charity Plantlife on restoration and conservation projects near his home in Snowdonia and across Wales. Robbie has a wealth of expertise with the conservation NGO sector, and a field-focused perspective to the study of natural history. He also has a deep understanding of diversity of both people and science both within and outside the academic sector. 

Speaker bio: Dr Maggy Fostier, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Genetics 

Maggy was recently appointed as the Faculty’s first ever Associate Dean for Environmental Sustainability (ES), a strategic role to drive and embed ES actions across the Faculty’s teaching and learning, research, business strategy and operations. Maggy has been instrumental in launching and leading E) initiatives in the School of Biological Sciences on sustainable procurement, equipment, LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) accreditation and further embedding ES in the curriculum. Notably, she co-developed with students and colleagues the ‘6R’ approach to reducing plastics in laboratory practical’s and was a finalist in the National Green Gown Awards in 2020 in recognition of the >37,000 plastic items/YEAR saved with 97% of students supporting the initiative.  

The Linnean Society of London: 

The Linnean Society of London is the world’s oldest active biological society, founded in 1788. The Society uniquely embraces the entire sweep of natural history. It promotes the study of all aspects of the biological sciences, with particular emphasis on evolution, taxonomy, biodiversity and sustainability.  

At the same time, the Society reaches out to future biologists through schools and educational programmes. Irene Manton was the first female president of the Linnean Society, a British botanist who continued her studies at The University of Manchester, resulting in a PhD.  

Host or Publisher Social Responsibility and Public Engagement Team, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester