Price: Free
Flying animals – birds, bats, and insects – are among the most mobile organisms on Earth, yet much of their movement occurs high overhead and so remains hidden from view. In this talk, Dr. Christopher Hassall explores how radar technology is revolutionising our understanding of aerial biodiversity. Drawing from the emerging fields of aeroecology and radar ecology, he will showcase how weather radar networks, originally designed for meteorology, are now being adapted to monitor biological activity in the atmosphere. From bird migrations to locust swarms, radar reveals patterns that have been invisible until now. The talk will highlight recent discoveries, discuss the challenges of interpreting radar data, and explore how this technology can inform conservation strategies and government policy in a rapidly changing world. Whether you’re interested in ecology, technology, or the hidden rhythms of nature, this presentation offers a unique window into the skies above us.
Dr. Christopher Hassall is Associate Professor of Animal Biology in the School of Biology at the University of Leeds. Chris is an interdisciplinary scientist whose research spans ecology, technology, society, and environmental change. He works as part of a large, interdisciplinary research team on aeroecology and radar ecology to explore how remote sensing tools can uncover the movements and behaviours of flying animals. He has published widely on biodiversity, climate impacts, and ecological monitoring, and is passionate about bridging the gap between data and conservation action.
