Ash tree genomics: an urgent need
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Sch of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Abstract
This project will sequence the genome of ash (Fraxinus excelsior).
Ash trees in Britain currently face a most extreme threat due to the rapid spread of the deadly fungal disease Chalara fraxinea, with potentially devastating economic consequences. In recent days it has become clear that this disease is too widespread to be eliminated from Britain, and is unlikely to be contained. The survival of ash trees in this country will therefore depend upon genetic traits conferring resistance to Chalara fraxinea. In mainland Europe, already ravaged by this disease, a very low percentage of ash trees have shown a degree of resistance to Chalara fraxinea and its sexual form Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus (Kjær et al. 2012; McKinney et al. 2011; McKinney et al. 2012). Such partially resistant trees are likely to provide the basis for future populations of ash in Britain and mainland Europe.
No genotype of ash has yet been found that shows complete resistance to Chalara fraxinea. However, ash trees in Denmark show genetic variation in their resistance, and this variation is additive. This means that the breeding of ash trees with a high level of resistance may be possible. However, the exact genetic basis of the resistant phenotypes found is unknown. This is partly due to the lack of fundamental knowledge about the genome of ash trees. Currently no genome sequence is available for ash, and the only plant in its order - the Lamiales - with a sequenced genome is the Monkey flower Mimulus guttatus, but this is in a different family.
There is an urgent need for basic characterization of the ash genome. Such a resource is essential for future DNA, RNA and protein-based studies of ash pathology, physiological and immunological responses, breeding experiments and reintroduction strategies. Due to next generation DNA sequencing technologies, it is relatively straightforward to sequence the whole genome of any species. The PI of this project has recently sequenced the whole genome of birch in this way, and his research group has expertise in tree genomics which is unique to the UK. The sequencing of the ash genome is a foundational step towards discovering the genetic basis of resistance to Chalara fraxinea and developing a breeding programme; it needs to be conducted without delay.
The project will begin on January 21, 2013. An ash tree for genome sequencing will be selected in collaboration with Dr Steve Lee, Programme Group Manager for 'Genetic Improvement' at Forest Research. Whole genomic DNA will be extracted from bud and cambial tissues in the PI's lab, and sent to Eurofins MWG Operon for sequencing. Sequencing will be carried out using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 v3 platform, with seven paired libraries of insert sizes of 200bp, 300bp, 500bp, 800bp, 3kb, 20kb and 40kb. Fraxinus excelsior, the ash tree native to Britain has a genome size of 954 Mbp (Kew C-value database); approximately one third of the size of the human genome. A total of 143 Gb of DNA sequence will be generated, giving 150X coverage of the genome. The Illumina data will be supplemented by longer reads generated by the 454 FLX++ platform which will provide 5x coverage with modal read length of 950bp. This data will be assembled by the PI and his PhD students on servers at CLCbio, Aarhus, Denmark under various parameter settings. The best assembly will be selected on the basis of N50 contig length, low number of Ns and high complete coverage of conserved eukaryote genes. The genome will be annotated electronically. In the spring, leaves and floral buds will be collected from the ash tree whose genome is being assembled. RNA will be extracted from these tissues and sequenced at QMUL. The RNA-seq data will be used to annotate the gene regions of the genome. We expect the first draft of the genome to be available by August 2013, and an annotated version by December 2013. This data will be made available through the EBI database.
Ash trees in Britain currently face a most extreme threat due to the rapid spread of the deadly fungal disease Chalara fraxinea, with potentially devastating economic consequences. In recent days it has become clear that this disease is too widespread to be eliminated from Britain, and is unlikely to be contained. The survival of ash trees in this country will therefore depend upon genetic traits conferring resistance to Chalara fraxinea. In mainland Europe, already ravaged by this disease, a very low percentage of ash trees have shown a degree of resistance to Chalara fraxinea and its sexual form Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus (Kjær et al. 2012; McKinney et al. 2011; McKinney et al. 2012). Such partially resistant trees are likely to provide the basis for future populations of ash in Britain and mainland Europe.
No genotype of ash has yet been found that shows complete resistance to Chalara fraxinea. However, ash trees in Denmark show genetic variation in their resistance, and this variation is additive. This means that the breeding of ash trees with a high level of resistance may be possible. However, the exact genetic basis of the resistant phenotypes found is unknown. This is partly due to the lack of fundamental knowledge about the genome of ash trees. Currently no genome sequence is available for ash, and the only plant in its order - the Lamiales - with a sequenced genome is the Monkey flower Mimulus guttatus, but this is in a different family.
There is an urgent need for basic characterization of the ash genome. Such a resource is essential for future DNA, RNA and protein-based studies of ash pathology, physiological and immunological responses, breeding experiments and reintroduction strategies. Due to next generation DNA sequencing technologies, it is relatively straightforward to sequence the whole genome of any species. The PI of this project has recently sequenced the whole genome of birch in this way, and his research group has expertise in tree genomics which is unique to the UK. The sequencing of the ash genome is a foundational step towards discovering the genetic basis of resistance to Chalara fraxinea and developing a breeding programme; it needs to be conducted without delay.
The project will begin on January 21, 2013. An ash tree for genome sequencing will be selected in collaboration with Dr Steve Lee, Programme Group Manager for 'Genetic Improvement' at Forest Research. Whole genomic DNA will be extracted from bud and cambial tissues in the PI's lab, and sent to Eurofins MWG Operon for sequencing. Sequencing will be carried out using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 v3 platform, with seven paired libraries of insert sizes of 200bp, 300bp, 500bp, 800bp, 3kb, 20kb and 40kb. Fraxinus excelsior, the ash tree native to Britain has a genome size of 954 Mbp (Kew C-value database); approximately one third of the size of the human genome. A total of 143 Gb of DNA sequence will be generated, giving 150X coverage of the genome. The Illumina data will be supplemented by longer reads generated by the 454 FLX++ platform which will provide 5x coverage with modal read length of 950bp. This data will be assembled by the PI and his PhD students on servers at CLCbio, Aarhus, Denmark under various parameter settings. The best assembly will be selected on the basis of N50 contig length, low number of Ns and high complete coverage of conserved eukaryote genes. The genome will be annotated electronically. In the spring, leaves and floral buds will be collected from the ash tree whose genome is being assembled. RNA will be extracted from these tissues and sequenced at QMUL. The RNA-seq data will be used to annotate the gene regions of the genome. We expect the first draft of the genome to be available by August 2013, and an annotated version by December 2013. This data will be made available through the EBI database.
Planned Impact
This project will have considerable interest to the public and policy makers, who are very concerned about the demise of ash trees in Britain. Care will therefore be taken to keep policy makers and the public informed of developments in the project. If the project is funded, a press release will be issued stating that NERC is funding the sequencing of the genome of Ash in order to facilitate the search for genotypes resistant to genotypes. Given the current interest in the topic, this is likely to be covered widely in the media. Similar press releases will be made as project milestones are reached.
This work will be of great interest to silviculturalists and forest tree breeders. The PI, Richard Buggs, is a member of the Future Trees Trust (FTT), a charity dedicated to the improvement of broadleaved trees. The FTT brings together the UK and Ireland's foremost silviculturalists and forest tree breeders, and currently has a programme for the improvement of ash (this programme is now threatened by Chalara fraxinea). The PI will use the FTT network in order to keep silviculturalists and forest tree breeders informed of the progress of the work.
This work will also be important to the Forestry Commission and its research arm Forest Research. Dr Steve Lee, Programme Group Manager for 'Genetic Improvement' at Forest Research, who has written a letter of support for this proposal, will be kept informed of developments by email and meetings. Similarly, Defra and FERA will be kept informed of developments.
The research group of Prof. Erik Dahl Kjær at University of Copenhagen, Denmark, is currently seeking genotypes of ash resistant to Chalara fraxinea. He will be kept informed of progress by personal email.
The results of the project will provide an invaluable resource for all researchers working on ash genetics. The results will be made available as they come in on public databases.
This work will be of great interest to silviculturalists and forest tree breeders. The PI, Richard Buggs, is a member of the Future Trees Trust (FTT), a charity dedicated to the improvement of broadleaved trees. The FTT brings together the UK and Ireland's foremost silviculturalists and forest tree breeders, and currently has a programme for the improvement of ash (this programme is now threatened by Chalara fraxinea). The PI will use the FTT network in order to keep silviculturalists and forest tree breeders informed of the progress of the work.
This work will also be important to the Forestry Commission and its research arm Forest Research. Dr Steve Lee, Programme Group Manager for 'Genetic Improvement' at Forest Research, who has written a letter of support for this proposal, will be kept informed of developments by email and meetings. Similarly, Defra and FERA will be kept informed of developments.
The research group of Prof. Erik Dahl Kjær at University of Copenhagen, Denmark, is currently seeking genotypes of ash resistant to Chalara fraxinea. He will be kept informed of progress by personal email.
The results of the project will provide an invaluable resource for all researchers working on ash genetics. The results will be made available as they come in on public databases.
People |
ORCID iD |
Richard Buggs (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Kelly LJ
(2020)
Convergent molecular evolution among ash species resistant to the emerald ash borer.
in Nature ecology & evolution
Buggs R
(2019)
Changing perceptions of tree resistance research
in PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET
Stocks JJ
(2019)
Genomic basis of European ash tree resistance to ash dieback fungus.
in Nature ecology & evolution
Plumb W
(2019)
The viability of a breeding programme for ash in the British Isles in the face of ash dieback
in PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET
Showalter D
(2019)
Resistance of European ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) saplings to larval feeding by the emerald ash borer ( Agrilus planipennis )
in PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET
Sambles CM
(2017)
Ash leaf metabolomes reveal differences between trees tolerant and susceptible to ash dieback disease.
in Scientific data
Sollars ES
(2017)
Genome sequence and genetic diversity of European ash trees.
in Nature
Sollars E
(2017)
Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics of Angiosperm Trees
Description | Annotated genome sequence of ash tree, which laid the foundations for work discovering the genetic basis of ash tree resistance to ash dieback and the emerald ash borer. Work was published in Nature. |
Exploitation Route | Use as reference genome |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
URL | http://www.ashgenome.org |
Description | We produced a draft genome assembly for the European Ash tree, and made it available on a public website. This has been used by other researchers, and in our own research which is being followed up with a "Living with Environmental Change: Tree health and plant biosecurity Phase 2" grant. Our work on ash trees has generated considerable media interest. We have published the genome in the journal Nature. In subsequent work we have discovered the genetic basis of resistance to ash dieback and the emerald ash borer. |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Citation in Sustainable Development and Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources 2020-2030 |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
Impact | Enhances treescape |
URL | http://www.coford.ie/media/coford/content/publications/2020/35769COFORDbodyreportweb211220.pdf |
Description | Defra Ash Research Strategy Stakeholder Workshop 9 Jan 2019 |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Impact | Advised on future Defra research strategy on ash trees |
Description | Organised FRAXBACK meeting to advise government and stakeholders about ash dieback research |
Geographic Reach | Asia |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKs7pMv2Huc |
Description | Presentation to Defra Chief Scientific Advisor |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Updated Chief Scientific Advisor to Defra on latest research findings |
Description | The Chalara Oversight Group (Research Lead) |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | The Defra Ash tree research strategy 2019 |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
Impact | Evidence for HM Government response to ash dieback pandemic |
URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/8068... |
Description | Ash dieback genomics - Woodland study |
Amount | £75,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Future Proofing Plant Health |
Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 03/2020 |
Description | Defra grant oak condition survey sequencing |
Amount | £126,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Future Proofing Plant Health TH1_21 |
Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2021 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | Defra grant to Kew for ash genomics research |
Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2017 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | Defra grant to Kew for ash genomics research 10/2017-3/2018 |
Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2017 |
End | 03/2018 |
Description | LWEC grant |
Amount | £521 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/L012162/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2014 |
End | 03/2017 |
Title | Ash genome read data and assembly |
Description | Illumina and 454 reads for a British ash tree, and a draft genome assembly |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Genome available to other researchers |
URL | http://www.ashgenome.org |
Description | Collaboration with Earth Trust |
Organisation | Earth Trust |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Collaboration on ash genomics |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided material |
Impact | Nature paper on ash genome |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Collaboration with TGAC |
Organisation | Earlham Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Sequencing of ash tree genomes |
Collaborator Contribution | DNA sequencing and analysis |
Impact | Nature paper on ash genomics |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | "Plant Health Conference", The Earth Trust, Oxfordshire, 17 Oct 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Politicians, policy makers and supporters of the Earth Trust attended this day confererence, which determined the future direction of research activities at the Earth Trust. Richard Buggs spoke on the value of the Earth Trust's ash tree collections. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | 18/11/19 BBC News Website "New hope for trees affected by ash dieback" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 18/11/19 BBC News Website "New hope for trees affected by ash dieback" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50420207 |
Description | 18/11/19 BBC News at Six interview on ash dieback with Rebecca Morelle |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 18/11/19 BBC News at Six interview on ash dieback with Rebecca Morelle |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://twitter.com/RJABuggs/status/1197182648860512257?s=20 |
Description | 18/11/19 BBC Radio 4 PM programme. Interview with Evan Davis. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 18/11/19 BBC Radio 4 PM programme. Interview with Evan Davis. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | 18/11/19 BBC World Service Outside source interview with Nuala McGovern |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 18/11/19 BBC World Service Outside source interview with Nuala McGovern |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://twitter.com/RJABuggs/status/1196787503845560320?s=20 |
Description | 18/11/19 The Times "DNA offers hope of beating ash dieback disease" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 18/11/19 The Times "DNA offers hope of beating ash dieback disease" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dna-offers-hope-of-beating-ash-dieback-disease-9pqg59b7w |
Description | 2/10/20 One O'Clock TV News on BBC One. Interview on ash dieback. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | One O'Clock TV News on BBC One. Interview on ash dieback. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | 2/10/20 Six O'Clock News on BBC Radio 4. Interview on ash dieback |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview on ash dieback |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | 21/9/20 Knowable Magazine. The accidental tree killers. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed for this article by Stephanie Pain. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.knowablemagazine.org/article/living-world/2020/accidental-tree-killers |
Description | 27/9/20 The Atlantic The plant pandemics just keep on coming - how the world's trees got so sick |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed for this article by Stephanie Pain. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/09/worlds-trees-got-so-sick/616506/ |
Description | BBC News "Ash tree genome sequenced for first time" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | News article on BBC website |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38416116 |
Description | BBC News TV Live Interview 7/10/14 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | comments from viewers none I am aware of |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dO0t4Vdikc |
Description | BBC News Website 23/09/13 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Scientists map UK ash tree genome BBC report on project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | BBC Radio 4 Farming Today |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview on BBC Radio 4 Farming Today on biosecurity and ash dieback |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08hl5k5 |
Description | BBC TV News report and interview 12/6/13 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview with PI boradcast on BBC1 News at One and News at Six http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22882287 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | BBSRC Plant Health Working Group - Richard Buggs |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Richard Buggs was on BBSRC Plant Health Working Group |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Babbage Podcast (The Economist) interview on ash tree health |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Babbage Podcast (The Economist) interview on ash tree health |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://soundcloud.com/theeconomist/babbage-what-can-science-do-for-my-garden |
Description | Babbage Podcast (The Economist) interview on tree health |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Babbage Podcast (The Economist) interview on tree health |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://soundcloud.com/theeconomist/babbage-trees-take-a-bough |
Description | Daily Express "Ash trees could be saved from killer disease after UK study cracks genetic code" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | News article |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/747435/Ash-trees-killer-disease-British-study-cracks-code |
Description | Daily Mail "Trees resistant to killer fungus could be grown in Britain (but they are more likely to be ravaged by beetles)" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | News article in Daily Mail |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4067228/Trees-resistant-killer-fungus-grown-Britain-l... |
Description | Defra TAW-SAG |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Richard Buggs sitting on Defra Trees and Woodlands Scientific Advisory Group |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/trees-and-woodlands-scientific-advisory-group |
Description | Dissemination event for the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Initiative, at the Radisson Blu Grafton, London, 7 Feb 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Dissemination event for the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Initiative, at the Radisson Blu Grafton, London, 7 Feb 2018 attended by 50 stakeholders including Lord Gardiner of Kimble and Nicole Spence UK chief plant health officer |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Guardian "British ash trees may resist dieback disease, research reveals" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | News article in Guardian |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/26/british-ash-trees-may-resist-dieback-disease-res... |
Description | Interview for The Conversation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I assume people thought about it afterwards |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://theconversation.com/despite-the-lush-summer-leaves-our-trees-are-under-attack-28237 |
Description | Interview on BBC Radio 4 Today Programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | PI interview on Today programme |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Interview with France24 TV |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I have no idea |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.france24.com/en/20140514-tour-europe-3-lille-france-national-front-election-marine-le-pen... |
Description | Presentation to Defra Ash Dieback Health and Safety Taskgroup, Nobel House, Westminster, 11 May 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation to Defra Ash Dieback Health and Safety Taskgroup, Nobel House, Westminster, 11 May 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Presentation to Ian Boyd, Defra Chief Scientific Advisor, Nobel House, Westminster, 24 Oct 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Presentation on ash dieback to Ian Boyd, Defra Chief Scientific Advisor, Nobel House, Westminster, 24 Oct 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Press release quoted by the Independent |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 19/11/19 The Independent "Ash dieback: Genetic resistance offers new hope over 'unstoppable' disease expected to kill 70 per cent of species" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/ash-dieback-disease-trees-genetic-resistance-woodlands-eco... |
Description | Spring 2019 BBC Wildlife Magazine "Conservation Report: European common ash". Interview with Stuart Blackman. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Spring 2019 BBC Wildlife Magazine "Conservation Report: European common ash". Interview with Stuart Blackman. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://richardbuggs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Buggs-2019-BBCWildlifeMagazine.pdf |
Description | Talk at workshop for forestry stakeholders organised by Centre for Ecology and Hydrology |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk on the potential of genomic technologies to enhance tree health for forestry scientists and stakeholders This workshop was well attended by forestry stakeholders. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Talk on ash dieback at Forestry Commission's "SE & London Tree Health Event 2018" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Forestry Commission's "SE & London Tree Health Event 2018" attended by 130 tree health professionals, 12 Feb 2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Talk to A-level student conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | London Student Conference, Russell Square, 7 March 2013 talk on "Genomics and the health of trees" Talk to A-level students about my research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | The Future for English Woodlands |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Richard Buggs spoke on ash genomics research at "The Future for English Woodlands" Conference organised by The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers and The Royal Forestry Society, 30 Oct 2018, The National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire. Over 100 chartered surveyors and professional foresters were present. Feedback questionnaires showed that many attendees learned a great deal from the talk and saw the relevance of the research for their own professional work. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Using genetics to fight ash dieback - Planet Earth Podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | PI and student interviews on Planet Earth Podcast n/a |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/multimedia/story.aspx?id=1354 |