Sarah Beynon: Curriculum Vitae

I am an insect ecologist and agricultural conservation biologist, with a particular interest in researching sustainable agricultural practices which maintain optimal invertebrate biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

EDUCATION

2008-2012 Jesus College, University of Oxford: DPhil (in progress)

‘Decomposer biodiversity and decomposition processes: the functional consequences of chemical anthelmintics and alternative parasite control products'

2002-2005 Wadham College, University of Oxford: BA Biological Sciences (2:1)

Dissertation: ‘The potential for organic agriculture to support enhanced biodiversity'

School: Ysgol Dewi Sant, St Davids: A-level: Biology A; Geography A; History A, GCSE: 7 A*, 3 A

QUALIFICATIONS AND AWARDS

2012: British Council seed-funding for UK-Brazil project on the impact of no-tillage systems on soil health (lead scientist)

2012: British Council funding for UK-Brazil workshop in sustainable agriculture (Brazil, São Paulo)

2012: Hay on Earth Green Dragon's Den sustainable innovation in business (winner)

2010: Darwin Initiative project feasibility funding: Sustainable livestock parasite control (Zambia)

2008: Professor Sir Richard Southwood Scholarship (DPhil)

2008: Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society Student Bursary (DPhil)

2008: Duke of Edinburgh Silver award (Bronze, 1999)

2007: Young Farmers Club after dinner speaking county winner

2005: Oxford University Varley Gradwell Travelling Fellowship in Insect Ecology: ‘Impact of agricultural intensification on dung beetle ecology' (Zambia - first sole research project)

2004: PADI Open Water, PADI Advanced Open Water diver

2004: Jungle Training, Indonesia.

2004: The Wynford Davies Travelling Scholarship (conservation volunteer, Indonesia)

2003 & 2004: Royal Welsh Agricultural Society: Marks and Spencer beef cattle young handler runner-up

2002: Ysgol Dewi Sant ‘Best science pupil' and ‘Pupil shown most contribution to agriculture'

2001-2002: Head Girl of Ysgol Dewi Sant

2000: Engineering Education Scheme Wales - National ‘Teamwork Prize' winner

1999: Young Farmers Club ‘Brains Trust' Public Speaking, county winner and National runner-up

1999: Round Table Public Speaking - county winner, and National runner-up

1998 & 1999: Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society cattle young handler winner

PUBLICATIONS

Beynon, S.A., Slade, E.M., Mann D.J. & Lewis, O.T. (in revision) Species-rich dung beetle communities buffer ecosystem services in perturbed agro-ecosystems. Journal of Applied Ecology

Beynon, S.A., Peck, M., Mann D.J. & Lewis, O.T. (in revision) Consequences of alternative and conventional endoparasite control in cattle for dung-associated invertebrates and ecosystem functioning. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

Beynon, S.A. (2012) Potential environmental consequences of administration of anthelmintics to sheep, Veterinary Parasitology, doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.040.

Beynon, S.A. (2012) Potential environmental consequences of administration of ectoparasiticides to sheep, Veterinary Parasitology doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.041.

Wall, R. & Beynon, S.A. (2012) Area-wide impact of macrocyclic lactone parasiticides in cattle dung. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 26, 1-8.

Beynon, S.A. & Mann, D.J. (2006) Amara apricaria (Pakyll) (Coleoptera: Carabidae): recent records from Pembrokeshire (VC 45).  Entomologist's Monthly Magazine

Beynon, S.A. & Mann, D.J. (2006) Trechoblemus micros (Herbst) (Carabidae): first record for Pembrokeshire (VC 45). The Coleopterist 15(1): 43-48

CURRENT COLLABORATIONS

Dr Marcelo Augusto-Batista, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Brazil: Impact of no-tillage systems on soil health  

Professor Helen West, University of Nottingham: Large scale impact of anthelmintics on dung invertebrates

Dr Christina Marley, Aberystwyth University: Chicory Cichorium intybus as an anthelmintic for cattle

Farm Animal Initiative: Product development. An indicator for measuring farmland biodiversity

RSPB: Distribution of invertebrate prey items: effects on chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax foraging

Natural Animal Feeds: Development of a new livestock wormer.

 

SELECTED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS & TALKS

2012: Rio+20 Earth Debates closing debate (London)

2012: ‘Factors affecting ecosystem services provided by dung beetles'. Poster presentation at British Council workshop on sustainable agriculture and Royal Entomological Society (RES) Insect Declines in Agriculture conference (runner-up prize for best poster)

2012: ‘Entomological Adventures' National Science Week: Darwin Centre ‘Science Aglow' event. Presentation to 100 schoolchildren

2012: ‘Factors affecting ecosystem services provided by north temperate dung beetles.' RES conference

2011: ‘Ivermectin effects on ecosystem functioning', European Dung Ecology Conference

2010: 'Decomposer biodiversity and decomposition processes: the functional consequences of chemical and alternative anthelmintics', University of Oxford lecture

2010: Insects in history', Amateur Entomological Society (AES) Members Day

2010:  'Entomological adventures', AES and Bug Club Young Members Day

2009: ‘What's killing our dung beetles and why do we care?' University of Oxford MPLS lecture series

2009: 'Alternative approaches to parasite control in cattle' European Dung Ecology Conference

2009: 'The impact of conventional anthelmintics and alternative cattle feed supplements on dung invertebrates and dung decomposition' RES Postgraduate Conference

2009: 'Alternative cattle wormers in organic farming systems and the potential impact on dung-dwelling invertebrates and dung removal', Pembrokeshire Organic Group

 

SELECTED TV/RADIO/PRESS COVERAGE OF RESEARCH

2012: BBC1 - ‘Coast' - Presenter of feature on my research assessing the importance of invertebrate prey for the Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax on Ramsey Island RSPB Reserve

2010: BBC1 - ‘Countryfile' - Feature on research on environmental impacts of livestock parasite control

2010: BBC Radio Wales - ‘Jamie & Louise' Live radio interview from the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, explaining the importance of insects to farmers

2010: Welsh Country Magazine - ‘Home is where the dung is!'

2009: Farmers Weekly - ‘Study to worm out the facts about dung beetle populations'

2008: Gwlad - ‘Farmer with passion for the environment scoops top award'

2008: FWAG Newsletter - ‘Dung beetles: the farmers' friends'

2008: Pembrokeshire County Living - ‘Sarah's got the beetle bug: watch out beetle's about!'

2007: Western Mail - ‘Sarah bugs beetles in Darwin's footsteps'

EMPLOYMENT

Farmer: Co-owner and co-manager of a 100 acre organic livestock and arable farm in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Environmental & Ecological Consultant (self-employed). Previous contracts include:

  • 2012: Ramsey Island Bug Bioblitz (school and public events for National Insect Week)

  • 2008-2012: No-tillage versus conventional farming to support natural enemy populations

  • 2005-2012: Land management to benefit economically-important invertebrates

  • 2006-2009: Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) consultant ecologist

  • 2005-2009: Editor of the West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre (WWBIC) newsletter

  • 2008: Natural capital audit of Pembrokeshire (with WWBIC)

  • 2008: Deepford Brook catchment sensitive farming review (with FWAG)

  • 2006: Grazing Animals Project Pembrokeshire advisor for FWAG

Wildlife Television Presenter (managed by ATW Enterprises). Appearances include:

  • 2012: BBC Radio Wales - ‘Value Judgements' Profile interview

  • 2012: BBC1 - ‘Springwatch' - Presenter (film on yellow dung fly behavior and spring insects)

  • 2012: Channel 4 - ‘Jimmy's Forest' - Entomologist documenting insect life of oak woodlands

  • 2012: Smithsonian film ‘Bugs in 3D' - Entomological consultant on educational insect film

  • 2011: BBC Oxford - Radio interview based on ‘Hippo: Nature's Wild Feast'2011: Channel 4 - ‘Hippo: Nature's Wild Feast' - Entomologist on a 90 minute documentary and live internet broadcasts charting the animals that utilise a hippo carcass in Zambia

  • 2009: Sky Nature - Knowledge Package - Entomologist on television and press Sky TV advert

  • 2008: BBC Radio Wales Farming - Radio interview: beneficial insects for farmers

  • 2008: BBC Radio Wales - Radio interview: involvement with ‘Not in My Nature'

  • 2008: BBC Wales - ‘Not in My Nature' - Entomologist on a series following a group of nature rookies

Voluntary work:

  • 2002-2005: Oxford University Museum of Natural History Hope Entomological Collections volunteer

  • 2004: Operation Wallacea invertebrate scientist (3 month contract, Honduras)

  • 2001-2002: Press & publicity officer for the young members Welsh Black Cattle Society

 

SELECTED WRITING

2012: University of Oxford Jesus College MCR Newsletter - ‘Supermarkets: good, bad or a necessary evil?'

2010: Welsh Country Magazine - ‘Home is where the dung is!'

2010: Jesus College Alumni magazine - ‘From delving in dung to fronting the Sky Knowledge campaign'

2009: FWAG Newsletter - Dung beetles: the farmers friends'

2009: Welsh Country Magazine - ‘Insect hunting in the garden in early summer'

2008: WWBIC Bulletin 4 - ‘Back to our roots: the importance of native breeds as conservation tools'