‘Climbing the Rainforest’ talk inspires at the Royal Institution
Dr Robin Hayward presented a fascinating talk about forest research, climbing ropes to the top of the theatre to show the audience what it takes to study canopies.
From the ceiling of the Faraday Lecture Theatre, Dr Hayward spoke about the equipment researchers use to get to the top of trees, the unique plants and animals that can be found in rainforest canopies, and their research in forest ecology.
Dr Hayward’s previous research in the Indonesian rainforest involved climbing the same kinds of ropes to explore the canopy. With this method, they measured the diversity of epiphytes growing in the rainforest and whether that could be predicted by levels of disturbance on the forest floor.
At the Royal Institution, their talk went into detail about historic canopy research techniques (including shooting branches down with a gun) and modern innovations such as hyperspectral imagery and canopy cranes.
The Faraday Lecture Theatre has a long history as a space to share science with the public. It is where sodium was announced in 1807, where the electron was announced in 1897, and where Michael Faraday shared his theory of electromagnetism.
The Royal Institution hosts its Christmas Lecture series in the theatre, which is celebrating its 200-year anniversary this year.
Dr Hayward said: "I've been honoured to speak in Faraday's lecture theatre a few times now, but this was extra special. In two hundred years of lectures, I don't think many people have done it hanging from a rope!
"Climbing into a rainforest canopy and discovering its secrets is a really exciting kind of research. I hope I gave everyone in the audience a taste of what that felt like, as well as all the amazing engineering that gets us off the ground.
"The future of canopy research is really interesting, and technology will play a huge part in it. Researchers at Leeds are using satellites, drones, and even giant cranes to study the rainforest so it's important we understand all the tools at our disposal."
