Welcome to the Victorian Biodiversity Conference 2025!
The conference will run on the 12th and 13th of February at Monash University’s Clayton Campus. A mix of plenary talks, panels, poster presentations and abstract talks will feature on these days. Conference tickets include catering.
Networking Event
A networking event will close the conference on the night of the 13th of February from 5:30-9:30pm, at The Count’s at Monash University’s Clayton Campus.
Join us for a fun night of socialising, delicious food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and entertainment.
Ticket includes food and one alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink. Additional drinks will be available for purchase at the bar.
Workshop 1: Introduction to Nature Journalling by Dr Paula Peeters
Tuesday 11th February 9am – 12pm
Jock Marshall Reserve, 50 College Walk, Clayton VIC 3168
Nature journaling is the practice of drawing or writing in response to observations of nature. The practice slows you down, increases your mindfulness (or clears your mind), and increases your attention to detail and appreciation of beauty. It helps you to notice the details in nature, and improves your recognition of different species, and your understanding of where and how they live. With time, it also improves your ability to observe, to draw and to write. Spending quiet time in nature has many wellness benefits, and nature journaling is a practice that encourages this ‘quiet time’ and reflection.
This session includes: a brief introduction to what nature journaling is; a reflection on place; beginner lessons in drawing and writing; an exploration of the nature journaling prompts; an introduction to nature journaling materials; activities to improve observational skills and time for free nature journaling.
Facilitator Bio
Bio: Dr Paula Peeters is an ecologist, artist and writer based in Beechmont, Qld, who combines these skills to teach the practice of nature journaling, and regularly collaborates with a range of organisations to bring nature journaling workshops and lessons to a diverse audience. Paula has been teaching nature journaling since 2016, and has written 3 books on nature journaling: Make a Date with Nature – An Introduction to Nature journaling (2016); Take this Book for a Walk: A step-by-step guide to nature journaling (2020) and A walk in the mountain forests: My nature journal of Binna Burra, Beechmont and beyond (2023). She is also the illustrator of five colouring books about threatened species and ecosystems. Paula’s website and blog www.paperbarkwriter.com (established in 2015) is archived annually by the State Library of Queensland.
Instagram: @paula.peeters Twitter: @paperbark_ Redbubble store: PaperbarkW
Workshop 2: Interdisciplinary Workshop: Translating Ecological Knowledge into Biodiversity-Positive Design and Management by Dr Zoë Metherell
Tuesday 11th February 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Jock Marshall Reserve Education Centre, 50 College Walk, Clayton VIC 3168
We already have extensive knowledge in ecology and related fields that can inform biodiversity-positive design and management in Victoria and beyond. The challenge lies in translating this knowledge for effective practice. This interactive workshop will explore how we can achieve this using the “pattern-writing” method.
The workshop provides a unique opportunity for ecologists, researchers, and practitioners – including landscape architects, planners, and biodiversity managers -to come together in conversation and share knowledge for biodiversity-positive practices.
- Researchers: Learn a novel method to translate your findings into practical concepts that can impact biodiversity-positive design and management.
- Practitioners: Use patterns as a framework for unpacking current research, sharing your own practice-based experience, and building up a body of evidence-based concepts for biodiversity conservation, design, and management.
About the pattern- approach
Patterns are a form of written expression, first invented by architects in the 1960s for participatory knowledge-sharing, and later adopted in computing and other fields. Our workshop facilitator, Zoë Metherell, a landscape architect with a PhD in ecological design, developed a version of this method during her PhD research to foster interdisciplinary communication between scientists and designers. In collaboration with landscape architects and urban ecologists at the City of Melbourne, Zoë co-wrote 80 patterns for biodiversity-positive design in urban streets. These were collated in an Ecological Design Toolkit that was designed to support the implementation of the Council’s biodiversity strategy, Nature in the City. In this workshop, Zoë will share the tools and methods she developed through this process.
Workshop Details
The workshop will provide time and space for collaborative discussions and opportunities to trial the tools and methods. The aim is to develop a diversity of ideas and then draw them together to illustrate a positive vision for biodiversity regeneration. By the end of the workshop, you will have practical tools to translate current research and general principles of ecology into design and management solutions for biodiversity.
Please join us!
This workshop is for anyone who loves engaging with ideas and imagining a positive future for biodiversity! It is open to all attendees of VicBioCon – no prior knowledge required. While Zoë originally developed pattern-writing for urban ecological design, the method itself has potential to be used to translate research to practice in many fields – from fire ecology to marine restoration. No matter what area you are currently working in, we hope researchers, students, and practitioners working in design and management will join us, as a diversity of voices and perspectives will enrich the experience for all.
Facilitator Bio
Dr Zoë Metherell is a practicing landscape architect and ecological designer with a PhD from the University of Melbourne. Her research explores how we can integrate scientific and design knowledge and apply this into biodiversity-positive design and management to restore degraded landscapes and create more liveable cities. See some of Zoë’s work on Instagram @zmenvironments.
Event T&Cs
Tickets to the conference are for the 12th and 13th only, please purchase tickets for the workshops and networking event separately.
Conference tickets includes catering.
All presenters must purchase a ticket to confirm their place on the program.
View further details on our website.
Photos by Adam Purcell, Melbourne Ceili Camera
