Founded over a century ago, the BES was the first Society in the world committed to understanding our earth through ecology, the science studying the relationship between living things and their environment. That commitment remains today with a global community spanning 120 countries and a strategic mission to find ecological solutions for a planet under threat.
With the scientific foundation of our seven world-class journals, the BES has a unique ability to convene the ecological community – bringing the right people together to seek solutions for some of the most pressing challenges of our time. In particular, we support policymakers and business by providing the evidence needed to ensure scientifically robust outcomes.
Our thriving community comes together at our Annual Meeting and symposia where cutting-edge research and conversation attract 1,500 delegates from across the world. We invest £500,000 in research projects annually, with over 51% going to ecologists in the Global South. We enrich and empower the lives of our members through our education programme, career opportunities and the support of our incredible community groups.
The BES’s work is grounded in our strategic goals to advance ecological science, put ecology at the heart of decision-making, nurture an equitable collaborative community, become more sustainable and celebrate the wonder of ecology to inspire change and action.
With the support of our President, Prof Bridget Emmett OBE, the diverse perspectives of our trustees and a brilliant senior leadership team, the BES is a positive and solution-focused organisation with a belief in our ability to influence change through science.