Unveiling the 22nd European Congress of Herpetology at the University of Wolverhampton

The University of Wolverhampton recently played host to an event of global significance as it welcomed herpetologists from 27 nations across 4 continents for the 22nd European Congress of Herpetology Held in the United Kingdom for the first time since 1989, the University’s Springfield campus marked a remarkable gathering of experts in the field of reptiles and amphibians, fostering an exchange of knowledge and ideas that transcended borders and enriched understanding of these fascinating creatures.

This video summarises and showcases the event. 

It was a testament to the international appeal of herpetology and the collaborative spirit that binds scientists, conservationists, and enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds. Among the participating countries were Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, England, France Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Slovakia, Switzerland, the United States, Ukraine, and Wales. Additionally, there were even contributions in the form of posters from Turkey and Ivory Coast, truly making this a global affair spanning 4 continents.

The congress featured a rich program shown in this agenda. There were 99 speakers throughout the duration of the conference including presentations from 4 expert plenary speakers, researchers and PhD students. The congress featured themed symposia and sessions and 2 poster sessions which showcased the work of 52 researchers, supported by 2 workshops focusing on research communication for outreach and diversity, equity, and inclusivity in herpetology. In addition to this series of meaningful academic sessions, there was also a speed networking event for students to learn from professionals, several other student-focused events, a post-conference tour, the Darwin Walk in Shrewsbury, and a gala dinner held at the Molineux stadium!

The success of the congress was evident not only in the academic presentations and discussions but also in the feedback received from participants. Attendees took to social media to express their enthusiasm, with comments like "One of the best conferences I've attended!" and "A huge, huge thank you to all the organisers."

In partnership with our generous sponsors, the congress was able to support the attendance of 37 students and the Ukrainian Herpetological Society (UGT) by sponsoring members to present their work in person, virtually and as a poster. The UGT president, Oleksandr Zinenko, presented virtually on the impact of the war on herpetofauna in Ukraine; Oleksandra Klinova presented the first findings of snake fungal disease in Ukraine, and a poster was displayed on behalf of Oksana Nekrasova about her work modelling the distribution of Natterjack toads. There was also a UGT stand at the conference with a charity sale of souvenirs, and additional funds raised at the congress were donated to their project reintroducing the Danubian newt. At the end of the conference, the herpetologically themed zap stands were auctioned off to raise further funds for this worthy project.

This event was possible thanks to a dedicated group of 10 members forming the Local Organising Committee:

• Alice Pawlik, University of Exeter
• Deepak Veerappan, University of Wolverhampton
• John Wilkinson, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
• Kate Faulkner, University of Wolverhampton
• Mark O’Shea, University of Wolverhampton
• Natasha Kruger, University of Wolverhampton
• Rebecca Morris, University of Wolverhampton
• Rémi Martin, University of Wolverhampton
• Simon Maddock, Newcastle University
• Sharon Newill, University of Wolverhampton

To facilitate such an impressive event, the Local Organising Committee worked alongside the event’s many supporters and they would like to extend their thanks to everyone who made the event possible, in particular:

• The dedicated members of the scientific committee, for reviewing presentation abstracts
• University of Wolverhampton student volunteers, for attendee registration and help with the set-up
• Session chairs, for supporting speakers in the themed sessions
• Professor John Raftery, Interim Vice Chancellor, for his welcome speech during the opening ceremony
• Professor Paul Hampton for his speech about the history of Springfield during the opening ceremony
• Professor Paul Hampton and the University of Wolverhampton for the use of Springfield campus and support during the conference
• The four plenary speakers; Prof Richard Griffiths, Mr Patrick Campbell, Dr Jeff Streicher and Prof Katharina Wollenberg Valero
• Johanna Noble for extensive help with conference finances
• Agata Wasiewska, Registry, for the great photos and video
• STEM Response Team for the workshop on Research Communication for Outreach
• Societas Europaea Herpetologica for inviting us to host the conference
• Chris Young and Ken Oliver from ABWC for driving the minibuses for the post-conference tour in Shrewsbury
• Jon Fraser King of “Speaking of Darwin” for leading the tour
• John Hughes, Darwin Officer, Shropshire County Council, who showed the tour group around The Mount where Darwin was born
• Gilly Jones, University of Wolverhampton, for providing IT technical support during the conference
• Neil Davies, Mind the Brand, for printing the t-shirts, mugs and tote bags
• Digital Print Services for printing posters, programs and name badges
• Paul Craddock and his Security team
• Support services from digital services, and estates (cleaners and caretakers)
• The External Events team members for manning the registration table when the student volunteers were attending talks
• Five-star Catering, for refreshments and lunches
• And the event sponsors:
  • Societas Europaea Herpetologica
  • University of Wolverhampton
  • Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
  • Froglife
  • British Herpetological Society
  • Natural History Book Service (NHBS)
  • Caledonian Conservation Ltd
  • Brill Publishing
  • Société herpétologique de France
  • Asociación Herpetológica Española
  • British Chelonia Group
  • Exotics Keeper Magazine
  • Pelagic Publishing
  • Austrian Herpetological Society
  • Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK
  • The Herpetological Society of Ireland
  • Info Fauna
  • European Snake Society

Finally thanks also to the weather which was superb throughout the entire conference, surprising visitors from overseas who enjoyed a late English summer. 

The 22nd European Congress of Herpetology at the University of Wolverhampton was not only a gathering of scientists but a celebration of the diverse and captivating world of amphibians and reptiles. It showcased the power of international collaboration and the dedication of those working tirelessly to understand and protect these fascinating creatures. As the congress came to a close, it left behind a legacy of shared knowledge, new connections, and renewed enthusiasm for the field of herpetology.