Dr. Rich Burkmar

Richard obtained a PhD in ecology from Cardiff University (1984) before working for the RSPB where he became interested in information technology, provoking a move to the IT sector in 1991 where he became a GIS specialist (IBM, Salford University, Salford University Business Services, ICL/Fujitsu, Swift Computing). In 2006 he re-entered the conservation sector, coordinating the North Merseyside Local Biodiversity Action Plan and then managing Merseyside Biobank - the Local Environmental Record Centre for Merseyside. At this time, he obtained an MSc in biological recording from the University of Birmingham (2009). In 2013 he moved to the Field Studies Council (FSC) where he managed the Tomorrow’s Biodiversity Project (2013-2018). In 2019 he took up his current role with UKCEH where he develops websites and web applications in partnership with UKCEH scientists – particularly those working in the biodiversity group – and recording schemes & societies associated with UKCEH’s Biological Recording Centre (BRC).

Richard developed the ‘FSC QGIS plugin for biological recorders’ which is widely used by biological recorders to import and use biological records in QGIS. He created Drupal websites for the Earthworm Society of Britain and the British Arachnological Society as well as the Plant Atlas 2020 for the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland. He also works on a variety of BRC Drupal websites including iRecord and the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. UKCEH web applications developed include the E-planner and Decide. His major programming skillset is that of web technologies including Javascript, CSS and HTML.