Closure of University of Birmingham 'Biological Recording" Courses. The University of Birmingham, School of Biosciences has recently announced that it will cease to host the 'Biological Recording and Species Identification' programmes (UCert, PG Cert, PG Dip, MSc and day schools). This has come as a complete shock to staff and students, past and present as well as partner organisations. Over the years the programmes have built up a reputation of providing the best foundation in identification skills available. Many of the courses are provided by national experts and run in partnership with the Field Studies Council. This reputation is so strong that students are prepared to travel from all over the UK to obtain the skills necessary to undertake the biological recording that we all know is so desperately needed. The courses are successful. The MSc has a waiting list as the course was over-subscribed. There is only one other M level qualification run on a part-time basis in this field in the whole of the country and this does not have the taxonomic and field skills element. With the demise of this programme, there simply is nowhere else to go. Within the conservation industry, recording organistations and recorders we recognise that there is a need to provide these skills but it appears that it simply isn't profitable enough to provide them. Please show your support for the programme by signing the petition