We're excited to announce that RammSanderson Ecology is now an approved provider of the Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC), delivered in partnership with the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI).
The FISC is recognised across the ecological industry as the standard for assessing botanical field identification skills. Whether you're looking to benchmark your current knowledge, develop your botanical expertise or demonstrate your competency to employers and clients, the FISC provides an independent measure of your botanical skills.
Meet Dr. Steven Paul Sylvester
All FISC assessments at RammSanderson Ecology are led by our FISC-accredited assessor and Associate Botanist, Dr Steven Paul Sylvester (PhD, MSc, BSc).
Steven brings more than 19 years of ecological and botanical experience, gained through both ecological consultancy and academia. Throughout his career, he has undertaken ecological surveys across Britain and internationally, while also lecturing and training undergraduate, master's and PhD students in ecology and botany.
An internationally recognised plant taxonomist, Steven has authored 37 peer-reviewed scientific publications, including 18 as first author and 11 as second author. His research has led to the discovery and formal description of 34 taxa new to science, including:
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2 new genera
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25 new species
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3 new subspecies
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4 new varieties
Some of Steven’s other academic achievements include:
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First Class BSc (Hons) in Ecology – University of Wales Bangor
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MSc with Distinction in Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants – University of Edinburgh
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PhD in Ecology and Plant Taxonomy – University of Zurich
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Prestigious academic awards including the 2015 Prix de Quervain award of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences and the 2009 University of Edinburgh MSc Top Student award.
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10 press articles related to research produced, including National Geographic, Swiss and German radio interviews and newspaper articles.
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Journal reviewer for 15 scientific journals focussed on plant ecology, systematics, and evolution.
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>50 scientific expeditions, amounting to over 24 months of fieldwork, led in Belizean savannahs, the Colombian and Peruvian Andes, Hengduan mountains of China, Maloti-Drakensberg mountains of southern Africa, and the UK and Irish countryside.
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ca. 3600 plant collections from 11 countries: Belize, Bolivia, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Ireland, Peru, Lesotho, Nepal, South Africa, UK.
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13 competitive extramural grant proposals accepted, generating >£350,000, including grants from the Newton Fund (£99,700), Leverhulme Trust (£58,000), Swiss National Science Foundation (£85,066), University of Zurich (£68,218), and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (>£34,000).
His exceptional botanical knowledge, extensive field experience and passion for developing botanical skills make him ideally placed to deliver FISC assessments.
A Successful First Assessment
On 16 July, we held our first internal FISC assessment for members of the RammSanderson team. The day was a fantastic success, allowing our ecologists to experience the assessment process and benchmark their botanical identification skills.
Here's what some of our team had to say:
"It was a really useful and interesting experience. I’ve never completed a FISC before, so it was really helpful to identify the areas I’m confident in, as well as those where I can continue to improve." – Senior Ecologist
"The FISC field site was very species-rich and gave us a great opportunity to test our skills. The lab sessions included species ranging from low to high difficulty level covering a variety of nationally spread habitats, and there were many helpful recommendations on the best books to use for the assessment. The FISC methodology and grading were explained really well, and the free drinks and snacks were a nice touch!" – Consultant Ecologist
What does the Assessment involve?
The FISC is a one-day assessment consisting of two laboratory identification sessions and a field survey. Candidates identify a range of fresh plant specimens before completing a botanical survey at a local field site. Their identifications are then compared against a reference survey to provide an objective assessment of their botanical identification skills.
Why Choose a FISC?
The FISC is recognised as the industry standard for assessing botanical survey skills and is widely recognised across the ecological profession. It's an excellent way to demonstrate your competency, support your continuing professional development, and give employers and clients confidence in your identification abilities.
Whether you're an early-career ecologist looking to benchmark your skills or an experienced professional seeking formal recognition of your expertise, the FISC is an invaluable addition to your professional toolkit.
Book your FISC Assessment
We're delighted to be offering FISC assessments and look forward to welcoming ecologists from across the UK.
Keep an eye on this page and our other social media platforms for future assessment dates and booking opportunities.
If you have any questions about the FISC or would like to find out more, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the RammSanderson Ecology team - we'd be happy to help