Research Infrastructures in a Changing Global, Environmental and Socio-economical Context

Brussels, Belgium

The “Research Infrastructures in a Changing Global, Environmental, and Socio-economic Context” conference, organised as part of the Belgian Presidency of the European Council, is scheduled to take place on June 4th and June 5th, 2024, in Brussels at the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR).

The conference will focus on the role of Research Infrastructures (RIs) in achieving strategic autonomy in a changing global context, their socio-economic and environmental impacts and their wider ecosystems.

Research infrastructures are increasingly affected by various challenges. The conference will explore the value of RIs in achieving open strategic autonomy, their contribution to key policy objectives such as the Green Deal, and their relationship with national/regional RIs and other initiatives and instruments.

To learn more, please visit this website: https://www.belspo.be/Belspo/EUBelgium24/2024060405_ResearchInfrastructures_en.stm#subscriptionform

7th European Congress of Conservation Biology

Bologna, Italy.

The European Congress of Conservation Biology (ECCB), organised by the Europe Section of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), aims to facilitate the exchange of conservation science and nature conservation practice and policy to promote the conservation of biological diversity in Europe.

The 7th ECCB will focus on achieving a biodiversity-positive status by 2030. This theme presents a positive message and a call to action towards conserving biodiversity. Despite the challenges, new protected areas were established, carbon emissions were reduced, and there is a growing awareness of biodiversity’s importance for survival.

This congress provides a platform for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and collaborate toward achieving a sustainable future. By working together and taking action, we can make significant progress in conserving Earth’s biodiversity and achieving a positive biodiversity world by 2030.

To learn more, please visit the official website: https://eccb2024.eu/

Come and visit us!

If you want to discover or learn more about LifeWatch ERIC’s services to biodiversity researchers, you can find us at the 7th European Congress of Conservation Biology with our booth with gadgets and information material.

Can you spare a minute for us?
If you would like to help us improve our services, please complete our survey on research needs in conservation biology: https://forms.lifewatch.eu/virtualoffice433/form/Surveyonconversationbiologyresearchneeds/formperma/sMXw6ARj7G9LfvSyT2jxuGy0S45fTWkYgQmLb6dbU84

Coastal Wetlands: Evidence for Climate and Nature Targets Workshop

Online, 23 May 2024

On 23 May 2024, at 10:00 CET, RESTORE4Cs will organise an online workshop to broaden the perspectives available for countries in finding solutions for achieving and reporting success in coastal conservation towards international and EU commitments.

European Union policies emphasise the importance of wetlands in achieving EU objectives related to climate neutrality, biodiversity protection, zero pollution, flood protection, and the circular economy. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritise assessing the current extent and condition of European wetlands, their greenhouse gas emissions, and their potential for mitigation through restoration or other measures. These priorities are essential to stopping biodiversity decline, restoring the environment, and achieving climate goals.

The workshop aims to identify countries’ needs, shared priorities, and activities for restoring wetland ecosystems. It also aims to establish indicators for assessing coastal wetland habitats and ensure the quality of evidence for policy development and investment in nature-based solutions.

For more information and to register, please visit this page: https://www.restore4cs.eu/coastal-wetlands-evidence-for-climate-and-nature-targets-workshop/

Open Earth Monitor Global Workshop 2024

October 2-4, Laxenburg, Austria

The Open Earth Monitor Global Workshop 2024 is a three-day event organised by the OpenGeoHub Foundation (OGH) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). The workshop will bring together global and European actors involved in open-source Earth Observation applications for policy, business, research, and society. 

Submit your abstract and participate.

The event aims to connect various project partners, including data and environmental researchers, public and private sector developers, EU decision-makers and policymakers, representatives from global institutions, the business sector, and civil society. The workshop’s main objective is to discuss and test solutions for the most significant challenges in geospatial applications.

The OEMC Global Workshop 2024 will feature international keynote speakers, oral presentations, poster presentations, and demonstrative workshops. The participants will explore valuable opportunities and establish tangible collaborations to improve geospatial research and application products in open source.

The deadline for the abstract submission is March 15.

To submit your abstract, please visit this page.

Conservation and Management of Wetlands to Tackle Climate Change

Valencia, Spain, 14-16 February 2024

The “Conservation and Management of Wetlands to Tackle Climate Change” conference will focus on wetlands’ challenges and threats and their significant role in mitigating climate change and preserving biodiversity. The event will also address governance and green job aspects. The conference is tailored to international organisations, civil society, restoration practitioners, managers, university students, and the private sector.

Wetlands in the Mediterranean are essential ecosystems that provide environmental and social benefits but are threatened by degradation, loss, and climate change. Conserving wetlands can regulate local climate, reduce greenhouse gases, and maintain their role in mitigating the greenhouse effect. Proper management is essential to their contribution to the ecosystem. The public’s awareness of wetlands has increased in recent decades, changing society’s perception of them.

The conference aims to provide a platform for individuals to share their work, exchange ideas, network and interact with academics, restoration project implementers, and policymakers worldwide. The conference will showcase new scientific and technical advancements and offer technical tools for the sustainable management of wetlands.

Please visit this page to register for the conference and submit your abstract.

2024 Ocean Decade Conference

Barcelona, Spain, 10-12 April 2024.

Pre-registrations are open for the Ocean Decade Conference will occur from 10-12 April 2024 in Barcelona. Hosted by Spain and co-organized with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), it will gather governments, decision-makers, and others to discuss progress and priorities for the future of the ocean. The conference will cover the 10 Ocean Decade Challenges, and sessions will present science solutions for sustainable development. 

To register, please visit the official website.

The conference will revolve around the 10 Ocean Decade Challenges and aims to offer a collaborative, inclusive and interactive space for learning, networking, and building partnerships. It will serve as a platform for discussing the results of the Ocean Decade Vision 2030 strategic ambition-setting process, which includes a set of white papers identifying future priorities for the Ocean Decade and help generate the necessary knowledge for science-based solutions to global challenges such as climate change, food security, biodiversity conservation, a sustainable ocean economy, pollution, and natural hazards.

Heads of State, UN agency leaders, and representatives of industry and philanthropy will make commitments and announcements during the high-level opening session on the morning of April 10. A plenary session will also discuss the foundational elements of success for the Ocean Decade. 

The conference will feature four thematic sessions based on the Ocean Decade Challenges, including a mix of plenary and parallel sessions that present the results of the Vision 2030 process and science solutions contributing to sustainable development. 

The Ocean Decade conference will also showcase partnerships and provide a platform for partner announcements. The high-level closing session on April 12th afternoon will highlight the primary outcomes and a vision for the Ocean Decade in 2030.

The Science Summit at UN General Assembly

New York and Online, 12–29 September 2023.

The Science Summit at the UN General Assembly will take place in New York and online from 12-29 September 2023. It will focus on the role and contribution of science in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This will be the ninth edition of the Science Summit.

The objective of the Science Summit is to develop and launch science collaborations that will demonstrate global science mechanisms and activities to support the attainment of the UN SDGs, Agenda 2030 and Local2030. Finally, it will also prepare input for the United Nations Summit of the Future, which will occur during UNGA79 in September 2024.

The Science Summit will examine what policy, regulatory, and financial environments. These serve to implement and sustain the science mechanisms and support global scientific collaborations across continents, nations, and themes. Scientific discovery through the analysis of massive data sets will be necessary if the SDGs are to be achieved. Science is not just one of many tools in the quest to achieve the SDGs; it is foundational. It provides the knowledge, techniques, and innovations necessary to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

The Science Summit will begin with the opening session on Tuesday, 12 September 2023. 350 sessions will follow, bringing together 1400 speakers and building on the successful Science Summit at UNGA77 in 2022.

For more information, please visit this page.

Two broad themes

The Science Summit at the UN General Assembly will have two broad themes:

Inclusion: The term “inclusion” encompasses a broad spectrum of meanings. Within the context of the Science Summit, it signifies “data inclusion.” For globally impactful data-driven science, ensuring open access to and utilisation of scientific data is paramount. While the EU and other nations are ushering in data protection and AI regulations, designing an inclusive process is key to achieving the true potential of these benefits. Regulations should be crafted with input from all affected nations, the principle being “no regulation without representation.”

Development Finance: For the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the over 450 Development Banks (which account for more than 10% of world investment) to invest more significantly in science, they must recognise the direct and indirect linkages between scientific advancement and socio-economic development. They must acknowledge the direct and indirect connections between scientific progress and socio-economic development. These institutions have traditionally focused on infrastructure, health, education, and economic stability. By recognising science as a crucial development pillar, they can allocate more resources and play a pivotal role in promoting science in their member countries. This, in turn, can support health policies, drive technological innovation, encourage economic growth, and build long-term resilience.

ALL-READY Workshop – Accelerating the Agroecology Transition

ALL-Ready

Seville, Spain / online, 11 May 2023.

The upcoming 2nd ALL-READY Project Workshop, entitled “Accelerating the Agroecology Transition: Your potential role and benefits of contributing to a European Network of Living Labs and Research Infrastructures.”

 This interactive discussion session will take place on 11 May 2023, at the LifeWatch ERIC ICT-Core premises in Seville, Spain, and will also be available online as a hybrid event.

More information in our news item.

Register Here

AgroServ European Research Services on Agroecology Conference

European Research Services on Agroecology Conference

Prague, Czech Republic / Hybrid, 5–6 June 2023.

The first annual conference on research services on agroecology will be held by AgroServ (a project in which LifeWatch ERIC is partner) from 5–6 June 2023 at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (in-person and online).

The AgroServ project uses a multi-scale approach to respond to diverse research questions; from the level of the molecule and the organism, to the large-scale from farms to entire ecosystems. Since the transition towards a sustainable and resilient agricultural system needs to consider ecological, societal and economic factors, the active involvement of practitioners and scientists from different fields is crucial.

This first edition of the AgroServ Conference will thus be devoted to the research community where it will present the diverse agroecological services accessible via AgroServ and the different facets that shape research in the emerging field of agroecology.

To promote and encourage interdisciplinary approaches to address the agroecological transition, AgroServ’s first call for Transnational Access (TNA call) to access AgroServ services will be launched during this event.

Time will be devoted to discussions and hands-on workshops to brainstorm, meet researchers from different fields and to build ideas for potential proposals.

More information will be shared soon at this link.

European Blue Forum – Official Launch Event!

European Blue Forum

Brest, France / Hybrid, 26 April 2023.

As a part of the European Blue Forum, the European Maritime Spatial Planning Platform (MSP) is creating Europe’s Blue community. A community of different users of the sea, passionate and committed to working together to deliver bold and ambitious change to our shared challenges of nature and climate change. As part of the Forum, stakeholders will have the opportunity to influence the structure and direction of the European Blue Forum in a balanced and inclusive way, and through this, the future of Europe’s Sustainable Blue Economy.
 
The event will provide a platform for everyone, whether part of a large organisation or not, and regardless of how well established the sector or topic you work on is, to share your priorities, challenges and ideas, and contribute to building a common and united path towards the vision of the Sustainable Blue Economy.
 
The Launch Event is only the beginning of the European Blue Forum’s activities!

More information at this link.