ANERIS Workshop on Underwater Imaging, Bio-optic and Participatory Technologies

ANERIS workshop

Online

After a very successful workshop on AI basics for image analysis, Euro-BioImaging and its nodes (France Bioimaging and Israel Bioimaging), are excited to announce the organisation of a new series of ANERIS workshop sessions on December 2nd and 4th, 2024, focused on Underwater imaging, Bio-Optics, and Participatory technologies developed within the ANERIS Project (https://www.lifewatch.eu/ANERIS).

Experts from Euro-Bioimaging, the University of Haifa, France-BioImaging, and members of the ANERIS consortium will lead participants through sessions exploring the various technologies and tools developed within the ANERIS project.

This event is open to all researchers, technology developers, users, citizens and stakeholders from the broader scientific and technical community interested in advancing the field of marine science.

 Visit Euro-BioImaging website for more information and the agenda: https://www.eurobioimaging.eu/events/aneris-workshop-2-underwater-imaging-bio-optic-and-participatory-technologies

Register here: https://embl-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJModeuhqj4qGNfM9Omc2plO1L8W-RcIGRKO#/registration

Science Day 2024: Hight-T at Sea

ostend marine station event

Ostend, Belgium

The Marine Station Ostend of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), will be open for visits on Sunday, 24 November 2024, in celebration of the Belgian Science Day 2024. This will be a unique opportunity for anyone interested in marine research, to explore the institution and even step aboard a marine research vessel.

The objective of the event, called “High-T at sea”, is to highlight the high-tech progress of marine research, with a dense agenda including highlights such as ocean digital twins, interactive digital experience labs, and activities for children, including building their own periscope.

LifeWatch Belgium will be present as well, to showcase cutting-edge technological innovations. Additionally, children will be able to participate in the WoRMS sea creature scavenger hunt. There’s something for everyone!

The full programme (in Dutch) is available here: https://www.vliz.be/en/events/science-day-2024-high-t-sea

EOSC Winter School 2025

EOSC Winter School 2025

Sevilla, Spain

EOSC Focus supports the co-programmed EOSC Partnership in delivering its mission of establishing Open Science across the European Union.

As part of its mandate, in response to collaboration needs among Horizon Europe EOSC-related projects, EOSC Focus organises the EOSC Winter School since last year. The second edition will take place in the week of 20 January 2025, in Seville, Spain.

This event was conceptualised following a suggestion at the European Commission’s June 2023 coordination meeting, which identified a significant collaboration gap in the Horizon Europe EOSC-related projects.

Stay tuned for updates on the EOSC Association website: https://eosc.eu/events/eosc-winter-school-2025/

Eleventh CoP online meeting: Technical Tools to improve the efficiency of RIs staff

technical tools

Online

Organised by the RitrainPlus consortium on 15 November (from 12:00 to 13:00), the event is part of a series of meetings dedicated to the project’s Community of Practice. The focus is be on research infrastructure staff, with Cristina Huertas-Olivares (International Initiatives & Projects Manager) and Joaquin Lopez Lerida (Data e-Science Management Plan & BlockChain Officer), both from the LifeWatch ERIC Statutory Seat and ICT-Core offices in Spain, moderating and presenting during the session. 

The goal of the meeting is to promote the efficiency of distributed Research Infrastructures, through highly practical activities: attendants are presented with a suite of digital tools to enhance their daily workflow.

The recording of the meeting is available on the Ritrain Plus dedicated page: https://ritrainplus.eu/2024/10/14/next-cop-online-meeting-technical-tools-to-improve-the-efficiency-of-ris-staff/

RitrainPlus Knowledge Exchange Workshop:

Online

Organised jointly by ICOS and ACTRIS in the scope of the RitrainPlus project, the online workshop is dedicated to the management of European projects, and it is organised in three independent sessions on 14, 15 and 29 November. Participants can register for one or more of the sessions, depending on their interest.

The three sessions will cover essential topics: methods for identifying emerging themes and assessing project portfolios; practical strategies for managing multiple projects simultaneously; and ways to ensure the sustainability and long-term legacy of projects.

Please note that space is limited, and registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

For details on this workshop, visit this page: https://ritrainplus.eu/2024/10/16/ritrainplus-knowledge-exchange-workshop-project-portfolio-management/

CLIM-A: International Congress on Climate change

clim-a congress

 Cádiz, Spain

LifeWatch ERIC will attend the CLIM-A International Congress on Climate Change in Andalusia, on 23 and 24 October 2024, represented by José Manuel Ávila-Castuera, Agroecology Coordinator from our ICT-Core offices in Sevilla (Spain).

Mr. Ávila-Castuera will attend the Round Table 5, in the afternoon of 24 October, dedicated to Climate Services Research and Innovation and moderated by Ms. María López Sanchís, General Secretary of Sustainability and Environment at the Regional Government of Andalusia.

The CLIM-A congress brings together prominent leaders, experts, and environment professionals from all over the world, to discuss challenges and opportunities related to climate change, especially in Europe and in the Andalusian region.

The full agenda is available here: https://www.climacongress.org/#agenda

“Marine SABRES in fairs” at the European Researchers’ Night

european researchers' night

Lecce, Italy

LifeWatch ERIC participates in the European Researchers’ Night with the project Marine SABRES (www.marinesabres.eu), in the scope of the initiative “Marine SABRES in fairs: biodiversity conservation and restoration, sustainable blue economy and the benefits of ecotourism”.

During the event, LifeWatch ERIC presents results and activities carried out in the framework of the project, promotes best practices and examples of sustainable use of marine resources and tourism, and also presents some videos realised by the LifeWatch Italy Multimedia Production Centre relating to project activities.

Moreover, the event is a chance to promote the Serious Game School Competition just launched by the project.

More info: https://www.lifewatch.eu/2024/09/13/marine-sabres-european-researchers-night-2024/

Biodiversity Monitoring in Luxembourg

Biodiversity monitoring Luxembourg LIST

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Structured data is essential in order to study the conservation status of certain species, update red lists at the national level, and produce new distribution atlases.

Moreover, it opens new opportunities for novel approaches to the analysis and processing of such data, generating indicators that can help understand the current situation of nature in Luxembourg.

The objective of the one-day event is to take stock of progress made in recent years, and discuss future opportunities and challenges for biodiversity monitoring.

For more info about the event and to submit your poster, visit: https://www.lifewatch.be/event/biodiversity-monitoring-luxembourg

BioSpace25

biospace25 banner

Frascati (Rome), Italy

The BIOSPACE25 international conference – the first of its kind – is dedicated to the application of Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) across the various dimensions of biodiversity. It addresses Earth Observation from the perspective of its different kinds of ecosystems.

The conference is organised by ESA, the European Commission, the Group on Earth Observation Biodiversity Observation Newtowk (GEO BON), the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), and a number of partner organisations. The objective is to bring together an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral community of experts in biodiversity and conservation, with the goal to offer insightful exploration of critical biodiversity challenges object of Earth Observation systems, and how SRS solutions can contribute.

Julien Radoux, from LifeWatch Belgium, is taking part in the capacity of co-organizer of this unique event. There is also the possibility to submit workshop proposals and abstracts.

Visit the event page for more details: https://biospace25.esa.int/

7th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity

world conference marine biodiversity event banner

Bruges, Belgium

The 7th edition of the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity will be held from November 17-20th 2026 (WCMB 2026) in Bruges, Belgium, hosted by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). The conference has been endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade Event.

Taking part in the conference is a major opportunity to share research outcomes, management and policy topics, and offers a platform to discuss current and emerging biodiversity issues.

This year, the main theme will be “The marine biodiversity insights we need, for the ocean we want“.

In collaboration with the WCMB 2026 Scientific Committee, several sub-themes have been defined, which will guide the overall organisation:

  • Challenges to achieve the UN Ocean Decade goals
  • Marine biodiversity: it’s all about the base(line)s and trends
  • Building e-oceans to help us fill our knowledge gaps
  • Marine biodiversity enthusiasts and stewards for the future: who are they, where do they come from, what are their needs and what drives them?
  • Challenges, changes and opportunities in marine taxonomic research: from specimens to genes
  • Science that makes a difference: supporting knowledge-based policies
  • Taking the pulse of the ocean: measuring our current marine biodiversity knowledge through monitoring networks and programs
  • Other

Moreover, the event committee organised a call for session proposals, linked to one of the above conference sub-themes. A session may be constructed around a network, project, initiative or a specific, clearly defined scientific topic or question of broad interest within the field of marine biodiversity and in connection with the chosen sub-theme. Sessions can be constructed as presentations only, or a combination of presentations and discussions.

Practical information:

Session proposal details: https://www.wcmb2026.org/call-session
Submission deadline: 31 March 2025
Feedback on submissions: 15 May 2025
Online submission form: https://form.vliz.be/en/WCMB2026_Sessions

Information on the event and registration are available on the official page: https://www.wcmb2026.org/about