LifeWatch ERIC & friends transform knowledge into practice at the Science Summit 2024

Science Summit 2024

In the scope of its ongoing commitment to supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, LifeWatch ERIC co-organises a workshop as part of the Science Summit 2024 at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) activities in New York (USA), within a network of European organisations (you can find the full list of the event sponsors and partners at the bottom of this page: https://sciencesummitunga.com/science-summit-unga79/).

The Science Summit 2024 is the global event dedicated to scientific and technological challenges of our time, such as climate action, One Health, biodiversity, food systems, AI and other topics relevant to the UN SDGs.

Every year since 2013, the event serves as a dynamic platform for thought leaders, scientists, policymakers and innovators around the world to showcase cutting-edge research and promote knowledge and collaboration. 

Through discussions and networking opportunities, it facilitates the exchange of ideas and the development of actionable strategies.

This year marks the 10th edition of the event and it is particularly important, as it coincides with the UN Summit of the Future. It will place a special emphasis on the Africa Science Leadership Coalition, which was launched at the UN Civil Society Conference on May 9, 2024, to promote African leadership in science policy decision-making. The event takes place in hybrid form, with a Virtual Programme running from 10th to 27th and a physical programme running from 17th to 27th in New York which is also streamed live.

This is not the first workshop organised by the European partners in the Summit. Again this year, these organisations are representing active communities – including LifeWatch ERIC – from the fields of biodiversity, ecology and engineering domains, aiming to strengthen science, technology and innovation efforts. With combined expertise, these communities selected Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as a testbed to strategically contribute to the implementation of the SDGs. The focus is on the emerging properties presented as a network, rather than as individual organisations, projects or initiatives.

The workshop is called Transforming Knowledge into Practice: Science, Technology and Innovation in Support of the UN SDGs and will take place on Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 9:00am to 4:00pm EDT (3:00pm to 10:00pm CEST).

Online joiners can register for free and have the possibility to follow the livestream of the event, which will take place on the Rooftop of the Science Summit venue.

The agenda consists of two parts: one in the morning, on the collective contribution to the implementation of the UN SDGs, and one in the afternoon presenting expectations from the participating science and technology organisations on the above topic.

The workshop ends with the presentation of an open call to forge an international alliance, to further integrate biodiversity conservation into the priorities of the UN Summit of the Future agenda priorities, and the post-SDG agenda.

Christos Arvanitidis, LifeWatch ERIC’s CEO, will open the workshop in a welcome session presenting the objectives, and presenting LifeWatch ERIC as a practical example of the European collaborative effort on biodiversity. 
Follow this link to get the detailed agenda and register to the workshop: https://sciencesummit2024.sched.com/event/1jzig

G20 – Biological Diversity and Conservation Units: Collaboration with the EU Research Infrastructures

Alberto Basset talks about biological conservation at G20

The G20 Brazil 2024 took place in Manaus on September 17 and 18.
Upon invitation from the Ministry of the University and Research of Italy (MUR), Alberto Basset, Director of LifeWatch ERIC Service Centre and Full Professor of Ecology at the University of Salento, joined the panel dedicated to Biological Diversity, Conservation Units and Biosphere Reserves.

This panel, coordinated by Joe Miller from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), focused on promoting collaboration in scientific research, implementing conservation programs, exchanging data and technologies, and setting up environmental management policies. Alberto Basset’s talk specifically addressed the role of EU research infrastructures in fostering scientific collaboration and the key role of research and innovation to cope with global environmental challenges and build a sustainable future for the Amazon region and beyond.

During his intervention, Professor Basset emphasised the critical role of research infrastructures in stimulating innovation and addressing grand societal challenges, fostering openness, excellence and collaboration.

He highlighted how LifeWatch ERIC’s Virtual Labs and Virtual Research Environments contribute to the co-creation of knowledge, which directly supports the wider dissemination of technologies to both the productive sector and society as a whole.

The G20 serves as a vital multilateral platform for nations to collaborate on advancing science and technology in the Amazon region.
The primary focus is on addressing global challenges such as biodiversity loss and the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, improving the quality of life for the Amazonian population, boosting the local economy, and promoting inclusive and sustainable development.

International cooperation in research and innovation plays a crucial role in tackling these issues, as well as defining a model for the sustainable development of the Amazonian region, combating deforestation, mitigating climate change and adapting to its inevitable consequences.

As the current president of G20, Brazil is prioritising strong joint efforts in three key areas:

  1. the promotion of sustainable development, over unsustainable global growth;
  2. social inclusion as one step to combat poverty;
  3. reforming global governance.

Additionally, these sustainability actions rely heavily on the generation of new knowledge, and the definition of tools for the dissemination of technologies to both businesses and society at large.

These topics align closely with the priorities of LifeWatch ERIC, the European e-Science infrastructure for biodiversity and ecosystem research, which together with other European Research infrastructures, provide the scientific community with essential resources and services to carry out research in specialised fields.

RESTORE4Cs issues Policy Brief on the positive climate impact of coastal wetlands

Restore4Cs policy brief news image

RESTORE4Cs (https://www.restore4cs.eu/) is the EU-funded project dedicated to climate change, biodiversity loss and habitat degradation, focusing on the sustainable management of European wetlands. These natural coastal areas of saltwater and freshwater play a key role in achieving the EU objectives regarding climate neutrality, biodiversity protection, zero-pollution, flood protection, and the circular economy. 

Led by the University of Aveiro (Portugal), the RESTORE4Cs consortium aims to assess the role of restoration action on wetlands’ capacity, through an integrative socio-ecological systems approach.

Within the scope of this objective, on 9 September 2024, the project launched its first Policy Brief, which highlights the aspect of Greenhouse Gas emissions. 

European coastal wetlands have the capacity to reduce emissions consistently, through the so-called “carbon sequestration”, which generally refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

In the case of wetlands, this is made possible thanks to their vegetation, and via sedimentation processes: they can store large amounts of organic carbon in their soil, due to their rapid growth and slow decomposition rates. Additionally, coastal wetlands generally release lower levels of methane compared to other types of wetlands. Moreover, they help trap organic particles carried by the flooding water, increasing the levels of organic carbon in the soil and forming organic-rich reservoirs called “blue carbon sinks”. 

Given their importance in our ecosystem, it is not surprising that Europe is investing in the protection of these precious environments: just a few weeks ago, at the end of August, RESTORE4Cs had joined three akin projects (ALFAwetlands, REWET and WET HORIZONS) in the SERE2024 Conference, an event entirely dedicated to Ecological Restoration. 

With the Policy Brief, authored by members of the European Topic Center, University of Malaga and University of Valencia (Spain), and the German Ecologic Institute, the project reinforces this message, by highlighting some key takeaways:

  1. the important role of wetlands as natural carbon stores
  2. the need to preserve the ones in good status, and urgently restore the endangered ones, as a cost-effective climate mitigation strategy
  3. the use of carbon certification schemes as additional tools to unlock new financial resources.
  4. the promotion of incentives for climate-friendly companies

You can read or download the full document at this link: https://www.restore4cs.eu/restore4cs-1st-policy-brief/

LifeWatch ERIC featured in the autumn issue of The Niche

The Niche, the quarterly magazine of the British Ecological Society (BES), released its autumn issue last Monday, 9th of September 2024.

The magazine is fully dedicated to science, ecology, and the life of ecologists, through a set of interviews, articles and much more.

This autumn, LifeWatch ERIC has been included in the section Your Society, dedicated to community events, special Interest Groups, relevant networks to be aware about, and member stories. 

Together with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), and with the Ecological Continuity Trust (ECT), we are thrilled to be listed as “Friends of the society”, LifeWatch ERIC being the open science European infrastructure on biodiversity and ecosystems.

The British Ecological Society is, in fact, the oldest ecological society in the world, established in 1913 and counting over 7,000 members. Our organisation has been selected for the support it offers to the long-term sustainability of Earth’s ecosystems and biodiversity, by enabling research communities to use advanced facilities, services and resources.

Research infrastructures are crucial for national, European and international strategies to accelerate scientific advancements. As reported in the article, “Research Infrastructures represent everyday working hubs, assisting the most advanced groups of the scientific community develop new knowledge and innovation”.

LifeWatch ERIC, established in 2017, is one of these infrastructures, with a specific focus on Biodiversity and Ecosystem, integrating and federating FAIR complaint data, reproducible analytical services and mobilised research communities. 

“All the resources are accessible by users from every European country and beyond, without any borders, promoting Science Diplomacy and International equality, with an active policy that supports the access of early career researchers with new ideas and approaches, in line with the LifeWatch ERIC gender equality plan” – they wrote.

The article also lists the main benefits for scientists, such as data storage, metadata catalogues, VREs, digital training, conferences, and the many other opportunities available on our website. 

This year, LifeWatch ERIC will attend BES’s flagship event: the BES2024 Annual Meeting in Liverpool, with a conference booth and contributions from researchers. LifeWatch ERIC was also present in 2023, where, together with the University of Salento and the Italian National Research Council, they presented their work on biodiversity loss, climate change and invasive alien species. 

We invite you to take part in this year’s edition, as it might be a good chance to understand how we can support you and get a closer look at our services, meet new colleagues and learn skills and best practices.
The full issue of the autumn release of The Niche is available upon member registration on the BES website, at the following link: https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/membership-community/the-niche/

Marine Biodiversity and the One Health Framework Workshop in Crete

The Marine Biodiversity and One Health Framework workshop, co-organised by LifeWatch Greece (GR) and the European Marine Biological Resource Centre Greece (EMBRC GR), took place on August 29th and 30th at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) in Crete. The event brought together experts to discuss the intricate connections between marine biodiversity (and the entire interconnected ecosystem), and human health. Although alterations in the ecosystems often become perceptible only when it’s very late to intervene, these changes are occurring at high rates, with devastating impacts on society and health.

This has traditionally driven the approach of the One Health framework, and the workshop analysed recent advances in relation to the areas of interest of the framework, which include -omics, biodiversity and ecosystem research.

The event featured a range of sessions over two days. Key topics included the importance of research infrastructures in advancing the One Health framework, recent advancements in biodiversity and ecosystem research, and the role of aquatic microbial communities. Day one began with a series of presentations on biodiversity and ecosystem eScience, tackling topics such as data management/integration and FAIR principles, the soil microbiome, and the joint approach to medical and environmental eScience.

LifeWatch ERIC took part in the workshop showcasing its efforts in advancing biodiversity and ecosystem research from a European to a global scale. Christos Arvanitidis (CEO), and Alberto Basset (Interim Director), highlighted the organisation’s work on enhancing biodiversity and ecosystems eScience, providing an overview of how LifeWatch ERIC is leveraging cutting-edge technologies and infrastructures to support the One Health approach.

Moreover, LifeWatch ERIC’s involvement highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in bridging regional, national, and international research initiatives to address the pressing issues of ecosystem health.

Day two of the workshop focused on marine biodiversity in relation to the One Health concept, exploring how microbial biodiversity can mitigate environmental stressors and prevent biodiversity loss, exploring the interconnectedness of microbiomes in extreme marine ecosystems and the potential of microbial interactions and networks. 

The conclusion of the event was dedicated to data resources, infrastructures, and omics approaches, providing insights into knowledge discovery from global metagenomic data and the importance of Essential Biodiversity and Ocean Variables.

The workshop, chaired by Georgios Kotoulas, Tsigenopulos Constantinos, Nikos Kyrpides, Christina Pavloudi and Haris Zafeiropoulos, was a great opportunity for fruitful discussions on addressing the challenges of ecosystem and human health in a rapidly changing world.
For more details on the event, visit the event page on LifeWatch Greece: https://www.lifewatchgreece.eu/?q=content/marine-biodiversity-and-one-health-framework-workshop-hcmr-crete-29-30-august

Contributing to wetland restoration goals: highlights from the SERE 2024 Conference in Estonia.

LifeWatch ERIC at SERE 2024 with RESTORE4Cs: joint conference on wetland restoration.

On 27th August 2024, LifeWatch ERIC has taken part to the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SERE 2024) in Tartu, Estonia, as communication and dissemination leader in the RESTORE4Cs European Project, dedicated to coastal wetland restoration. The participation involved the organisation of a booth and a joint session on wetland restoration with three related projects.

Wetland restoration is a key challenge in climate change mitigation strategies. Wetlands are crucial for greenhouse gas and carbon regulation and biodiversity support, making our planet more resilient against extreme weather events. However, 35% of wetlands in Europe have already been lost since 1970. 

As RESTORE4Cs is committed to supporting the implementation of Climate and Biodiversity policies within the European Green Deal, this event is especially important for the initiative, and for LifeWatch ERIC, due to its focus on the EU Nature Restoration law, which was approved earlier this year. The law cites specific goals for restoring peatlands, a specific type of wetland, due to the large contribution of degraded peatlands towards Europe’s carbon emissions.

RESTORE4Cs supports these objectives by gathering data on restoration and land use management actions, upscaling models and integrative assessment tools, structuring a European Community of Practice (ECoP), and co-designing a multi-actor approach.

LifeWatch ERIC has taken part in the conference, represented with a booth overseen by Madeira Scauri (EU Project Communication Officer), and a joint session with the other three wetlands projects ALFAwetlands, REWET and WET HORIZONS, marking the first time the project coordinators have met in person.

Liisa Ukonmaanaho from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), who coordinates the ALFAwetlands project, expressed that meeting fellow project coordinators in person after numerous virtual meetings was particularly rewarding. She also highlighted the participants’ strong interest in wetland restoration, biodiversity and climate change.

Vanessa Ferreira de Almeida from IDENER, the coordinator of the REWET project, noted that their participation in SERE 2024 highlights the critical role of collaboration in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss through nature-based solutions.

The four projects focus on different aspects of wetland restoration across Europe, studying various wetland types to provide both general and region-specific data. Their shared goals include addressing knowledge gaps and developing decision support tools for policymakers.

The projects’ research and findings were presented in a dedicated session on wetland restoration at the SERE 2024 conference. Co-chaired by the project coordinators, the session was split into two parts. The first part, led by ALFAwetlands and WET HORIZONS, focused on improving geospatial knowledge and understanding the impacts of wetland restoration on biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, and socioeconomics. The second part, led by REWET and RESTORE4Cs, explored optimising wetland management for carbon sequestration and the effects of restoration on coastal wetlands’ ecosystem services.

One key takeaway from the conference, concerns the importance of collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions for wetland restoration and climate action.

Read the news and Press Release on the RESTORE4Cs website to learn more: https://www.restore4cs.eu/wetland-experts-come-together-at-the-sere-conference-in-estonia/

RESTORE4Cs at the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration 

SERE 2024

RESTORE4Cs –  the EU-funded project on coastal wetland restoration in which LifeWatch ERIC is leading communications and dissemination – will participate in the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SERE 2024) from 26 to 30 August 2024, in Tartu, Estonia. Representatives from the project’s coordinator, the University of Aveiro, will be present as speakers as the scientific focal point of the project. LifeWatch ERIC will also be present with a booth to showcase the project to the participants.

About SERE 2024

SERE 2024 is a biennial international conference organised by the European Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) in Europe. Scientists, practitioners, and policy-makers of ecological restoration will gather in Tartu to share knowledge and discuss the future of European nature. RESTORE4Cs will hold a session on Wetland Restoration alongside its Sister Projects, ALFAwetlands, REWET and WET HORIZONS.

SERE 2024 will bring together stakeholders from across Europe to collaborate on effective approaches for the long-term recovery of nature. This event will serve as a platform for sharing ideas, knowledge, and experiences restoring various ecosystems, including wetlands, grasslands, forests, rivers, agroecosystems, urban areas, and marine ecosystems. The sessions will cover the theory and practical applications of ecological restoration and the socioeconomic and political contexts. There will be a specific focus on discussions related to developing national restoration plans in line with the new EU law.

To learn more about RESTORE4Cs’ participation at SERE 2024, please visit this page: https://www.restore4cs.eu/restore4cs-at-sere-2024/.

About RESTORE4Cs and The Sister Projects

The restoration of wetlands is crucial for climate change mitigation. The Four EU-funded projects (RESTORE4Cs, ALFAwetlands, REWET and WET HORIZONS) are working together to restore wetlands and enhance their long-term mitigation capabilities. They will outline their initiatives in a special session and presentations from open abstract submissions. Their session will also include an interactive segment to create a roadmap for expediting restoration opportunities and maximising impact.

RESTORE4Cs is committed to supporting the implementing of Climate and Biodiversity policies within the European Green Deal through various initiatives. These include gathering data on restoration and land use management actions, upscaling models and integrative assessment tools, structuring a European Community of Practice (ECoP), and co-designing a multi-actor approach.

Navigating the Blue Economy: key takeaways on ocean monitoring ahead of the G20

On July 8, the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC) hosted a webinar as part of the G20 Ocean Dialogues titled “Navigating the Blue Economy: Insights from Ocean Observation Data.” This virtual event, moderated by EMBRC’s Executive Director Nicolas Pade, brought together a diverse panel of experts to explore the crucial role of ocean observation in advancing marine conservation and sustainable economic practices.

Dr Kilaparti Ramakrishna – Director of Marine Policy Center and Senior Advisor to the President on Ocean and Climate Policy of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution – set the stage by underscoring the ocean’s increasing significance globally, shifting the focus from economic and financial agendas. He highlighted initiatives supported by the United States National Science Foundation, advocating for a science-informed approach among G20 nations to promote ocean sustainability and resilience. Ramakrishna stressed the need for G20 countries to adopt science-driven approaches to ensure ocean sustainability and resilience, urging collaboration among scientific communities and civil society to shape inclusive development policies.

The webinar featured contributions from various stakeholders, offering different perspectives on leveraging ocean observation data for biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development. During one of her interventions, Claire Jolly, Head of Ocean Economy at OECD, emphasised the need of comprehensively tracking ocean health, focusing on living organisms, while advocating for enhanced coordination and long-term political commitment to achieve common goals. Pooja Mahapatra, Principal Advisor, Climate & Nature at Fugro, highlighted the transformative role of public-private partnerships, citing their initiative to map Italy’s coastline using cutting-edge technologies. Regarding ocean observation, Ralph Rayner, Professional Research Fellow at the London School of Economics, advocated for a nuanced understanding rather than mere data accumulation, underscoring gaps in crucial data like marine carbon dioxide removal. Zoi Konstantinou, Policy Officer at the European Commission, addressed the challenge of fostering inclusive dialogue among diverse stakeholders in ocean observation and data management, underlining the importance of initiatives that promote transparency and collaboration. Fabrice Not, Senior Researcher at the Station Biologique de Roscoff, discussed advancements and challenges in biodiversity observation, emphasising the complexity of monitoring microscopic diversity and advocating for comprehensive ecosystem health assessments using advanced technologies.

About the Ocean Dialogues

Part of the Brazilian G20 Presidency’s OCEANS20 initiative, they play a key role in harnessing the ocean’s potential to address global challenges. They highlight the essential role of the ocean in ecosystem balance, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods and integrate scientific evidence with traditional knowledge for effective ocean management. These dialogues generate critical recommendations for financing ocean-climate initiatives and facilitating the transition to a blue economy. By convening experts and leaders, the dialogues advocate for policies that promote equitable food systems, accessible renewable energy, and multilateral cooperation on biodiversity and finance.

If you’re interested in viewing the entire webinar, the recording is available on YouTube on the EMBRC channel.

Advancing Global Energy Solutions at the first EULAC Energytran Virtual Thematic Event

energytran project

The EULAC Energytran project held its first Virtual Thematic Event on 26 and 27 June, titled “Strengthening Europe – Latin America Cooperation in the Energy Transition“. The event brought together stakeholders from Europe, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. The participants – around two hundred – included representatives from scientific communities, universities, policymakers, research infrastructures, project managers and private sector actors, alongside the consortium partners. Our Ana Mellado and Maite Irazábal participated to represent LifeWatch ERIC’s role in the project.

This project addresses common energy challenges between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean. focusing on improving the sustainability of the energy transition process. The two-day virtual event covered the first two work packages of the Energytran project, about technology and policy innovation. This event is part of a broader effort to promote a sustainable and equitable energy transition in both regions. At the meeting, discussions revolved around five panels:

  1. Knowledge Exchange in Scientific Cooperation between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean.
  2. Challenges and Opportunities in the Energy Sector.
  3. Environmental and Social Impact of Renewable Energies.
  4. Emerging Technologies for Energy Sustainability.
  5. Concentrated Solar Thermal Energy Applications.

The event concluded with key takeaways from OEI, CENAT, CSIC, PUC, and UNNE. It highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange, addressing sectoral challenges and opportunities, and considering the social and environmental impacts of energy transitions. The panels also focused on emerging technologies and applications of solar thermal energy. Ana Mellado – LifeWatch ERIC’s Project Executive Coordinator – gave a conclusion regarding the role of technology and research infrastructures in the energy transition process.

The role of LifeWatch ERIC within the consortium

LifeWatch ERIC will bring its expertise in environmental monitoring and data management, contributing to the project’s transdisciplinary approach. The consortium includes prominent universities and research institutions from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, and Portugal. It aims to produce over twenty deliverables, including policy recommendations, and training materials. Moreover, it will create a comprehensive inventory of research infrastructures relevant to the energy transition.
For more information about the Energytran project, please visit the official website: https://energytran.oei.int/

LifeWatch Belgium launched a new and redesigned website for an enhanced user experience

LifeWatch Belgium

LifeWatch ERIC is happy to announce the launch of the newly redesigned LifeWatch Belgium website. This platform offers a sleek, user-friendly interface and enhanced navigation, reflecting LifeWatch Belgium’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality biodiversity and ecosystem research resources.

LifeWatch Belgium specialises in offering advanced data services and tools for biodiversity and ecosystem research. The website showcases services such as the Biodiversity Data System, Habitat Mapping, Bio-Logging, and more, supporting researchers with cutting-edge technologies and extensive datasets.

Indeed, LifeWatch Belgium’s local observatories generate long-term marine, freshwater, and terrestrial data, which is openly accessible for research. Biodiversity data systems integrate global taxonomic information, providing crucial insights into species and their habitats. Advanced bio-logging and camera trapping services facilitate the study of animal movements, while habitat mapping utilises remote sensing and geospatial analysis to characterise environmental data. The e-Lab application allows users to effortlessly standardise, analyse, and visualise data. Additionally, LifeWatch Belgium provides open-source software packages for data access and analysis and maintains a comprehensive dataset catalogue integrated into the LifeWatch ERIC Metadata Catalogue.

Furthermore, the website features inspiring user stories showcasing the diverse applications of LifeWatch Belgium’s resources. For example, the collaboration with JERICO-NEXT to study plankton in the southern North Sea, investigations into oyster larvae settlement for coastal protection, and how Marine Regions data supported the Ocean Health Index. These and other stories have already been published on the new LifeWatch Belgium website.

To access the shiny new LifeWatch Belgium website, please visit https://www.lifewatch.be/.