DTO-BioFlow opens Second Open Call

DTO-BioFlow Second Open Call

The DTO-BioFlow project (https://www.lifewatch.eu/dto-bioflow/) is launching its second open call for marine biodiversity monitoring data. The project is dedicated to developing and integrating the biological component of the Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO), including new digital tools and services.

Data on biodiversity, and related human and environmental pressures are crucial to understand its current state and how this may change. Protecting and restoring biodiversity is one of three objectives of the Horizon Europe Mission to restore our oceans and waters by 2030, enabling the EU to reach its Green Deal and Biodiversity 2030 targets. Identified as one of the Mission “enablers”, the EU will build on “a digital knowledge system” to include a Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO) allowing simulation of ‘what if’ scenarios, advancing ocean knowledge, informing evidence-based policy and offering a range of societal applications.

The call invites data holders (international networks, citizen science networks, research institutes, universities, NGOs, etc.), to contribute marine biodiversity data to the European Digital Twin of the Ocean and facilitate sustained and long-term ingestion of previously inaccessible data.

Application process
Call Launch: December 17th 2024
Deadline for applications: February 28th 2025, 23:59 CET
Applicants should submit their application through the Open Call webform on the DTO-BioFlow website, where the filled-in application template needs to be submitted.

For more information, visit: https://dto-bioflow.eu/second-open-call-marine-biodiversity-data

Open applications for Agroecology living labs and research infrastructures

agroecology network application

The Agroecology Partnership project (https://www.lifewatch.eu/agroecology-partnership) aims to facilitate the transition of the agricultural sector towards agroecology in Europe.

Its mission is to address climate change, biodiversity loss, food security and environmental degradation while ensuring profitability for farmers.

LifeWatch ERIC is leading an international team within the project’s WP5 (Data and Monitoring Agroecology Transition) to develop and implement an innovative conceptual framework for the monitoring and evaluation of agroecology transitions.

As a way to achieve the project’s objectives, the European Network of Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures gathers initiatives that enhance knowledge sharing of agroecology innovations across Europe.

Members of the Network get access to extensive connections with agri-food stakeholders, learning resources and data sharing between living labs and research infrastructures. They also get to cooperate on international projects and participate to the co-creation of process improvements.

The network has opened its first wave of applications for living labs and research infrastructures actively contributing to the agroecology transition: a great chance to connect with similar initiatives, learn best practices, gain visibility, grow and collaborate.

Applications for the membership can be submitted by the 28th of February 2025: you can find the details here.

Highlights from the BES Annual Meeting in Liverpool

BES 2024

From 10 to 13 December 2024, over 1500 ecologists gathered in Liverpool for Europe’s largest conference dedicated to ecology.

The event held particular relevance for LifeWatch ERIC, thanks to a rich programme of Thematic sessions, addressing the biodiversity crisis, nature restoration policies and practices, novels tools and technologies to tackle current challenges, and much more.

This annual meeting also brought together one of the most relevant scientific communities for LifeWatch ERIC’s mission.

Earlier this year, LifeWatch ERIC was featured in the autumn issue of the British Ecological Society’s Niche magazine, reinforcing the strong connection between the research infrastructure and the ecology community (read more here).

LifeWatch ERIC attended the conference with a booth dedicated to research communities facilities, services and resources (including ENVRI-Hub NEXT), and a series of talks dedicated to biodiversity monitoring, conservation strategies, and more.

The booth was a great success, directly engaging more than 300 attendees. A unique opportunity to collect feedback on user needs and research priorities.

Researchers were invited to share their views via brief surveys about the challenges they face and how LifeWatch ERIC’s services could support their work.

The response was extremely positive: 275 scientists and researchers from 33 different countries participated, representing different demographics and career stages, from early-career researchers under 30 to established experts over 60 years old. A great result, that highlights a growing interest in our services and offers insights into the needs, priorities and engagement level of researchers. This will help us to better tailor our services to match the expectations of ecologists, and biodiversity and ecosystem researchers.

The conference also proved to be a powerful engagement tool in involving scientists within the new LifeWatch ERIC flagship initiative, dedicated to its Thematic Service Working Groups (Ecological responses to Climate Change, Animal movement and bio-logging, Biogeography, Biodiversity observatory automation, Habitat mapping and Taxonomy). These groups have the objective to promote collaboration and innovation within the research community. With 67% of respondents willing to join one or more of the thematic working groups, the surveys have been an indicator of the relevance of our thematic services and the desire of researchers to collaborate with the infrastructure.

The feedback and connections made during the conference will help us refining and expanding our services to meet the evolving needs of researchers.

For more information on the Thematic Services Working Groups you can visit this page: https://www.lifewatch.eu/thematic-services-working-groups which will be regularly updated with new developments.

Green Balkans and the collaboration with LifeWatch ERIC

Life for Lesser Kestrel

At the end of November, the team of the project Life for Lesser Kestrel – LIFE19 NAT/BG/001017 by Green Balkans, (https://lesserkestrellife.greenbalkans.org/en/) funded by the EU’s LIFE program, participated in the second edition of the Plovdiv Science Festival. The event provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the collaboration with LifeWatch ERIC.

Hosted by the Center for Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB) in Plovdiv, the Festival was organised for the second consecutive year by the Beautiful Science Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Municipality of Plovdiv. Over four days, the festival featured more than 100 presentations, games, exhibitions, demonstrations, experiments, workshops, and educational activities, attracting over 5,000 participants, including school groups, curious youth, visitors of all ages, and residents and guests of Plovdiv.

Green Balkans presented the exhibition “The Great Return – 2”, featuring scientific illustrations, paintings, graphics, digital images, and mixed media works created by members of the Society of Animalists, Florists, and Scientific Illustrators (DAFNI). Inspired by rare and protected species that are part of conservation and restoration programs in Bulgaria, the exhibition highlighted the connection between art, science, and wildlife conservation. The illustrations allowed thousands of children to enjoy learning about rare and protected species showcased in the exhibition.

During the presentation program, Dr. Gradimir Gradev from Green Balkans shared with young attendees the story of the adventures of the lesser kestrel Ruzhka, and the conservation efforts that have led to the recovery of this species in Bulgaria, once considered extinct in the region, with its colonies gradually growing.

Dr. Gradev also highlighted the organisation’s collaboration with our research infrastructure, represented locally by the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, as e-research facilities for studying biodiversity and ecosystem services can contribute greatly in helping address global environmental challenges.

Hopefully, many more collaborations like this will emerge in the future, supporting efforts to bring many other species back from the brink of extinction.