Restoration Ecology

This EMBO workshop brings experimental and computational researchers together around molecular mechanisms of adaptation, evolutionary dynamics, microbial communities, symbiosis, biodiversity, and cell-environment interactions.

This webinar examines reconstruction and use of marine metagenome-assembled genomes. The first part introduces the Ocean Microbiomics Database as a standardized resource for prokaryotic genome-resolved analysis, including co-abundance-based reconstruction, contextual metadata, and relationships between ecological patterns and microbial genomes. The second part considers why eukaryotic genomes are harder to recover: their complexity, low abundance, and limited markers and reference sequences complicate assembly and classification. Participants will compare reconstruction approaches, explore the database, and consider tools and steps for recovering eukaryotic genomes. The session serves academic and industrial researchers developing marine-microbiome applications and infrastructure teams managing samples, data, and discovery resources.

Provide small grants for curiosity-driven basic science, including biological research, through a simple application centred on a short scientific idea video. The programme welcomes researchers at any career stage at eligible US institutions. Each award provides up to USD 10,000 as a gift to the host institution, without overhead. Applications close on 12 October 2026 at midnight Pacific Time or when the first 200 submissions are received, whichever occurs first. Biomedical, engineering and primarily computer-science proposals are outside this call’s stated remit.

This scientific meeting examines how tropical-forest ecology can guide green finance while safeguarding biodiversity. Field observations, ecosystem models, economic analysis and restoration evidence connect forest condition, climate resilience, carbon storage and species interactions to nature-based investments. Discussions address additionality, landscape risks, conservation outcomes, measurement and research-informed financial policy. Programme participants include Jedediah Brodie (University of Montana, US); Rebecca Senior (University of Durham, UK); Matheus Nunes (University of Maryland, US); Julia Touza-Montero (University of York, UK); Robin Chazdon (University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia); Lindsay Banin (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK). Schedule: 5–6 October 2026, 09:00–17:00 each day, Europe/London (BST, UTC+1). Researchers may attend online or at the Royal Society, 6–9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG, United Kingdom. Both modes are free; advance registration is required using the appropriate online or in-person ticket. Optional lunch was advertised at £25/day, but bookings were closed when checked; bring lunch or eat nearby.