GSB2023 – Finally!

By DR. Franciska de Vries

Professor of Earth Surface Science, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam

It’s hard to believe. We started planning the 3rd GSB conference, which was supposed to be in November 2021, such a long time ago! And now, after almost two years of delay, the program is online, I have booked my trip, and I am finally going to meet the rest of the organizing committee and many speakers for the first time in three years.

Back l. to r.: Erin Cameron, Richard Bardgett, Guillaume Patoine, Kris Verheyen, Brajesh Singh, Tesfaye Wubet, Franciska de Vries, Nathaly Rokssana, Don Cowan, Fernando Maestre, Leá Beaumelle, Simone Cesarz, Diana Wall, Witoon Purahong, César Marin

Front l. to r.: Manuel Delgado-Bazquerizo, Alberto Origazzi, Nico Eisenhauer, Carlos Guerra, Anna Heintz-Buschart

But of course I’m not just going to meet people who I already know. I’m very excited to meet new people, and hear about the forefront of soil biodiversity research, education, and policy. Interest in soil biodiversity has seen a remarkable increase in the past few years, which culminated recently by the explicit inclusion of the conservation and sustainable use of soil biodiversity in the decisions of last December’s COP15 meeting . Key elements and activities to accomplish this are mentioned too, and include (1) policy coherence and mainstreaming, (2) encouraging the use of sustainable soil management practices, (3) awareness raising, sharing of knowledge, technology transfer and capacity building, and (4) research, monitoring and assessment. So, the conference really couldn’t be at a better time, as all these key elements will be discussed at the meeting, and scientists, educators, policymakers, and practitioners will all be present.

I’m very curious to see the keynote lectures, which I expect will really be highlighting novel understanding of the drivers of soil biodiversity, how it responds to global change, and the role that soil biodiversity plays in natural and managed ecosystems. And a fantastic set of keynote speakers it is!! But one of the things I’m particularly looking forward to is attending a few of the workshops that are taking place. Workshops are a great way to meet new people and learn new things, and the ones that are taking place at the GSB meeting focus around those key elements mentioned in the COP15-decisions: techniques, education, data sharing and availability, and global collaborative initiatives. I’ll certainly be attending the workshop on the effects of multiple global change factors on soil biodiversity, and probably also one of the SPUN workshops – an exciting new global initiative to map the diversity of fungi.

Of course, I will also pick and mix from the fantastic number of contributed talks, choosing talks by people I know, by old friends and colleagues, and support my own group members who are giving a talk! But I won’t be listening to back-to-back talks all day, and I’m sure to find some time to see Dublin (preferably while running), catch up with friends, and of course attend the welcome reception, poster session, and gala dinner. Will I see you there?