Day 2 → Nathalie Pettorelli & the first full day of sessions!
July 8, 2026
The halfway mark of ECCB ‘26 was opened by Marja Spierenburg, Leiden University (the Netherlands), and Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, who discussed the need for social scientists within conservation efforts:
“Social science is not a single definition but comprises different epistemic traditions. When looking at nature, we need to move from understanding it as a source of profit, potential train routes, and job creation, to accepting it for its value to life on earth. Social scientists uncover that narratives and images play a role. Power and interest are determinant factors to good policies just as much as reliable data.”
Posters, posters, …and more posters! An impressive range of topics was presented in the morning, highlighting the multidisciplinary breadth showcased at ECCB ‘26. Themes included:
- Biodiversity (key performance) indicators (Tools)
- Cross-cutting ecological themes for species conservation and restoration (Fundamentals)
- Evaluation of best practices in conservation (Solutions)
- Ex-situ conservation (Solutions)
- Human-wildlife conflict mitigation (Solutions)
- Impacts of pollution with special emphasis on pollinators and pest control agents (Threats)
- Invasive species management (Threat)
- Nature-based solutions and ecosystem services for effective conservation (Solutions)
- Recent developments in eDNA monitoring (Tools)
- Solutions from recent conservation projects (Solutions)
- Wilderness and rewilding (Solutions)
- Automated detection for conservation (Tools)
After the morning sessions, SCB Europe and Global held their General Assembly for current and prospective members. The society’s activities span from financially supporting student-led congresses on conservation to organising in-person and online activities and webinars for its members.
Take a look at their website for more information: https://www.scbeurope.org/
The day ended with an escape from the university campus to explore ‘the urban green-space multifunctionality’ by walking around Leiden.
Come back for day 4!
