Call for Symposia, Round Tables/Panels, Workshops and Training Course Proposals
Deadline: October 31st 2025
(results will be available on November 30th 2025)
We are pleased to announce the call for Symposia, Round Tables/Panels, Workshops, and Training Courses for the 8th European Congress for Conservation Biology (ECCB), which will take place in Leiden, the Netherlands, from July 6 to 10, 2026.
Goal and theme ECCB 2026
The central theme of ECCB 2026 is ‘Effective biodiversity conservation’, focusing on the question how biodiversity can be safeguarded effectively in the long term. This congress offers opportunities for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share knowledge and exchange ideas. Not only will we present exciting scientific research, but we will also showcase successful collaborations and build bridges between different stakeholders and disciplines of biodiversity conservation.
Proposals
The parallel sessions (see the list of proposed sessions), will focus mostly on scientific developments in effective biodiversity conservation itself. Therefore, to ensure complementarity and present the full scope of transdisciplinary involvement needed for effective biodiversity conservation, in this call for Symposia, Round Tables/Panels, Workshops, and Courses we particularly encourage suggestions that focus on the interactions between different fields of conservation science (i.e. including socio-economic and governance sciences). In addition, we wish to strengthen representation of interactions and collaborations with conservation practitioners and policy makers, including science communication and storytelling. Hence, beyond researchers, we welcome contributions from public authorities and the business sector, promoting the multidimensional integration of biodiversity conservation across sectors.
We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and encourage the participation of people from different geographical, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds with diverse views, genders, and identities. We warmly welcome young people, ECR’s and students in the fascinating world of conservation biology.
Types of contributions
The Scientific Committee invites proposals for Symposia, Round Tables/Panels, Workshops and Training Courses as follows:
Symposia
Symposia are focussed on specific themes and take the form of regular presentations. A typical symposium will be a 1.5 hour long, single-session event. Exceptionally, symposia of 3 hours will be considered. Presentations should be in multiples of 15 minutes (10 minutes per presentation, plus 3 minutes for discussion, plus two minutes for the audience to move between rooms). In this way the timing of symposia follows that of the contributed talk sessions. Symposia can (and are encouraged to) include dedicated discussion time, also in multiples of 15 minutes.
Priority will be given to symposia related to the central theme of the conference that are not covered by the session topics, but high-quality proposals addressing emerging topics or significant syntheses will be also considered. All symposium organisers and speakers must be registered participants (as early-bird registrants).
Round Tables and Panel Discussions
Round Tables and Panel Discussions stand for interactive spaces for dialogue, knowledge-exchange and debates, facilitated by a moderator. Panels bring together leading experts of different disciplines to share different insights in pressing conservation issues and engage with audience questions. We encourage panel discussions bringing together experts from a broad-spectrum linking research with policy, education, communication and economy.
Round tables open to all participants, will foster smaller, participatory conversations that explore emerging issues and co-develop solutions, allowing more time for the audience to get involved. These sessions aim to inspire critical thinking, bridging science, policy and practice, foster networking and spark lasting collaborations. The suggested duration is 1.5-3h, and the sessions should conclude with a synthesis segment, highlighting areas for potential collaborations between science, policy, and practice. Organizers should also deliver a written synthesis with the main session conclusions, to be uploaded to the congress website to foster knowledge sharing and networking opportunities also beyond the conference. All round table/panel organisers and panellists must be registered participants (as early-bird registrants). Please indicate in your submission which format (panel or round table) you foresee and if any specific room arrangements are required.
Workshops
Workshops are short, flexible, and highly interactive sessions designed to equip participants with practical skills and methods in biodiversity conservation. In 1.5 hours, participants engage in focused training that blends expert guidance with hands-on exercises, and active contributions that will enable them to apply new approaches in their own research and practice. Workshops can include a wide range of topics such as science communication skills, mastering new technological, methodological and data tools, the integration of social dimensions in conservation science, or the use of AI in conservation science. All workshop organisers and speakers must be registered participants (as early-bird registrants).
Pre-conference Training Courses
Training courses will provide opportunities for registered delegates to receive expert training on a topic relevant to biodiversity conservation. Courses will take place on Monday, July 6th. All organisers, tutors and participants must be registered for the congress (organisers and tutors as early bird-registrants). There will be an additional fee for attending a training session, in addition to the conference registration fee. The costs will be determined according to the costs of renting the room and the equipment required. The organisers reserve the right to cancel a course, which, one month before the conference, will not have enough participants to cover the costs. Participants will get a refund in that case.
ECCB 2026 cannot provide financial support for organisers and speakers at Symposia, Round Tables, Panel Discussions, Workshops and Training Courses. Participants in the training courses will register under a fee.
Submission and deadlines
Submit your proposal through the portal accessible via the button above.
Deadline is October 31st 2025.
There will be a separate call for contributed talks and posters, opening on December 1st 2025.
More info
For more information on the Call for Symposia, Workshops, Round Tables/Panel Discussions and Training Course proposals, contact the Scientific Secretariat at eccb2026@congressbydesign.com.