Mats Björkman is a senior lecturer at the Department of Biology and Environmental Science at the University of Gothenburg. In is role as the coordinator of BECC in Gothenburg, he is leading the project for Sweden’s first Swedish Biodiversity Symposium. We caught up with him to discuss the symposium—and why it is an important initiative for biodiversity in Sweden.
Why is the Swedish Biodiversity Symposium needed?
"That’s actually a question I asked myself at first: is this really necessary? And the answer is definitely ‘yes’—it is! There is currently no national arena for discussing biodiversity from a broad perspective. The interest in organising the event and contributing to the program has been far beyond expectations. This demonstrates the need for a space where knowledge and experiences about biodiversity can be shared."
How does the Swedish Biodiversity Symposium differ from other biodiversity conferences?
"It’s the breadth—both in terms of topics and participants. There are many smaller conferences related to biodiversity, but they are often tied to a specific organisation or have a narrower theme, lacking the scope we aim for here. At the Swedish Biodiversity Symposium, we welcome all disciplines, as long as the topic relates to biodiversity, and we invite participants from academia, industry, culture, business, and society at large."
What do you hope the symposium will achieve?
"The theme of the symposium is Societal Transformation – From Knowledge to Action. I hope we can make a real impact on Sweden’s approach to biodiversity. Above all, I hope we move closer to creating a national platform for collaboration between different stakeholders, where we can work together to turn knowledge into action for biodiversity. I also hope this becomes a recurring event, much like our ‘sister event,’ the Swedish Climate Symposium."
Finally, give us your elevator pitch—why should I register for the Swedish Biodiversity Symposium?
"If you are interested in biodiversity from a Swedish perspective, this is the place to be! It will be a creative forum with discussions and dialogues on driving change for improved biodiversity. We are also offering engaging and inspiring side events. It’s going to be great!"
Time and Place: October 21-23 in Gothenburg, Wallenberg Conference Center.
Who Can Participate? The conference has space for around 350 participants and welcomes anyone with an interest in biodiversity.
Participation Cost:
- 3,400 SEK for the full conference. (After August 18, the price increases to 4,400 SEK.)
- 1,500 SEK for a single day. (After August 18, the price increases to 1,800 SEK.)
Submit Abstracts and Register:
- The deadline for abstracts is May 15.
- The last day to register is September 15.
Register on the following link: Call for abstracts and registration | Swedish Biodiversity Symposium
