Invitation 

Biodiversity is important in many environmental processes that are crucial for human life: production of food, development of pharmaceuticals, nature-based solutions, resilience of ecosystems in a changing climate - to mention some.   

Such ecosystem services are predicted to play a major role in the future where circular management of resources needs to fully replace our linear utilization of resources.  

Hence, we need to understand better how biodiversity fits with the circular bioeconomy concept, how to measure biodiversity in a meaningful way, and how to improve our management of resources (soil, waste, nutrients) - to preserve and improve biodiversity in our environment.  

In this first webinar of CBIO’s new webinar series on biodiversity, we explore how biodiversity can be understood, measured, and monitored. 

🧭 Programme 

10:00 – 10:10  
Welcome and Introduction: Is biodiversity important for circular bioeconomy? 

Anders Johansen, Senior Scientist, Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University 
Introduction to the webinar series and CBIO’s focus on biodiversity as a driver in circular bioeconomy  

10:10 – 10:40 
Understanding Biodiversity  

Signe Normand, Director of SustainScapes, Department of Biology & Chair of the Danish Biodiversity Council 
Description TBC 

10.40 – 11.10 
Using Cameras and AI to Monitor Invertebrates: Promises and Pitfalls 

Quentin Geissmann, Assistant Professor at Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University 
Terrestrial invertebrates are vital to ecosystems yet remain difficult to study due to their size, abundance, and diversity. Innovative AI-powered methods for monitoring pollinators and earthworms will be presented.  

11.10 – 11:15 
Short Break 

11:15 – 11:45 
Decoding Microbial Communities: Modern Molecular Tools in Microbial Ecology   

Thanassis Zervas, Senior Scientist, Microbial Strain Safety, Novonesis 
How do modern molecular techniques reshape our understanding of microbial life? See how cutting-edge methods reveal the diversity and dynamics of entire, active microbial communities, as well as their functional responses to environmental perturbations.  

11:45 – 12:00 
Summary and Questions 

Facilitated by Anders Johansen 
An open debate and reflection on the key takeaways from the presentations 

🌿 About the Webinar Series 

This webinar is the first in a three-part series hosted by CBIO at Aarhus University. Each webinar explores a key aspect of biodiversity in a circular bioeconomy – from why diversity matters and how we measure it - in soil and among invertebrates - to how modern agricultural practices impacts biodiversity and what to do about it, to how value and business perspectives on biodiversity can make incentives so it is prioritized in future circular economy.