The 18th Annual Meeting of the International Congress of Genetics's Biodiversity Session (ICG-18 Biodiversity / 2023 IBCOP PC1) co-hosted by BGI, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), BGI, and Earth BioGenome Project (EBP), concluded successfully on April 15, 2023. The conference was held in Beijing, with a total of 330,000 attendees participating both online and offline.
The conference covered a range of topics, including "From Montreal to the World: Biodiversity After 2020" and "Biodiversity and Youth," with speakers discussing the dynamics of protecting nature, ecological civilization, plant diversity, marine biodiversity, and more. The close relationship between biodiversity and the future of humanity was fully explored, with the importance of protecting environmental diversity emphasized for individuals and society.
The conference brought together experts and scholars from around the world to discuss the pressing issues facing biodiversity and genomics in the post-2020 era. The successful conclusion of the conference marks a step forward in the global effort to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
Dr. Sara Platto, a professor at Jianghan University and Secretary-General of the Biology and Science Ethics Committee of the CBCGDF, attended the conference as a moderator and gave a presentation on "How to Incorporate One-Welfare into Biodiversity Protection."
Professor Fred Dubee, Co-Chair of the ICG International Advisory Board, delivered the opening address, followed by a compelling keynote speech by Mr. Erik Solheim, former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and Senior Advisor to the World Resources Institute. Mr. Solheim called for the participation of all citizens in biodiversity conservation.
Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), pointed out the relationship between biodiversity and genes, and emphasized that biodiversity conservation is an important content of the new civilization in which people participate.
Dr. Harris Lewin, a distinguished professor of Evolution and Ecology at the University of California, Davis and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed the importance of species sequencing from multiple perspectives.
Dr. Liu Xin, Director of the Beijing Branch of BGI Research Institute, revealed plant diversity through genomics.
Dr. Yuhuan Bao, the liaison officer of the International Genetic Engineering Machine Foundation (iGEM) and the coordinator of the Human Practice Project, delivered a keynote speech. He stated that young people should be involved in and participate in international policies from synthetic biology to achieving biodiversity, and shared various aspects of governance for emerging technologies such as experimentation and testing platforms.
Dr. Scott Edmunds, Editor-in-Chief of GigaScience, shared insights on the increase, acquisition, filling, and analysis of biodiversity data.
Dr. Alice Hughes, Deputy Secretary-General of the CBCGDF, analyzed biodiversity trends and called for the development of the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework", proposing how humans can act to minimize the loss of biodiversity.
Dr. Fu Qiaomei, Director of the Molecular Paleobiology Laboratory at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, explored the population genetic history of East Asia through ancient genomics.
Dr. Guangyi Fan, Director of the Qingdao Huada Institute of Gene Research, delivered a report entitled "Marine Biological Resources Diversity and Development."
Dr. James Yeates, CEO of the World Animal Federation (WFA), introduced the interdependent relationship between animal welfare, the environment, and sustainable development.
An important highlight of the 18th ICG conference is the participation of young people. During the preparation process of this conference, many middle and high school students noticed the conference information and registered to attend. Finally, a group of young people were invited to the venue to participate and share their experiences, perspectives, and projects on biodiversity.
Mr. Matteo, a ninth-grade student at the Wuhan Yangtze International School, served as the host of the youth biodiversity field of the conference and delivered a brilliant speech from the perspective of how psychology can help save biodiversity.
Nine student representatives from Wuhan introduced the current situation and achievements of biodiversity conservation in Hubei Province, the sinking lake international wetland park in Wuhan, and recited a poem entitled "A Letter to Wetlands". These nine students are: Deng Zitian (Grade 8, Wuhan Hongshan Experimental Foreign Language Middle School), Chen Yuqing (Grade 7, Wuhan Yingzhong), Li Muyang (Grade 5, Wuhan Hongshan Experimental Foreign Language Elementary School), Wang Yino (Grade 4, Wuhan Hongshan Experimental Foreign Language Elementary School), Ma Ruoxi (Grade 3, Wuhan Foreign Language Elementary School), Sun Jinghan (Grade 3, Wuhan Yuchai Elementary School), Fang Ruyang (Grade 4, Wuhan Foreign Language School Meijia Branch), Chen Yueyao (Grade 5, Wuhan Hongshan Experimental Foreign Language Elementary School), and Shen Ziyi (Grade 4, Wuhan Yuchai Yikang Elementary School).
Shi Songlin from the Southern University of Science and Technology delivered a keynote speech entitled "The Role of Young Students in Biodiversity Conservation."
Cheng Jingqi, a student at Wuhan Yingzhong International School, delivered a keynote speech entitled "Biodiversity in Our Daily Lives."
Li Xinyan, a student at Wuhan Yingzhong International School, delivered a keynote speech entitled "The Importance of Biodiversity."
Cheng Tianjia, a student at Shanghai High School International Division, delivered a keynote speech entitled "Entering the Microscopic World - the Foundation of the Macroscopic World."
Another particularly noteworthy point is that the ICG-18 conference was organized in accordance with China's group standard "Green Meeting Standard" (T/CGDF 00027-2021). The "Green Meeting Standard" is a reference system for measuring the sustainability of events such as conferences and exhibitions. It evaluates the green aspects of meetings, such as food, lodging, transportation, waste disposal, paperless initiatives, biodiversity, energy consumption, and more, with the aim of promoting sustainable development through conference planning. This is the third consecutive year that the ICG has adopted this standard for organizing their conference.
Original Chinese Article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kwUIapfl6R4C9hylCu2bwQ
Translator: Linda
Editor: Maggie
Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776
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