Written by: Ann-Catrin Fender, KomBioTa – UHOH

Spring Meeting 2026: ᴇNᴀBʟS partner KomBioTa celebrates five years of biodiversity networking in Baden-Württemberg, Germany

On 6 May 2026, the Center for Biodiversity and integrative Taxonomy (KomBioTa) celebrated its fifth anniversary with this year’s Spring Meeting – and set a new record: 118 participants joined the event.

The meeting brought together stakeholders from politics, environmental NGOs (including NABU), academia (e.g., HfWU and the Max Planck Institute), charities, the regional TVET institution for education in nature conservation and environment (Umweltakademie), and environmental consulting agencies. After a welcome address by the university’s rector, participants engaged with 17 posters and 8 scientific talks, illustrating the growth and scientific breadth of the KomBioTa network. The scientific programme highlighted KomBioTa’s wide-ranging research activities, from genetic diversity and evolutionary processes to species conservation and innovative approaches in research and education. Contributions from established members and an increasing number of students underlined the dynamic, interdisciplinary character of the community.

One of the talks was given by our ᴇNᴀBʟS colleague Sri Dhanya Adusumilli about NBS in higher education. She spoke about the German Living Lab „Learn in Nature Lab“ and what we have done in curricular and extracurricular education on NBS for biodiversity with the students at the University of Hohenheim.

The highlight of the meeting was the film premier of the short KomBioTa movie where the ᴇNᴀBʟS coordinator talked also about the project: