RESOURCES
SYMPOSIA
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2025 International Symposium on Synthesis Research in Aquatic Ecosystems​
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AquaSYNC will organize and host the first ‘International Symposium on Synthesis Research in Aquatic Ecosystems’ which will take place on 11-12 June 2025.
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The symposium will be held at the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
H.C. Andersens Boulevard 35, 1553 Copenhagen V, Denmark.
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The symposium is organized by AquaSYNC, i.e. the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Department for Ecoscience at Aarhus University (ECOS-AU) and the Swedish Institute for the Marine Environment (SIME).
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Why participate?
The symposium is the place to go if you are working with
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​analyses and synthesis of Big Data sets from marine or freshwater ecosystems,
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‘Integrated/Initial Assessments’, including development and application of multiple-metric indicator-based assessment tools (e.g. in relation to the Water Framework Directive or Marine Strategy Framework Directive), and
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mapping and analysis of combined effects of multiple pressures in aquatic ecosystems.​
You should also attend if you have an interest in evidence-based solutions to the key challenges in aquatic ecosystems and the latest development regarding application of assessment tools identifying ‘GES’/’non-GES’ or ‘problem areas’/‘non-problem areas’, the latter in relation to ‘biodiversity’, ‘eutrophication’, ‘contamination’, ‘ecosystem health’, etc.
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The tentative symposium program includes the following:
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Opening Session:
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Welcome
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Background, objectives and outputs.
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Keynote presentations:
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Benjamin Halpern (NCEAS, USA)
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Jill Baron (JWPC USGS, USA)
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Marten Winter (sDiv, Germany)
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Johnny Reker (European Environment Agency (EEA), Denmark)
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Liselotte Hohwy Stokholm (Ocean Institute, Denmark).
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Contributed oral presentations, we have room for 30-35, themes will be:
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‘Synthesis research in freshwater ecosystems’.
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‘Synthesis research in marine ecosystems’.
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‘Synthesis research in aquatic ecosystems – where are we now and where are we going?’.
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‘Multi-metric indicator-based assessment tools and integrated assessments’.
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Other themes could be relevant – feel free to submit a proposal.
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Invited presentations anchored in AquaSYNC Synthesis Working Groups:
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Samuli Korpinen (SYKE, Finland)
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Stefano Larsen (FMACH, Italy)
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Daniel Perkins (Brunel University, UK)
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Helene Frigstad (NIVA, Norway).
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Symposium Dinner (Wednesday evening)
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Closing Session – including the announcement of the Working Groups to be established under the ISC Open Call 2025 initiated and coordinated by the International Synthesis Consortium.
A tentative symposium program is available here (PDF).
The registration fee for attending the 2-days symposium is 600 euros. The registration fee includes: 1) Admission to the symposium, i.e. Opening Session, all presentations (keynotes, invited, contributed) and Closing Session, 2) symposium programme, 3) lunch on Wednesday and Thursday and 4) Symposium Dinner on Wednesday.
If you wish to submit an abstract and/or attend the symposium, please use the registration template (DOCX) and send it to Paula Ramon (paula.ramon@niva-dk.dk).
Important dates are:
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1 May 2025: Submission of abstracts (first submitted, first assessed – we will use a fill up principle).
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15 May 2025: Programme and book of abstracts.
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1 June 2025: Deadline for registration.
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11-12 June 2025: Symposium.
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30 September 2025: Submission of manuscripts for the Symposium Proceedings.
Please note that the organisers plan to produce Symposium Proceedings (Research Topic), which will include a broad range of peer reviewed papers (Original Research, Reviews, Short Notes, Viewpoints, Data Paper, etc.) on synthesis research in aquatic ecosystems. More information will be provided at a later stage.
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Accommodation in Copenhagen is usually easy – there are several hotels near the venue. Please consider the following options, all within walking distance:
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Cabinn City, Mitchellsgade 14 (website)
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Wakeup Copenhagen, Bernstorffgade 35 (website)
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Scandic Spec-trum, Kalvebod Brygge 10 (website)
Please check back later for more information.
CALLS
AquaSYNC will from time to time open calls and invite to establishment of new Synthesis Working Groups (SWGs).
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​​2025 Joint International Synthesis Call on Interactions between Biodiversity and Climate Change.
The 2025 Call for new Synthesis Working Groups is now open​
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Given the global nature of tightly linked climate and biodiversity crises, several synthesis centres around the world have joined forces to synthesise knowledge linking biodiversity and climate change crises. This call for proposals is for working groups that will commence in 2025/2026.
Please refer to the documents below for a detailed description of the objectives and rules of this call. Please note that funding is limited to one AquaSYNC-supported project and is not yet 100% guaranteed, as it is subject to the final approval of AquaSYNC funding (2025 funding is secured, 2026 is pending).​
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AquaSYNC calls for proposals for new SWGs, including the research questions to be addressed. All proposals (topics and research questions) regarding the relationship between climate change and biodiversity in Arctic and/or sub-Arctic aquatic ecosystems (freshwater, marine, and land-sea interactions) are welcome.​
Deadline for proposal submission is 1 May 2025.
All proposals received in due time will be carefully evaluated by AquaSYNC. The proposal will be shortlisted and forwarded to AquaSYNC Scientific Advisory Board, who will be responsible for the final selection.
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Guidelines:
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The focus of the proposal submitted to AquaSYNC for consideration should be on Arctic and sub-Arctic aquatic environments, that is, freshwater or marine ecosystems or land-sea interactions.
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The chair of the SWG should come from a Norwegian institution.
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Number of SWG members: 8-10 persons.
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No salaries are funded in this call.
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Decision will be made by end of May 2025.
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Kick-off and SWG meetings
The 2025-2026 work plan includes four meetings:
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An online kick-off meeting (Q3 in 2025), to set the scene and arrive at a joint understanding of the objectives, roles, working procedures and planned outputs.
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A 3-day in-person SWG meeting (Q4 in 2025).
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An in-person SWG meeting (Q2 in 2026).
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An in-person SWG drafting workshop (Q3 in 2026).
The cost of SWG members in relation to 1) travel, 2) accommodation, and 3) per diem will be reimbursed by AquaSYNC (if requested by SWG member institutions).
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​Candidates are encouraged to be proactive in communicating with suitable project partners (assistance from the AquaSYNC head Jesper Andersen, if needed). The inclusion of members from the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and Aarhus University (AU) would be advantageous.
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PREVIOUS CALLS
2023 Call for new Synthesis Working Groups
AquaSYNC will from time to time open calls and invite to establishment of new Synthesis Working Groups (SWGs), including themes and chair (step 1) and members (step 2).
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The 2023 Call for new Synthesis Working Groups is now open:
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AquaSYNC is launching an Open Call for two new Synthesis Working Groups (SWGs). ​
The key research service offered by AquaSYNC is a ‘synthesis activity/process’ involving SWGs targeting a specific research question. Working groups are typically composed of experts from a range of disciplines, sectors, career stages, and institutions. They come together for short periods of time to tackle large-scale questions in basic and/or applied aquatic science, using the synthesis approach. Each participant brings data, methods, experiences, and perspectives, while AquaSYNC offers logistical and technical support to enable their innovation. By integrating diverse perspectives and data sources, our working groups connect dots, discover gaps in knowledge, and reveal untapped insights.
​AquaSYNC applies and develops the working group model and promotes the value of diversity between participants and collaborative science. In fact, research has shown that the diversity of participants in working groups is key to enabling greater productivity and problem-solving capacity.
The SWG model is designed to accelerate discovery and increase the impact science can have on decisions to enable people and nature to thrive. AquaSYNC working groups will advance scientific understanding in aquatic ecology and the environmental sciences significantly over the coming decades.
An SWG focuses on providing answers to topical relevant research questions through collaborative research and analyses of existing data sets.
When proposing a new SWG, the requirements to be met are few and simple: 1) a SWG is led by a chairperson 2) the research questions to be addressed have an aquatic theme, i.e. limnic (lakes or rivers) or marine (estuarine, coastal or offshore waters), 3) the work should be anchored in existing data sets, which will be collected and analyzed, and 3) the chair and the SWG are required to draft and present a manuscript by December 2023.
AquaSYNC will provide funding, infrastructure, and support throughout the lifetime of the SWGs.
Funding for the SWGs will cover the following expenses: 1) costs related to physical meetings, including catering, 2) travel costs, accommodation for all members of the SWG, and per diem for the members of the SWG, and 3) potentially also costs related to AquaSYNC’s handling, QA/QC and analyses of accessible data sets.
The SWG will work in 2023 with an initial online kick-off meeting (expected around May) and two in-person SWG meetings, one in June-July and one in October-November. The SWG will end in December 2023 with an online final meeting where a draft manuscript should be presented and discussed - however, the last meeting could in principle be postponed to January-February 2024.
The Open Calls and the realization of the two SWGs initiated will follow a three-step process.
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Step 1: Proposal for SWGs and chairpersons
AquaSYNC calls for proposals for new SWGs, including the research questions to be addressed, a suggested chairperson and data sources on which the work will be based.
A template for submission of a proposal in step 1 can be found here.
Please note: 1) it is not a strict requirement but it is preferable that the proposal is submitted by the intended chairperson of the SWG, 2) the signature certifies that all information in the proposal is correct, and that the applicant will chair the SWG (if approved and established) and will participate in at least three SWG meetings: an online kick-off meeting and two physical meetings (each 3-days) and 3) incomplete proposals will be rejected without further explanation.
Deadline for submission is 10 February 2023.
All proposals received in due time will be carefully evaluated by AquaSYNC. Evaluation criteria are: 1) relevance and novelty, 2) availability of data sets, 3) experience of the chairperson. The proposal will be shortlisted and forwarded to AquaSYNC Scientific Advisory Board, who will be responsible for the final selection.
Step 2: Call for member of approved proposals for SWGs
AquaSYNC will select up to two new SWGs based on the proposals submitted in step 1.
In close collaboration with the SWG chairperson, AquaSYNC will launch a second call for participants in the SWGs. In addition to the chairperson and the AquaSYNC support, there are expected to be 5-7 members in each working group.
A template for application for SWG membership will be provided.
The selection of the members will be coordinated by AquaSYNC and the chair. We aim for diverse SWGs with a mix of experienced researchers and early career researchers covering different disciplines within aquatic sciences, but social scientists and in some cases practitioners with a management background are also welcomed.
Deadline for application is 24 March 2023.
Step 3: Kick-off and SWG meetings
The 2023 work plan includes four meetings:
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Online kick-off meeting (2-3 hours), to set the scene and arrive at a joint understanding of the objectives, roles, working procedures and planned outputs.
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In-person meeting for (3 days in June or July) hosted by AquaSYNC in Copenhagen.
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In-person meeting for (3 days in October or November) hosted by AquaSYNC in Copenhagen.
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Online final meeting in December 2023, to take stock of the work carried out and to present and discuss a draft manuscript.
More information about the new SWGs, the chairpersons and the members of the groups will be provided at a later stage.