Join the COST Action CONSENSA: Consensus Standards for Applied Biodiversity Genomics

As the Polish Barcode of Life initiative, we warmly invite researchers, experts, and practitioners to participate in the new COST Action: CA25165 CONSENSA - Consensus Standards for Applied Biodiversity Genomics.

Our shared goal within this initiative is to build an international collaborative network, exchange expert knowledge, and develop innovative research approaches.

We strongly encourage volunteers to get actively involved in the project's activities! You can apply to join specific Work Packages, choosing the ones that best align with your expertise and research interests.

Applications for the various Work Packages can be submitted directly through the official COST portal (e-COST).

We invite you to collaborate with us—join the international community and make a real impact on the development of European science!

More about the project: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA25165/

You can apply here https://e-services.cost.eu/user/login

Description:

Biodiversity is essential for human food security, health, and planetary survival, yet we are facing a severe biodiversity crisis, potentially leading to a sixth mass extinction. 

Genetic diversity, crucial for the resilience and adaptability of species, is at risk due to environmental changes and human activities. While various methods exist to monitor genetic diversity, genomics provides the most comprehensive toolkit for assessing genome-wide variation, revealing insights into species demographics and evolutionary potential. However, the absence of standardised methods and harmonised approaches for genomic data generation, analysis, and interpretation complicates its application in conservation policy and biodiversity management. 

This COST Action aims to address these challenges by fostering international collaboration to establish informed community consensus and promote genomic data standardisation, ensuring data accuracy, interpretability, and comparability. 

The initiative includes five Working Groups: 

1) developing standardised protocols for genomic data from fieldwork to analysis; 
2) establishing guidelines for metadata management to enhance data interoperability; 
3) defining strategies for applying genomic standards in both ex situ and in situ conservation; 
4) fostering capacity building through accessible training programmes for scientists and practitioners; and 
5) standardising communication practices to effectively engage stakeholders. 

By addressing these critical areas through co-creation with policymakers and practitioners, the COST Action seeks to enhance the uptake of genomic-data-informed approaches in biodiversity conservation across Europe and beyond, ultimately contributing to the preservation of genetic diversity and restoration of ecosystem health.