Invitation to the 8th India Biodiversity Meet (March 24–26, 2025)

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

 

It is our great pleasure to invite you to the 8th India Biodiversity Meet (IBM), scheduled to be held from March 24–26, 2025, at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata in collaboration with the Ratanlal Brahmachary Memorial Foundation. This annual conference serves as a dynamic platform for experts, researchers, and practitioners to exchange ideas and discuss solutions to critical challenges in biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.

 

India is renowned as one of the world’s 12 mega-biodiversity centres, with its unique ecosystems supporting an extraordinary variety of species. However, the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats, two of India’s biodiversity hotspots, face escalating threats from habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, and climate change. The conservation of these regions is not merely a national priority but a global imperative, as they hold invaluable genetic resources crucial for ecosystem stability and human well-being. Addressing these challenges requires collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts that span fields like ecology, conservation biology, and resource management.

 

In addition to exploring the diversity of biological systems, the conference will highlight another dimension of diversity—the diversity of human populations. Human adaptation to variable ecological, social, and historical contexts has been central to the evolution of our species. Biological Anthropology has provided critical insights into the interplay of culture and biology in shaping human variation. By employing frameworks like life history theory, researchers have deepened our understanding of how human populations respond to changing environments, and how these adaptations remain crucial in discerning health, behaviour, and survival.

 

IBM 2025 aims to integrate these perspectives to foster a holistic understanding of biodiversity. Thematic discussions will include:

 

1.     Exploring Spatiotemporal Biodiversity Patterns and Evolutionary Adaptation

2.     Advancing Quantitative Ecology and Mathematical Approaches

3.     Sustainable Agriculture and Resource Management

4.     Integrating Anthropology, Epigenetics, health and Population Diversity

5.     Patterns of dietary change and human nutrition

6.     Understanding reproductive health from the perspective of reproductive ecology and behavioural ecology

 

Hosted by the Indian Statistical Institute, a premier institution renowned for its contributions to the natural and social sciences, this conference will bring together leading national and international experts. Over the years, IBM has provided a robust platform for collaboration and innovation, and this year’s meet promises to push the boundaries even further.

 

Kolkata, the City of Joy, with its rich cultural heritage and historical significance, provides a vibrant backdrop for this gathering. We are hopeful that your active participation will contribute significantly to the discussions and outcomes of this meet.

 

Please mark your calendars and reserve the dates. We look forward to welcoming you to the 10th India Biodiversity Meet in March 2025.

 

With warm regards,

Organizer Committee, IBM 2025

Indian Statistical Institute

Ratanlal Brahmachary Memorial Foundation