Forecasting ecological dynamics in a changing world, a critical discussion

Discussion meeting organised by Dr Emily G Simmonds.

Ecosystems are complicated, containing thousands of interacting species, each also impacted by external forces like the climate. Ecologists’ record of predicting their dynamics is poor, yet many argue that effective management and conservation of biodiversity require accurate prediction. Should we call time on the aim of accurately forecasting living systems, or can novel approaches, including machine learning, save the day?

Programme

The programme, including speaker biographies and abstracts, will be available soon. Please note that the programme may be subject to change.

Poster session

There will be a poster session on Monday 2 November 2026. If you would like to present a poster, please submit your proposed title, abstract (up to 200 words), author list, and the name of the proposed presenter and institution no later than Friday 2 October 2026. Acceptances may be made on a rolling basis so we recommend submitting as soon as possible in case the session becomes full. Submissions made within one month of the meeting may not be included in the programme booklet.

Attending the event

This event is intended for researchers in relevant fields.

• Free to attend
• Both virtual and in-person attendance is available. Advance registration is essential
• Lunch is available on both days of the meeting for an optional £25 per day. There are plenty of places to eat nearby if you would prefer to purchase food offsite. Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch to the meeting

Please note that scientific meetings hosted by the Royal Society do not necessarily represent a Royal Society position or signify an endorsement of the speakers or content presented.

Enquiries: contact the Scientific Programmes team.