BioAgora partners attend the 2025 Alternet A4Cap Assembly

The Alternet for Capacity-Building Network (A4Cap) was launched as an informal group of the Alternet Summer School alumni back in 2022. Since then, it has grown into a fully fledged organisation of early career researchers associated with Alternet and the Horizon Europe projects it contributes to (such as BioAgora, CO-OP4CBD, and RESPIN) in its efforts to facilitate the development of the biodiversity science-policy interface (SPI). Additionally supported by Biodiversa+, the network puts together events for its members on a regular basis, providing valuable opportunities for academic and professional exchanges.

Between 9 and 15 June 2025, one such occasion occurred in the Belgian city of Spa - the latest edition of the A4Cap Assembly for Alternet Summer School alumni and early-career researchers. The event was the third consecutive official A4Cap assembly and the fourth research and capacity building workshop of the organisation. The week-long agenda zeroed in on transdisciplinary education and the development of biodiversity research, placing them in the context of the 20-year history of Alternet and its Summer School. Productive discussions amongst attendees were facilitated via not only an array of lectures, skill-sharing sessions and networking opportunities, but also practical engagement in the field as part of a visit to the High Fens. 

BioAgora was featured prominently with its own capacity-building workshop. Consortium members Fiona Nevzati (Alternet), Karmen Czett (ESSRG), Robin Dianoux (INRAE) and Alexandra Korcheva (Pensoft Publishers) took this opportunity to share project-related insights on a variety of topics, from SPI innovation to science communication. In this context, the workshop zeroed in on the opportunities to engage with BioAgora and the Science Service for Biodiversity, putting an accent on the transformative potential of such engagement. The focus throughout the session was on early-career researchers, validating their crucial role in the biodiversity SPSI. BioAgora promotional materials were also distributed to the participants of the session and the wider Assembly.

More information on getting involved in the A4Cap Network can be found on Alternet’s dedicated page.