The opening day of the TETTRIX kick-off meeting in Brussels included contributions from Gilles Doignon, Team Leader for Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and Colombe Warin, Project Adviser at the European Research Executive Agency.
Their presentations offered two complementary views of the project. Doignon focused on the importance of taxonomy and the opportunities created by new technologies, while Warin explained how TETTRIX can turn its scientific ambitions into results with a wider European impact.
A new moment for taxonomy
Doignon underlined that taxonomy provides the basic knowledge needed to understand and monitor biodiversity. Without reliable information about species and how they interact, it is difficult to assess environmental change or take effective action.
Natural history collections are an essential part of this knowledge. They preserve evidence about species and ecosystems over time, helping researchers understand what has changed, what has disappeared and how current biodiversity compares with the past.
At the same time, developments in genomics, environmental DNA, satellite observation and artificial intelligence are creating new possibilities for taxonomic research.
“We are now at the perfect time for taxonomists. The huge developments in terms of techniques are just fantastic. Could you imagine what Darwin would do if he had the same techniques?”
These technologies can help scientists analyse more information, connect different types of data and speed up species identification. However, Doignon stressed that technical advances need to be combined with taxonomic expertise and stronger links between scientific communities.
They also need a new generation of taxonomists who can continue the work of current experts and use the tools now available. The response to the cascade funding calls under TETTRIs, which attracted strong interest from young scientists, showed that there is a community ready to take this work forward.
As Doignon summarised:
“Taxonomy is not dead. Taxonomy is cool.”
Turning ideas into results
Warin brought the discussion from the scientific opportunity to the practical implementation of TETTRIX.
“We have fantastic ideas, but we also need to put them into practice.”
She highlighted the importance of communication, dissemination and the use of project results beyond the research community. TETTRIX will need to make its work visible and useful to policymakers, businesses, researchers and citizens.
Policy briefs and recommendations can connect the project’s results with European biodiversity priorities. They can also identify knowledge gaps and provide input for future research programmes.
The cascade funding programme will be another important part of this work. By supporting external teams, it will allow TETTRIX to test its tools and approaches in different settings and involve communities beyond the main consortium.
Building synergies for greater impact
Warin placed particular emphasis on cooperation with other European projects and initiatives.
“To really raise your voice and have an impact, it is very important to create synergies, as they can make the difference between a very good project and an excellent one.”
TETTRIX does not work in isolation. Its connections with projects such as Biodiversity Genomics Europe Plus (BGE+) and STRIVE, as well as other biodiversity initiatives, can help combine expertise, avoid duplicated work and bring stronger messages to European policymakers.
CETAF’s involvement in several related projects can support these connections and help bring together research communities working on taxonomy, biodiversity genomics, citizen science and biodiversity policy.
“This is a timely moment for biodiversity, as discussions on the next Framework Programme are already under way. It is the moment to give visibility and deliver results.”
The results, recommendations and knowledge gaps identified by TETTRIX and related projects can help demonstrate why continued European support for taxonomy and biodiversity research is needed.
Together, the two presentations showed both the opportunity and the responsibility ahead. New technologies are opening possibilities for taxonomy, but scientific knowledge also needs to be connected, shared and translated into results that support European biodiversity policy and action.