State of the World's Plants and Fungi Symposium
Join international experts to discuss actions for conserving and restoring global plant and fungal biodiversity.
How to attend
Date and time
11 to 13 October 2023, daily timings vary
Location
Kew Gardens and online (hybrid event)
Prices and booking
Online attendance only
Registration for online attendance has now closed
In person attendance
Registration for in-person attendance has now closed
Find what you're looking for
Tackling the nature emergency: Evidence, gaps and priorities
In conjunction with the publication of a groundbreaking report, scientists, policymakers, businesses, NGOs, the public and media will come together for the fifth international State of the World's Symposium.
Plants and fungi are the building blocks of our planet, with the potential to solve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. But the vital resources and services they provide depend on diverse, healthy ecosystems. The future of these ecosystems, and life as we know it, hinges on the decisions we make today.
In October 2023 we will be publishing, in collaboration with international researchers, the fifth in our series of State of the World’s Plants and Fungi reports. The report takes a deep dive into our current knowledge on plant and fungal diversity and distribution – what we know, what we don’t know and where we need to focus our efforts.
This three-day hybrid symposium brings together experts to discuss findings presented in the report and to identify actions for understanding and protecting the world’s plant and fungal diversity. The discussions will be used to create a declaration containing a shared agreement and action plan for where scientific institutions aim to focus their collecting and research efforts to achieve the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Programme and workshops
The programme is based around five themed sessions in which invited experts will address topical questions through presentations and Q&A panel discussions.
Sessions 1 and 2: Where are the diversity hotspots and critical knowledge gaps?
Session 3: What do we know about extinction risk?
Session 4: How do we accelerate our understanding of plant and fungal diversity?
Session 5: How can we achieve global and national targets for biodiversity protection and restoration?
In addition, in-person attendees will have the opportunity to participate in four workshops to contribute their ideas and expertise towards the development of the symposium declaration. Please note, the workshops are not available to online attendees. For those attending the workshops in-person, please be advised that a smartphone, laptop or tablet will be necessary to participate fully.
Other programme highlights include:
- Special lecture
- Flash poster presentations
- Poster session and drinks reception on 11 October
- Symposium dinner (optional) on 12 October
Find out more about our speakers on our speaker abstracts page.
Poster presentations and prizes
Abstract submissions are now closed.
All poster presentations will be accompanied by a one-minute flash talk. Posters will be open for viewing throughout the symposium including a designated poster session and drinks reception on Wednesday 11 October. Prizes will be awarded for the best student and early career researcher posters.
Location
The symposium will take place at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lectures will be held in the Lady Sainsbury Lecture Theatre, Jodrell Laboratory, Kew Road, Surrey TW9 3DS. To access the building, please enter the Gardens via the Jodrell Gate on Kew Road (approximately 300m from Victoria Gate).
Accommodation
We strongly recommend that delegates book their accommodation as early as possible to secure availability and the best prices. Nearby accommodation is available at:
Travelodge London Kew Bridge Hotel (0.9 miles away)
Premier Inn London Kew Bridge Hotel (1.2 miles away)
Premier Inn London Brentford Hotel (1.7 miles away)
Travelodge London Richmond Central (1.8 miles away)
Other local bed and breakfast accommodation can be found at: www.kewaccommodation.com.
Please note, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew cannot accept any responsibility for the information on the above list or the standard of accommodation services provided.
Follow @KewScience on Twitter for updates and join the conversation using #SOTWPF.
Sponsors and exhibitors
If you are interested in advertising, sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities at the symposium, please contact sotwpf@kew.org.
The staff and Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew would like to thank the Sfumato Foundation for generously funding the State of the World’s Plants and Fungi project.
