About the Series

Amidst the post-COP16 buzz, are you curious how global policy frameworks connect to your work in applied science and conservation? Are you wondering what role our community has to play in influencing them? You’re not alone! Based on popular demand, we are partnering with the Smithsonian’s Movement of Life program to bridge the gap in understanding through a new series, Behind the Buzz: From Data to Decisions.

Behind the Buzz aims to break down complex topics with leading experts in a friendly, open space. During this inaugural season, we’ll focus on demystifying key global policy processes and exploring how to engage with them to support integrating critical conservation data at national and global scales. Building on our Tracking Progress research and work supporting Move BON, we’ll use animal movement as a lens to ground discussions and highlight how movement ecology can play a pivotal role in monitoring and advancing conservation goals. 

Why Attend?

Whether you’re part of the WILDLABS community, part of the Move BON Initiative, or simply eager to deepen your understanding, this series is your chance to explore and ask questions at the intersection of conservation data, technology, and policy. Navigating global policy as a scientist or innovator can feel daunting, but understanding these frameworks is essential for translating the science and data we generate into actionable insights for decision-making. Through open discussions where there are *no dumb questions* and bringing in experts who can help filter key information from the noise, we aim to make these concepts more useful and accessible to our community.

What to Expect

Learn more about the five events in this season of Beyond the Buzz: 

• Jan 22: Key Policy Frameworks, breaking down the basics of CBD and CMS, and exploring pathways for engagement.
• Feb 5: Translating Science to Policy, providing insights into institutions like GEO BON and IPBES and how they support the translation process.
• Feb 19: Data & Information Access, exploring the role that platforms including GBIF, OBIS, and BON in a Box play in supporting access to key data and information.
• Mar 5: Country-Level Applications, discussing challenges and success stories from a national-level perspective.
• Coming Soon: Financing Implementation, navigating funding mechanisms like GEF and the World Bank.

Join us as we delve into these timely discussions, using animal movement as a unifying lens to ground our conversations and uncover new opportunities to integrate science with policy.

Event 1: Key Policy Frameworks

Date & Time: Wednesday,  January 22 2025 11:00am-12:00pm ET

Speakers: Jillian Campbell (CBD) and Dagmar Zikova (CMS)

Are you curious about how global conservation policy process really work? Join us for an engaging introduction to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Our expert speakers will break down the key components of these frameworks, explain their relevance to conservation, and help you understand how to navigate the world of policy acronyms. Whether you are new to the space or looking to deepen your understanding, this session will clarify what matters for our community and how you can engage meaningfully.

Recordings of the individual talks and full session are now available on the event page.

Event 2: Translating Science to Policy

Date & Time: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 10:30am-12:00pm ET

Speakers: Andrew Gonzalez (GEO BON) and Aidin Niamir (IPBES)

How do the biodiversity data being collected across the globe inform policy, and what institutions exist to support this translation? Join us to learn more from two of the leading entities at the science-policy interface - the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Our expert speakers will address what these entities are, what they do, and how our community can best engage with them to ensure our science is informing critical decision-making at multiple levels.

Recordings of the individual talks and full session are now available on the event page.

Event 3: Data and Information Access

Date & Time: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 11:00am-12:00pm ET

Speakers: Peter Desmet @peterdesmet, (INBO Open Science Lab for Biodiversity) and Jory Griffith (GEO BON)

How do we turn raw biodiversity data into actionable insights for policy and conservation? In this session, we’ll explore the role of key data and information facilities in supporting monitoring, reporting, and implementation of conservation policies. Our expert speakers will break down how platforms like GBIF and BON in a Box facilitate the integration of diverse data types, making them accessible and impactful in decision-making. Whether you work with movement data, remote sensing, or field observations, this discussion will highlight how your data can contribute to global conservation efforts.

Recordings of the individual talks and full session are now available on the event page.

Event 4: Country-Level Applications

Date & Time: Wednesday, March 4, 2025 3:00-4:00pm ET

Speakers: Jonathan Pye (OTN) and Yuri Niella (IMOS Animal Tracking Facility)

How do national-scale biodiversity data systems support real-world conservation impact? In this fourth event, we’ll explore how movement data is applied at the country level through two leading national tracking systems: Canada’s Ocean Tracking Network (OTN) and Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Animal Tracking Facility. Our speakers, Jonathan Pye (OTN) and Yuri Niella (IMOS), will share insights into how these systems operate, how they contribute to national and global conservation goals, and what challenges and opportunities remain.

Recordings of the individual talks and full session are now available on the event page.

More details coming soon...

Stay tuned for more event details and registration info—we can’t wait to see you there!