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News A new ERGA Framework for community-engaged biodiversity genomics A new ERGA-associated article in Biological Conservation presents a five-step framework for engaging European Local Communities in biodiversity genomics research. The article argues that genomic data can better support conservation, management, and policy when research is developed with attention to the people who live in, work with, and care for the species and places being studied. Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) can help shape sampling, interpretation, communication, and the practical use of results, while early dialogue is especially important for projects involving biological materials, genomic data, locality information, repository deposition, and future reuse. The framework guides researchers through early relationship building, respect for local context, co-created roles, transparent benefit sharing, and long-term knowledge transfer. For ERGA, the article contributes to ongoing efforts to make biodiversity genomics more open, locally informed, and useful for conservation decision-making. More information is available here. SMBE 2026 - Wrap up Thank you to everyone who passed by the ERGA booth at SMBE 2026 to meet us, ask questions, and discuss the future of biodiversity genomics. It was motivating to hear about the directions in which genomics-based research is moving, and to connect with so many members of the community in person. We would also like to thank all participants in the Pangenomes symposium for contributing to such a thoughtful and timely discussion. A special thank you goes to our two fantastic ERGA ambassadors, Roisin Long and Sonia Cebrian Camison. The new ERGA Voices series will begin with their interview, so stay tuned for this new project!!! Call for ERGA proposal leads: Biodiversa+ 2026–2027 The ERGA Executive Board invites short Expressions of Interest from ERGA members who would like to lead a proposal for the upcoming Biodiversa+ 2026–2027 Joint Call, Novel ecosystems: biodiversity, socio-ecological consequences and future trajectories. EOIs should briefly describe the research idea, main objectives, partners or expertise sought, and relevant data, resources, or infrastructures. Possible themes include population connectivity, urban ecosystems, and caves or other systems under novel environmental pressures, although ideas across the full scope of the call are welcome. Selected proposal leads will receive support from the ERGA Executive Board in building consortia and aligning proposals with ERGA priorities. EOIs should be submitted between 17 August and 4 September 2026 to funding@erga-biodiversity.org. More information about the call is available here. Comparative Genomics of Unicellular Eukaryotes: Exceptions to the rules ERGA is pleased to help share CGUE26, the 2026 edition of Comparative Genomics of Unicellular Eukaryotes: Exceptions to the rules, taking place in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Spain, from 5–10 October 2026. The meeting will bring together researchers working across comparative genomics, molecular evolution, cell biology, and the diversity of unicellular eukaryotes. With invited and contributed talks, poster sessions, early-career researcher activities, and opportunities for discussion, CGUE26 offers a valuable space to explore how protist genomes are reshaping our understanding of eukaryotic biology. Registration is open on a rolling basis, with limited capacity and a current deadline of 15 July 2026. More information and registration details are available on the official CGUE26 website. 🌍 BGE+ Cascade Funding BGE+ Cascade Funding will provide a route for community-led activities that contribute to the objectives of the project and support the wider development of biodiversity genomics across Europe. Beginning at the September Plenary, we will make a series of presentations to explain the scope of the funding, the expected application process, and the types of applicants and partnerships that may be eligible. These updates will continue in the period leading to the opening of the official call, which is currently planned for February 2027. In the meantime, members who are interested in developing potential proposals or identifying partners within and outside their countries are encouraged to contact their national representatives and/or the ERGA Secretariat (secretariat@erga-biodiversity.org). 🪢 ERGA CONSENSA - COST Action Community members will soon be able to express their interest in participating in the ERGA COST Action through the official COST website. Once the Action page is available, participants should read the Memorandum of Understanding, identify the Working Group or Working Groups most closely aligned with their expertise, and apply through the Action page using an e-COST profile. This is the standard route described by COST for joining a COST Action as a Working Group member. Members who are interested in a Management Committee role should follow the separate national nomination process through the COST National Coordinator in their country. Further information will be shared with the ERGA community as soon as the Action page and application link are available. Useful COST links are available here: how to participate in an ongoing COST Action, browse COST Actions, create or access an e-COST profile, and find your COST National Coordinator. The ERGA Pangenomes Working Group! We would like to thank the people who have already expressed their interest in participating. This strong response shows the value of creating a shared space to discuss pangenomes within ERGA, from first steps to more advanced applications. Everyone in the ERGA community is welcome to subscribe and take part, including members who are beginning to explore pangenomes and those already working with pangenome methods, tools, or data. The Working Group has also started defining its first actions, with the aim of completing this initial phase by the next meeting in September. Members who have not yet expressed an interest can still do so using the link below. The form will remain open for the coming months, so people can join as the group develops. Further information is available in the meeting agenda here. Events European Conference on Computational Biology (ECCB 2026) 31 August - 3 September | Geneva, Switzerland 2nd Molluscan Genomics Workshop 30 August - 3 September | Frankfurt, Germany Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) Conference 2026 21-25 September | Oslo, Norway / Hybrid BioHackathon 2026 9-13 November | Barcelona, Spain Featured conferences with sessions organized by ERGA members: Are you attending events or organizing sessions/workshops not listed here? Let us know here, we can help you reach more attendees from the biodiversity genomics community! Useful links HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE? Click and Submit to ERGANews! Click here to become an ERGA Member Public EVENTS calendar here - add this to your Calendar or iCalendar! 💬 Follow us on social media! BlueSky LinkedIn YouTube

Biodiversity genomics is changing how researchers understand species, populations, and ecosystems. Genome-wide data can reveal genetic diversity, population structure, inbreeding, gene flow, and signals of adaptation. These insights can help inform conservation, management, and policy. Yet the meaning and usefulness of genomic evidence often depend on the places, species, and people connected to the research. A new perspective article published in Biological Conservation, Engaging European local communities in biodiversity genomics research: A five-step framework for scientists, addresses this relationship directly. Developed by members of the ERGA community and collaborators, the article proposes a practical framework for engaging European Local Communities in biodiversity genomics projects. The paper starts from a simple point. People who live in, work with, and care for particular places often hold knowledge that cannot be recovered from sequence data alone. Fishers, farmers, foresters, hunters, birdwatchers, local associations, residents, and other community members may know how species move, where they were once found, when habitats changed, or which management actions are likely to be feasible. This Local Ecological Knowledge can improve sampling design, inform interpretation, and help translate results into decisions that make sense in local contexts. The authors also recognise that engagement is still uneven in biodiversity genomics. Researchers may lack time, training, incentives, or practical guidance. Communities may be asked to provide samples, access, or observations without being involved in shaping the questions, interpreting the findings, or deciding how results should be shared. Genomics adds further complexity because projects often involve biological materials, genomic sequence data, genetic variant data, locality information, repository deposition, Digital Sequence Information, and possible future reuse. The proposed framework offers five connected steps for research teams. It begins with identifying relevant communities and building relationships early, before sampling or data collection begins. It then asks researchers to learn and respect local context, communication norms, and knowledge protocols. The third step focuses on co-creating the research process, including shared roles, training, and decision-making where communities wish to take part. The fourth step addresses transparency and mutual benefit, including data management, recognition, communication, and realistic expectations. The final step calls for long-term engagement and knowledge transfer, so that results remain understandable, accessible, and useful after publication. The article is careful not to present community engagement as a simple add-on. It describes it as work that requires time, resources, humility, and clear agreements. It also recognises that participation may not always be possible or desired. In some cases, communities may decline involvement. In others, Local Ecological Knowledge, genomic results, and ecological observations may point in different directions. The framework encourages researchers to document these forms of evidence side by side, with their limits and uncertainties visible. The paper also places biodiversity genomics within a changing policy landscape. Genome-wide evidence can contribute to conservation and management questions linked to genetic diversity, sustainable use, invasive species, disease risk, and biodiversity reporting. For these contributions to be useful beyond research settings, findings need to be communicated in ways that public authorities, practitioners, and communities can understand and evaluate. For ERGA, the article reflects a wider commitment to biodiversity genomics that is open, responsible, and connected to the people and places it seeks to serve. Reference genomes and population genomic data are powerful tools, but their value grows when they are combined with ecological knowledge, clear communication, and respectful collaboration. This framework offers a starting point for research teams, funders, and community partners who want biodiversity genomics to support conservation decisions in a more transparent and locally informed way. Link to the article

News 🌍 BGE+ started!! BGE+ is the next phase of Biodiversity Genomics Europe and will support the continued development of a coordinated European biodiversity genomics community. The project brings together iBOL Europe, ERGA, and CETAF to improve how genomic data are produced, connected, and used across DNA barcoding, reference genomes, taxonomy, collections, informatics, training, and policy-facing work. For ERGA, BGE+ will provide support for the reference genome community through network coordination, BioGenome Hubs, technical exchange, quality-control activities, training, and links to cascade-funded projects. The project will also help widen participation, support shared standards, improve data interoperability, and make outputs more reusable through open and FAIR practices. These activities will contribute to a more coherent European system for biodiversity genomics, while recognising the distributed expertise already present across ERGA members, committees, national nodes, and partner institutions. More information is available in here. 🪢 ERGA COST Action ERGA has been awarded a new COST Action to support the wider use of biodiversity genomics in research, conservation, management, and policy. The Action responds to a growing need for shared standards in how genome-wide data are generated, analysed, interpreted, and communicated. Although genomic methods are increasingly used to assess genetic diversity, harmful variation, and introgression, their uptake remains uneven because methods, terminology, metadata, and reporting practices often differ across studies and countries. This new network will bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, data specialists, and other stakeholders to co-develop practical guidance, training, and communication approaches. For the ERGA community, the Action offers a way to extend existing expertise in reference genomes towards broader applications of genome-wide data, while supporting inclusive participation and knowledge exchange across Europe. More information is available here. Join the ERGA Pangenomes Working Group! The ERGA Pangenomes Working Group has now started, following its first meeting on May 21st during the SAC regular meeting. We would like to thank the more than 100 people who have already expressed their interest in participating. This strong response shows the value of creating a shared space to discuss pangenomes within ERGA, from first steps to more advanced applications. Members who have not yet expressed an interest can still do so using the link below. The form will remain open for the coming months, so people can join as the group develops. SMBE 2026 - Let's connect! ERGA is proud to support SMBE 2026 as a sponsor. The ERGA Awards have already been granted, and we will soon share more about the winners. If you are joining the meeting, stop by the ERGA booth. We would love to meet you and connect in person!! Would you like to reserve a private meeting with an official ERGA representative? Write an email to ERGA Secretariat ⬇️ Events World Biodiversity Forum (WBF) 2026 14–19 June – Davos, Switzerland European Congress of Conservation Biology (ECCB) 2026 6–10 July – Leiden, The Netherlands European Conference on Computational Biology (ECCB 2026) 31 August - 3 September | Geneva, Switzerland 2nd Molluscan Genomics Workshop 30 August - 3 September | Frankfurt, Germany Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) Conference 2026 21-25 September | Oslo, Norway / Hybrid BioHackathon 2026 9-13 November | Barcelona, Spain Featured conferences with sessions organized by ERGA members: Are you attending events or organizing sessions/workshops not listed here? Let us know here, we can help you reach more attendees from the biodiversity genomics community! From the #ERGABlog: watch and explore 🦈 How can genomics help us understand the unique evolution of sharks, rays, and chimaeras? Watch Shigehiro Kuraku introduce Squalomix, a consortium studying cartilaginous fishes through genome sequencing, cytology, and experimental biology. The talk explores how this work is revealing distinctive features of their biology, from genome size variation and ancient vertebrate sex chromosomes to adaptations such as deep-sea vision in whale sharks. 🧬 How can we detect local adaptation when population structure shapes genomic variation? Watch Jérôme Goudet and Isabela do O discuss how demographic history, relatedness, and population structure can complicate the search for adaptive divergence. The seminar explores the classical QST–FST framework, its limits under complex population structure, and how approaches such as LogAV can help identify more robust signals of selection. Useful links HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE? Click and Submit to ERGANews! Click here to become an ERGA Member Public EVENTS calendar here - add this to your Calendar or iCalendar! 💬 Follow us on social media! BlueSky LinkedIn YouTube

Committees SSP - Sampling & Sample Processing samples@erga-biodiversity.eu More > DAC - Data Analysis Committee analysis@erga-biodiversity.eu More > Media & Communications media@erga-biodiversity.eu More > Social Justice Committee socialjustice@erga-biodiversity.eu More > SAC - Sequencing and Assembly Committee assembly@erga-biodiversity.eu More > ITIC - IT & Infrastructure Committee itinfra@erga-biodiversity.eu More > CS - Citizen Science citizenscience@erga-biodiversity.eu More > Annotation Committee annotation@erga-biodiversity.eu More > ELSI - Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues elsi@erga-biodiversity.eu More > TKT - Training and Knowledge Transfer training@erga-biodiversity.eu More >

media@erga-biodiversity.eu < Back Media & Communications media@erga-biodiversity.eu The Media & Communications Committee is responsible for communicating ERGA's goals, actions, and accomplishments internally and externally. Our committee produces newsletters, press releases, blog-posts, manages the website, and maintains social media accounts. We are responsible for developing communication strategies, implementing plans for publicising ERGA events and activities, and ensuring that all relevant information is disseminated in a timely and accurate manner. It is our responsibility to raise awareness about ERGA both inside and outside the scientific community, in order to encourage more people to support and join our community and contribute to our mission. Coordinators Christian de Guttry Luísa Marins Steering Committee Alice Mouton Jan Zwilling Follow #ERGA ! Stay connected! Follow us on social media for updates and insights. 🌍 https://linktr.ee/erga_biodiversity #Genomes for #Biodiversity When genomes meet local knowledge ERGA News #38 - May 2026 ERGA Newsletter Building shared standards for biodiversity genomics in Europe Press Releases

assembly@erga-biodiversity.eu < Back SAC - Sequencing and Assembly Committee assembly@erga-biodiversity.eu The Sequencing and Assembly Committee (SAC) fosters collaboration across the ERGA community by coordinating efforts and providing a platform to exchange ideas on genome sequencing and assembly methods. This inclusive framework helps bring together new and affiliated projects under the ERGA umbrella. Working closely with other committees, genome projects, and consortia, SAC promotes and ensures visibility of up-to-date workflows and standardised pipelines, supporting their alignment with Earth Biogenomes Project (EBP) mission and quality requirements while contributing to their development and adaptation. The committee focuses on end-to-end laboratory and analytical practices that deliver high-quality data for ERGA assemblies, including DNA extraction, library preparation and sequencing across platforms, as well as bioinformatic procedures for integrating data to generate high-quality genomes. The committee encourages the sharing of standardised SOPs, guidance, and troubleshooting advice. In addition, SAC develops and maintains a framework for assembly evaluation to ensure quality standards are met and complex cases are addressed through community feedback, thereby supporting continuous improvement and knowledge sharing. ( V.2.0 01.12.2025) Chair Tyler Alioto Coordinator Diego de Panis Steering Committee Camila Mazzoni Henrik Lantz Jean-Marc Aury Kerstin Howe Nadège Guiglielmoni Looking for assistance and guidance with how to assemble a genome? The Sequencing and Assembly Committee can help! Join our Slack Channel! Here you can post your questions and start conversations with the Sequencing and Assembly community from the ERGA consortium. Use our resources! Here we have a collection of Genome Assembly Workshops collected and curated by the members of the ERGA SAC. Join our mailing list! Send an email to assembly@erga-biodiversity.eu to join the ERGA Sequencing and Assembly mailing list and get regular updates about the activities of the SAC. Present at our meetings! Send and email to assembly@erga-biodiversity.eu to request a slot to present at a SAC meeting if you would like feedback on your project. We can advise on steps to improve an assembly or potential pipelines that you may find useful. Resources 💡 ERGA Knowledge Hub ▶️ ERGA SAC Youtube Playlist 🔗 Galaxy workflow for de-novo genome assembly using PacBio HiFi and HiC data 🔗 Galaxy workflow for de-novo genome assembly using ONT, Illumina WGS and HiC data When genomes meet local knowledge ERGA News #38 - May 2026 ERGA Newsletter Building shared standards for biodiversity genomics in Europe Press Releases