Activities for members
A number of activities focussed on biodiversity research is exclusive to GGBC members. This is where our researchers can present their ideas to each other, receive feedback and forge collaborations.
Every Monday at 08:45 GGBC members have the opportunity to meet in Natrium. These weekly meetups generally alternate between a presentation and chats over coffee: both options give valuable opportunities to meet and discuss topics important to our work.
The bi-monthly presentations are hybrid, enabling GGBC members to present on a current project. Afterwards, we discuss and give feedback, using the various expertise within our network to help with any challenges the researcher may be facing, or inspiration for new approaches. The topics of the presentations range from systematics to ecosystem services in urban environments, from elephants to bromeliads, but all with biodiversity as a common denominator.
Masters and PhD students are encouraged to present in the early stages of each paper/project they are developing. Post-docs and more senior researchers are likewise encouraged to present work that is in the early stages, including grant application ideas.
Please refer to the #mondaymeetings channel in the GGBC Slack workspace for dates, papers up for discussion and other information.
Are you a GGBC member and would you like to present? Email info@ggbc.gu.se
Upcoming talks:
Date: 23rd February 2026
Speaker: Kristina Bergman, KTH
Title: Integrating marine biodiversity impacts in product sustainability evaluation of food
Date: 9th March 2026
Speaker: E-ping Rau, Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg
Title: Paths toward (more) scientifically credible carbon credits
Date: 23rd March 2026
Speaker: Tobias Lindberg, Masters Student, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg
Title: TBC
Date: 6th April 2026
Speaker: Karl Persson,, Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg
Title: Citizen science unlocks the diversity of yeasts from Swedish honey
Past Presentations 2026
Date: 26th January 2026
Speaker: Bigna Lu Aberhalden, Researcher, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg
Title: Living in harmony with nature - An introduction to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme
Date: 2nd February 2026
Speaker: Frank Lake, Postdoctoral researcher, Lund University
Title: Effects of agricultural farming practices on soil microbial communities
Scope
In this journal club, we focus on papers in biodiversity, ecology and systematics that have a broad application. Especially encouraged are methodological and conceptual papers that encourage discussions and allows for participants from different areas within biodiversity research to understand and get value from the journal club. Any organismal group can be covered in the paper but keep in mind that the paper's focus should be relevant for others working outside of that group.
Format
The GGBC journal club meets every other week on Wednesday from 13:00 to 14:00. The meetings are in person and take place in Natrium, Medicinaregartan 7b, Gothenburg. Please refer to the #journal-club channel in the GGBC Slack workspace for dates, papers up for discussion and other information.
For whom?
All levels of researchers and students from MSc-students to professors at the GGBC are welcome. Have you never been to a journal club before? Don't hesitate to reach out and join us to see what it's like!
Presenter and participant roles
At each meeting, a member is responsible for presenting a paper of their own choice. Dates for presenting are assigned by the organiser after agreement with the presenter. The presenter is expected to:
- announce their choice of paper at least one week before the meeting.
- present 2-3 slides focusing on: main figures, points or criticism, take-home messages or questions they have
Participants are expected to:
- have read the paper before the meeting
- bring 1-2 questions or thoughts
Note that it might be possible for PhD students to receive credits for participation in the Journal Club. The Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Gothenburg awards the students with 0.2 hec for each meeting, but please confirm the terms for credits with your examiner.
To sign up or if you have questions, please contact Alexandra Dombrowsk, PhD student at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, who is responsible for arranging the journal club.
Every year in December the members of the GGBC get together to network, establish new collaborations and present on the past year's achievements and findings. The meetings started in 2017 and on December 1 we will hold our annual meeting for 2025.
The meetings take place at Natrium and in venues at our partner organisations.