Cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twins are reshaping the future of biodiversity research. In this session, expert speakers will discuss how these innovations are revolutionizing biodiversity conservation, how AI species identification models can support citizen science, collection management, and biomonitoring, and the challenges involved in integrating data and models for biodiversity digital twins. Don’t miss this opportunity to join the conversation -register now for this insightful lunch meeting!
Speakers:
Gerard Schouten - Professor AI and Data at Fontys ICT – Research Group Sustainable Data and AI Applications; Chair of the Fontys Centre of Expertise AI for Society
Gerard Schouten is a professor at the Fontys University of Applied Sciences, School of IT and scientific head of the Fontys Knowledge Center of Applied AI for Society. His research topic is AI and data. His interests include machine learning, deep learning, and, in particular, the application of explainable and trustworthy AI for people and planet health. Gerard is a member of the AI-hub Brainport and the AI & data advisory board of the province of Noord-Brabant. He is also a guest researcher at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
Description talk:
In recent years, the intersection of ICT and biodiversity has shifted from a niche topic to a mainstream concern on many research agendas. To illustrate the tangible contributions of ICT in this domain, we present three applied projects in which Fontys CoE AI for Society is involved: (1) WildLifeNL – an initiative that leverages an ecosystem of apps to nudge and reshape human-wildlife interactions, (2) FlowerPower – a project developing an AI model to identify and count Dutch wildflowers in 1m² patches of land, and (3) LegaSea – a citizen science initiative engaging communities in fossil discovery along Dutch beaches. These projects demonstrate the diverse and significant ways ICT can help mitigate biodiversity loss and contribute to conservation efforts.
Sharif Islam - Senior Data Architect at Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Sharif Islam specialises in data architecture and system design, focusing on research data management, FAIR, natural science collections and biodiversity informatics. At Naturalis, he works with DiSSCo (The Distributed System of Scientific Collections), a leading European Research Infrastructure, and participates in multiple NWO and EU-funded projects on biodiversity genomics, digital twins, and data space implementation.
Title talk: Challenges in Data and Model Integration for Biodiversity Digital Twin Applications
The EU-funded BioDT project explores the potential of digital twin technology for biodiversity research, creating ten prototype Digital Twins that integrate diverse data with advanced modelling to predict biodiversity patterns. Leveraging EuroHPC LUMI infrastructure and expertise from major research networks (GBIF, eLTER, DiSSCo, LifeWatch ERIC), the project develops hybrid statistical and process-based models for enhanced prediction capabilities. This presentation examines key challenges in integrating data and models for biodiversity digital twins, featuring practical use cases and lessons from the BioDT project. The presentation also looks into the application of FAIR principles to data workflows and the importance of research infrastructure collaboration. While acknowledging specific challenges in biodiversity digital twinning, the BioD project demonstrates how these prototypes create model-data fusions benefiting diverse stakeholders.
Dr. Ni Yan - Business Developer AI at Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Ni Yan has over 20 years of diverse international professional experience in academia, business and industry. With a scientific background (PhD, MSc) and business knowledge (Global Executive MBA), Ni has led and coordinated multicultural and interdisciplinary teams to deliver results in large-scale international innovation projects and programs. As the business developer AI at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Ni is leading the business activities of AI for nature and biodiversity, developing the business case, strategy, internal/external collaboration and initiatives.
Title talk: AI Nature for Citizen Science, Biomonitoring and Collection Management
Biodiversity data are currently being generated at an unprecedented rate from human and automated sources. Artificial intelligence (AI) has made it possible to automatically identify species on multimedia with increasing accuracy and efficiency, a task that would otherwise be impossible for taxonomic experts to perform at the rate and scale at which these data are being generated.
At Naturalis Biodiversity Center, we developed several AI species identification models and services using image/sound recognition for citizen science, collection management, and biomonitoring purposes. We will present a couple of our AI development highlights and explain how they support diverse applications for nature and biodiversity.
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