About this Event
Ecological Genetics Group (EGG) is entering an unparalleled milestone—our 70th anniversary. We have been dedicated to building a forum for ecologists and practitioners on the nexus of ecology, evolution, and genetics. The field has evolved so much in the past decades, with new methods and tools opening up revolutionising ways to answer fundamental and applied problems.
We are pleased to invite all to join us in Sheffield, to celebrate this special moment, to reflect on the history, and to discuss the cutting-edge developments that will move the field forward. Alongside the exciting program of talks and posters, we will also host roundtables and horizon scans that will lead to opinion pieces for publication.
The first day will be a joint thematic session on environment DNA, co-hosted with UK DNA Working Group (UKDNA), which will serve as a bilateral platform for academics and practitioners—conservationists, consultants, and policy makers—to identify how ecological genetics can be translated to applications of environmental DNA.
EGG2026 will be a hybrid event. Talks will be livestreamed and recorded for online delegates, so that time zone or distance do not need to be a barrier.
We look forward to welcoming you at this special moment.
Important dates
- 15 February: Abstract submission closes
- 22 February: Notification of submission outcomes
- 15 March: Registration closes
Abstract submission
Abstract submission now opens at https://forms.office.com/e/76iUCfURmR until 15 February.
If your topic is related to eDNA, we will prioritise your presentation for the eDNA thematic session on Day 1.
Registration
Registration now opens at https://egg2026.eventbrite.com until 15 March.
In-person
* Lunches and refreshments included
- BES/GS Student Member: £70*
- BES/GS Non-student Member: £90*
- Other Students: £90
- Other Non-students: £110
Online
- BES/GS Student Member: £20*
- BES/GS Non-student Member: £30*
- Other Students: £30
- Other Non-students: £40
Add-on tickets (for in-person delegates only)
- Anniversary Dinner: £40
- Anniversary Dinner Students: £20
- Field Trip to Peak District: £5
- NEOF Tour: Free
* You will be asked to enter your membership number of the British Ecological Society (BES) / Genetics Society (GS) during registration. You can usually find it in past emails.
** If you have registered for the UK DNA Working Group meeting, you have been given a special promotional code for 33% off.
Tentative agenda
Tentative agenda can be viewed here.
Keynote speakers
- Kirsten Miller, Defra DNA Centre of Excellence (co-hosted with UK DNA Working Group)
- Jon Slate, University of Sheffield & NERC Environmental Omics Facility
- Paul Ashton, Edge Hill University
Breakout discussion: What is the future of eDNA?
During the joint thematic session on the first day, academics and practitioners will have time to discuss the advances of knowledge and methods in the fields of eDNA and ecological genetics after the insightful keynote talk. The synthesis will contribute to an opinion piece.
Horizon scan: 70 questions of ecological genetics
We will invite ecologists across different disciplines, geographic origins, and career stages, to generate a longlist of questions that will be important to the future of ecological genetics, through emails, surveys, and EGG2026. We will then open for voting to produce a final list of questions for an opinion piece.
70th anniversary celebrations: Sherry Drinks & Anniversary Dinner
EGG delegates are specially invited to Sherry Drinks and Cakes during the poster session of the first day, before heading to our famous annual EGG Pub Quiz at a nearby fancy pub. A special Anniversary Dinner will also be hosted on the second evening.
Sherry drinks and cakes are included in the registration. The pub is pay-as-you-drink. Anniversary Dinner tickets can be purchased as add-ons in the registration.
Organising Committee
British Ecological Society Ecological Genetics Group
- Co-Chair: Tin Hang (Henry) Hung & Thom Dallimore
- Conference Officer: Michelle Davis
- Membership Officer: Rebecca Whitla
University of Sheffield
- Local Co-Chair: Helen Hipperson
You should know
Please be aware that in requesting a refund you will be reimbursed the event ticket price, subject to our refund policy, but unfortunately you will not be reimbursed the Eventbrite fee. You must submit your refund request on or before 17 August.
If you are interested in becoming a BES member to purchase the BES member rate ticket, you can find out more information and join here. Membership starts from £25, or you can get 12-months free membership if you are an undergraduate, Master's, or first-year PhD student.
To view the British Ecological Society’s privacy policy please click here.
Contact
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Diamond, 32 Leavygreave Road, Broomhall, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00 to GBP 119.89
