28-30 Oct. 2026 | Uppsala, Sweden
Integrating Scales in Planetary Biology
From Cells to Biodiversity & Planetary Resilience
About this conference
Planetary change is transforming ecosystems, oceans, and global biogeochemical cycles. Yet the biological responses to environmental stress begin at a much smaller scale: the cell.
Cells are the first responders to environmental change, regulating how organisms adapt, interact with symbiotic partners, and survive shifting conditions. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for explaining how life responds to planetary change.
Integrating Scales in Planetary Biology 2026 tackles this challenge directly. The conference convenes leading researchers, infrastructure providers, funders, policy-makers and private sector stakeholders to translate molecular insights into actionable environmental strategies, advancing our understanding of life’s resilience on a changing Earth.
Registrations opening soon - sign up to be notified!
A multidisciplinary community
This conference is designed to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, connecting researchers working on planetary biology with industry leaders and policy-makers who can translate insights into actionable solutions.
We welcome professionals across the following sectors:
Research and academia
- Cellular and molecular biologists
- Biodiversity scientists, ecologists, and environmental scientists
- Synthetic biologists
- Climate change and planetary health researchers
Policy and infrastructure
- Directors of research infrastructures
- Science policy experts and government advisors
- Local councils and municipalities
- Public and private science funders
Industry and enterprise
- CEOs and founders in biotech, agritech, and climate-tech
- Corporate sustainability directors and business strategists
- Investors focused on planetary health and green-innovation
Programme
(Please note: this schedule is subject to minor adjustments)
Day 1 | October 28
09:30 – 11:00 | Registration & morning coffee
11:00 – 12:00 | Integrating Scales in Planetary Biology: Vision & foundation
11:00 – 11:20 | Welcome & Introduction to Integrating Scales in Planetary Biology
11:20 – 11:30 | Connecting scales through research infrastructure: The SciLifeLab perspective
11:30 – 11:20 | From molecules to ecosystems: The EMBL vision for Planetary Biology
11:50 – 12:00 | Practical information
12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch
13:00 – 15:00 | Session I - Integrating approaches in Planetary Biology
13:00 – 13:45 | Keynote I 13:45 – 13:50 Short break
13:50 – 15:00 | Short talks
15:00 – 16:15 | Coffee break & poster session
16:15 – 17:10 | Session II - Climate resilience
17:10 - 17:20 | Pitch Slam Prep
17:20 - 19:00 | Mingle
Day 2 | October 29
09:00 - 09:05 | Morning recap & practical information
09:05 - 10:45 | Session III - Biodiversity decline
09:05 – 09:50 Keynote II
09:50 – 09:55 Short break
09:55 – 10:45 | Short talks
10:45 – 11:45 | Coffee break & poster session
11:45 – 13:00 | Session IV - Feeding the world
11:45 – 12:30 | Keynote III
12:30 – 13:00 | Short talks
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch
13:45 – 15:15 | Round table discussions I
15:15 – 15:45 | Coffee break
15:45 – 17:15 | Round table discussions II
19:00 – | Dinner at Norrlands Nation
Day 3 | October 30
09:00 - 09:05 | Morning recap & practical information
09:05 - 10:15 | Key takeaways from round table discussions
10:15 - 10:40 | Pitch Slam
10:40 - 11:40 | Coffee break & poster session
11:40 - 12:40 | Panel I: Investing in Planetary Biology
12:40 - 13:40 | Lunch
13:40 - 14:40 | Panel II: From Evidence to Action
14:40 - 14:50 | Best Poster Awards Ceremony
14:50 - 15:10 | Closing Ceremony
Confirmed speakers
Stay tuned! We are currently curating a lineup of policy-makers, and industry pioneers.
Margaret McFall-Ngai
Colin Averill
ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Alex Worden
Detlev Arendt
Anne Magurran
Corentin Bisot
AMOLF, The Netherlands
Andrew Haines
Federico Ariel
CONICET, Argentina
Anna-Liisa Laine
Organizing Committee
- Olga Vinnere Pettersson - SciLifeLab, Sweden
- Anabella Aguilera - SciLifeLab, Sweden
- Fevziye Hasan - SciLifeLab, Sweden
- Amy Gladfelter - Duke University, US
- Monica Bettencourt Dias - Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine , Portugal
- Gautam Dey - EMBL, Germany
- Guillermina Kubaczka - Yale University, US
- Nathaniel Street - Umeå University, Sweden
Venue & Travel
The conference will be held at the historic Uppsala University Main Building (“Universitetshuset”). Located just a few minutes' walk from the city centre, this iconic venue offers an excellent environment for interdisciplinary discussions.
Address:
Uppsala University Main Building,
Biskopsgatan 3,
753 10 , Uppsala, Sweden
Travel to Uppsala
Uppsala is highly accessible for both domestic and international delegates, with excellent public transport links connecting the city to the broader region.
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) is the closest airport to Uppsala.
- By train: Trains run from Arlanda Central Station (located in SkyCity) to Uppsala Central Station. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes. Services run daily from 04:46 (05:46 on weekends) to 00:46. Tickets cost SEK 120–210 and can be purchased at station ticket machines or via the airport website.
Note: Do not take the Arlanda Express, as this train goes only to Stockholm.
- By bus: UL bus number 801 departs from bus stop 1 outside Terminal 4 to Uppsala Central Station. The journey takes approximately 50 minutes and costs around SEK 120. Tickets can be purchased via the UL website or app, or with a contactless card upon boarding.
- By taxi: Taxis from the airport to Uppsala can be booked in advance for a fixed price of SEK 675, plus a SEK 30 airport pick-up fee. We recommend Uppsala Taxi (+46 18 100 000).
(Note: Prices quoted are accurate as of September 2026 and may be subject to change.)
Accommodation
Please note that participants are responsible for arranging and covering the cost of their own travel and accommodation. Uppsala is a highly walkable city, and a wide variety of hotels are located in the city centre, just a short 10- to 15-minute walk from the University Main Building. Below is a list of recommended options in central Uppsala:
- Elite Hotel Academia ****
- Grand Hotell Hörnan ****
- Radisson Blu Hotel ****
- Clarion Gillet ****
- Best Western Svava ***
- Home Hotel Uppsala ***
- Akademihotellet ***
- Hotell Stella
- Hotell Centralstation
- Uppsala City Hostel
In addition to the above, there are many other accommodation options in Uppsala. Check Booking.com and Airbnb for more suggestions.
Contact us
For any questions regarding the conference, please reach out to the relevant contact below:
- Programme and abstract submission: Anabella Aguilera | anabella.aguilera@scilifelab.se
- General inquiries, payments and refunds: Secretariat | PlanetaryBiology2026@akademikonferens.se
- Business partnerships and sponsoring: Fevziye Hasan | hello@fevziyehasan.com
Join us in Uppsala to explore how molecular life science can contribute to understanding and strengthening life’s resilience on a changing planet.
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