An Ideas Lab is an immersive, interactive experience designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and creative problem-solving.  If selected, you will join a diverse group of participants intentionally chosen to bring fresh perspectives and novel approaches to the research challenge.

From March 31-April 2, 2025, participants will engage with each other, their event facilitators, and mentors to develop a shared understanding of the research challenge, explore novel solutions, and generate teams to shape these ideas into research proposals. Each day will build on the previous one encouraging dynamic discussions and new collaborations. 

On the final day, teams will present their research proposal concepts for the opportunity to submit a full proposal to Genome BC for a share of $2M in funding.

This will include a 20-minute presentation with feedback provided by mentors and participants. Each team will also prepare a two-page report outlining their concepts including actionable milestones and how they will deliver meaningful, real-world impact across British Columbia. Teams will meet virtually within a week of the event for an opportunity to present a final version of their proposal concept and report and receive feedback from additional experts.
 

The research ideas developed at the Genome BC Ideas Lab could include the following identified challenges:

• understanding perceptions of biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural capital allowing for effective communication strategies that engage diverse stakeholders and promote conservation efforts
• mapping communities and networks connecting vital expertise, knowledge holders, and resources, enabling efficient and responsible biodiversity management
• refining biodiversity indicators and metrics ensuring they are effectively capturing the information required to inform on targets, management, and policy decisions.

To achieve a forward-looking vision for biodiversity, it is also essential to address issues related to environmental data collection, access, ownership, integration, and translation. Novel genomic technologies (such as environmental DNA (eDNA) for multi-species detection and advanced genomic sequencing for fine-scale species resolution and pathogen detection) can bridge critical data gaps in biodiversity monitoring, management, and conservation.

In addition, Decision Science tools are crucial for evaluating the costs and benefits of conservation management. These tools can help determine the data requirements, assess methodologies for various scenarios and create transparent pathways for action overcoming uncertainties in decision-making processes. While data is a significant focus, it represents just one dimension of the Ideas Lab theme, which also seeks to explore broader strategies and holistic approaches to biodiversity conservation.
 

A multidisciplinary and holistic approach is essential to stimulate new ways of thinking about biodiversity conservation. The challenge to participants in this Genome BC Ideas Lab is to collaborate across disciplines and diverse perspectives and to brainstorm transformative opportunities for addressing the biodiversity crisis. This process will prompt the development of novel policy, management and technical visions. Participants are expected to generate novel questions and ideas such as: 

• What characteristics would ideal conservation management possess to achieve sustainability and equity?
• How can biodiversity initiatives be linked to sustainable industries while safeguarding the ecosystem? 
• What novel economic models can be used to value natural assets (e.g. quantification of genetic diversity as part of natural capital)?
• What value judgements and visions are driving biodiversity initiatives and how should they be refined to drive equity and adaptability?
• What are the ethical, technical, and practical considerations for data sharing ownership and use in biodiversity information collection and resulting datasets (e.g. access to digital sequence information and benefit sharing)?
• Where can new technologies and methodologies, such as genomics and bioinformatics, be integrated to streamline and enhance biodiversity conservation processes?
• How can biodiversity data, including genomic insights, be synthesized into actionable strategies for policies and practice?
• What is needed for responsible and equitable adoption of current and future genomics technologies in conservation efforts? 

The core challenge is to bring together experts from diverse fields (including genomics, social sciences, economics, conservation biology, and public policy etc.) who may not have collaborated before. Their task is to identify and prioritize challenges where emerging genomic data and technologies can provide transformative solutions. 

To ensure these solutions have meaningful and lasting impact, participants must inform their development through socio-economic, cultural, and policy perspectives. This requires addressing these dimensions both during the co-creation process and in considering the adoption and real-world application of the solutions. Key aspects may include equity, data governance, and practical feasibility, ensuring that genomic innovations are ethically integrated, socially inclusive, and aligned with societal needs and environmental sustainability goals.
 

If you're passionate about leveraging innovation and genomics to protect and conserve biodiversity, join us!  We welcome individuals from a wide range of disciplines—even if technical genomic experience is not part of your background. Expertise in the following fields is highly valued:

• Policy Analysis
• Law
• Ethics
• Indigenous Studies
• Economics
• Social Sciences
• Implementation Science
• Genome Sciences
• Conservation Biology
• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Climate Science
• Wildlife Biologists/Managers
• Science Communicators/Knowledge Mobilizers
• And other relevant fields

Let's collaborate to develop and implement cutting-edge solutions to address the global biodiversity crisis.
 

Click the Apply Now to complete the Expression of Interest form on this website.

Space is limited so be sure to apply early! In-person attendance for the entirety of the Ideas Lab is expected to ensure a productive, results-driven event. Participants will collaborate to establish priority question(s) and develop proposal concepts during this hands-on workshop.

The Ideas Lab will take place in-person at Genome BC. If selected to participate, your travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by Genome BC.

Please note that only participants who are invited to the Genome BC Ideas Lab workshop and actively collaborate in teams during the event will be eligible to apply for the subsequent funding call.
 

The Ideas Lab aims to generate meaningful solutions and impactful outcomes for biodiversity conservation in BC. Multidisciplinary teams around novel projects of interest will emerge during the workshop, bringing together experts from natural and social sciences and other relevant fields. These teams are anticipated to foster new collaborations between academic institutions, tech companies, and conservation organizations, creating a foundation for future innovations.

Key achievements for this event will be:

1. Enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration and creative problem-solving,
2. Generation of feasible project proposals that leverage genomic data for novel biodiversity conservation strategies, and
3. A clear Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with clear outputs, outcomes, and impacts tailored to each team’s proposal.

At the conclusion of the event, each team will present their proposal along with a short report. These presentations and reports will play a critical role in the evaluation process for advancing to the full application stage. Proposals will be assessed based on their quality, innovation, and potential impact, with selected teams invited to apply to Genome BC for funding.