4th - 6th September 2024

XXV ANNUAL BIOECON CONFERENCE

at the Kings College, Cambridge, UK


Economic Development, Population Dynamics and Biodiversity Conservation

Keynote Speakers

Professor Elizabeth J. Z. Robinson

London School of Economics and Political Science

Professor Paul R. Armsworth

University of Tennessee

The Conference

 The Scientific Partners of BIOECON are pleased to announce the Twenty-fifth International BIOECON Conference on the theme of “Economic Development, Population Dynamics and Biodiversity Conservation”. The Conference will be held at Kings College, Cambridge between the 4th – 6th September 2024. BIOECON XXV will be of interest to both researchers and policymakers working on issues at the interface of economic development, conservation and population pressures.

Our keynote speakers will be Professor Elizabeth J. Z. Robinson (Director of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), UK) and Professor Paul R. Armsworth (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA).

In addition to the conference theme, BIOECON XXV aims to have parallel sessions on a broad range of topics within the umbrella of biodiversity economics including: the role of biodiversity and ecosystem services in economic development, plant genetic resources and food security issues, deforestation and development, fisheries, institutions and instruments (e.g. Payments for Ecosystem Services), biodiversity finance, development and conservation, wildlife conservation and endangered species, international trade and regulation and climate change. For a flavour of previous conferences go to this link http://www.bioecon-network.org/pages/events-01.html.

In particular, submissions are invited on the themes of:

 

Aligned with the conference theme we will also run a special session on “Population, Fertility Decline and Resource Exploitation:  The Future of Biodiversity” that will be hosted by Prof Timothy Swanson from the Centre for International Environmental Studies (CIES) at the Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID). The special session welcomes papers addressing any issues regarding population, fertility, dependency, global land use and the impacts of these issues regarding natural resources. Authors that wish their papers to be considered for the special session should make this known upon submission.

 

BIOECON also has the goal of influencing policy-makers and policy. To this end expert policy panels will be organised. The purpose of these panels will be to bring together practitioners (Government, private sector, NGO) and academics from different disciplines to discuss current policy related issues in biodiversity conservation and environment. The panel sessions will be supported by and contribute to the aims and goals of the funding partners. The precise composition of the Policy Panels is to be announced. 

 The Venue

The will be held at the historical premises of King’s College Cambridge. Accommodation and all meals will be provided in the College. The conference will open with a reception at King’s College on the evening of Wednesday the 4th of September. Conference sessions will commence on the morning of the 5th of September and conclude on the afternoon of the 6th September (5:00pm). The conference banquet will take place at the main Dining Hall of King’s College on the evening of the 5th September. Delegates will also have privileged access to the renown King’s College Chapel (unless closed for building work). 


 Registration

We are hugely grateful to our sponsors who enabled us to subsidise the event so that we can keep prices as low as possible. Paper presenters will be charged the subsidised fee of £290 to cover: accommodation (on a B&B basis) on the 4th and 5th; drinks reception drinks on 4th; banquet dinner on the 5th; lunch and teas and coffees on 4th and 5th. Additional nights’ accommodation to stay at King’s College (on a B&B basis) before and after the conference can be booked at the registration site for £120/night (for single ensuite room).  

Non-paper presenters will be charged the non-subsidised fee of £440 that includes the same package as above. The registration site will allow delegates to book additional nights, upgrade their room to double occupancy as well as book lunch/dinner places for additional guests. Day participants (not requiring overnight stay) will be charged £140/day (includes lunch and conference banquet) or £100/day (includes lunch but not the conference banquet). All other questions regarding fees, registrations, and accommodation should be sent to the conference secretariat at bioecon@bioecon-network.org.

The conference will be an entirely in-person event. Virtual attendance or online presentation of one’s paper will not be possible.

Delegate paper-presenters and those who will have been awarded a bursary will receive (via email) a code to register at the subsidised fee. Non-paper presenters and delegates not requiring accommodation can register without a code.

Registration is now open. Registration for all paper presenters is due by Wednesday 28th June 2024. It may be possible for attendees who are not presenting to register later than this, but such places cannot be guaranteed. Cancellation and refund policy is stated in the Registration site. 


Travel Advice and Information

The entire conference will take place within the historic premises of King’s College Cambridge. The main conference proceedings start at 8:45 a.m. on the 5th of Sep. and will end by 5:00 pm on the 6th of Sep. Hence, if you plan to attend the full event, we advise that you arrive on the 4th of Sep. and depart in late afternoon on the 6th of Sep.

Check in time at Kings College is 2.00pm. Late check in at the College is possible as keys can be collected form the Porter’s lodge that is open 24 hours.

 

If you require a travel visa to enter the UK and need a letter of invitation, please contact us (at the bioecon@bioecon-network.org) as soon as possible.

 

Reaching Cambridge

From Stansted Airport: This is the closest airport to Cambridge. The rail station is beneath the airport. Trains run regularly from Stansted to Cambridge and take less than half an hour. For fares and timetable please see: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ .

There is also a direct coach service from/to Stansted airport (50 min): http://www.nationalexpress.com/

From Heathrow Airport: Upon arriving at Heathrow Airport there is a direct coach service from the Central Bus Station to the centre of Cambridge. The Central Bus Station is well signed and coach tickets for all services can be purchased from the Travel Centre in the station. If you prefer to pre‐book your ticket, or wish to check timetables or fares, this can be done at www.nationalexpress.com .

Coaches leave Heathrow approximately every 30 minutes and take approximately 2.5 hours to reach Cambridge.

If you prefer to take the train from Heathrow to Cambridge, you need to take the Tube or Heathrow Express into London (between 45-20 min), then head to King’s Cross/St. Pancras Station and take the train to Cambridge (the direct train takes around one hour). For fares and timetable please see: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/.

From Gatwick: the Coach takes approx. 4-5 hours (details here: www.nationalexpress.com) while the direct train takes around 2 hours. Details here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

From Luton: The Coach takes approx. 1.5 hours (details here: www.nationalexpress.com). To take the train to Cambridge, you will first have to take a train to London and then take another train to Cambridge (around 2 hours in total). Details here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

From Central London: Trains are available to Cambridge from Kings Cross Station (approximately 1 hour) and Liverpool St Station (1‐1.5 hours). See http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/  for further details.

By Car: Please note that the College has no parking spaces if you arrive by car. The town car parks are a relatively short distance from the College, but do allow extra time for parking since the city is always busy. For details on car parks, see: www.cambridge.gov.uk/parking

 

Taxi from airports:

Especially if you are travelling in groups it may be worth looking into sharing a taxi into Cambridge from the airport you will be landing at. Price and booking details can be found at:

https://www.airportlynx.co.uk/

https://www.panthertaxis.co.uk/

https://www.taxicambridge.co.uk/



Reaching Kings College once in Cambridge

Once in Cambridge you can reach Kings College in one of the following ways:

If you at the Cambridge train station, the College is a short taxi ride away (10 min). Taxis can be found outside the station. Alternatively, you can take a bus to the city centre to ‘Drummer Street’ bus stop (approx. 10 minutes) and then walk to King’s College within 10 min (see https://maps.app.goo.gl/MLqe6pMBsKkuUGM56 )

If you arrive via bus from Heathrow Airport that leaves you at the Cambridge Parkside stop in central Cambridge, then King's College is a short taxi ride away (taxis can be normally found at the bus stop) or alternatively a 20-minute walk. See map for walking path: http://goo.gl/maps/j62F

 

Additional nights’ accommodation

If you require additional nights’ accommodation at King’s College you can book these via the online registration booking site. The costs for additional nights will be at your own expense. If you have any additional accommodation requirements, please contact us bioecon@bioecon-network.org.

There is no guarantee that we can accommodate extra nights at Kings College as the premises are booked for other events all that week. If a room cannot be found or you prefer to stay outside the College for any extra nights you will be in Cambridge, you can book a room in another College here https://www.universityrooms.com/ or a hotel room or B&B using sites such as www.booking.com.