Call for Papers

for Presentations and Posters

Submit Abstract

The conference committee invites proposals for papers and posters for the third biennial Biodiversity Conference in Perth, Western Australia, 28-30 Oct 2025. The overarching theme of this year’s conference is ‘Nature Positive’, a theme the conference committee hopes will showcase the outstanding biodiversity and natural environmental values of Western Australia and encourage the sharing of knowledge acquired through the outstanding contributions being made to manage and conserve our state’s unique biodiversity.

Theme 1: Indigenous Stewardship

  • Old knowledge in a new world
  • Holistic environmental management
  • Working as one

Theme 2: Our Terrestrial and Aquatic Biodiversity Assets

  • Conserving and managing biodiversity in a changing world
  • Strategies for local and landscape scale conservation
  • Diversity and taxonomy

Theme 3: Tools, Innovation and Emerging Trends

  • Advances in big data
  • Measuring and monitoring
  • Technological developments

Theme 4: A Nature Positive Future

  • Valuing nature – accounts, credits, certificates
  • Natural capital, ecosystem services and benefits
  • Changes in business models

Theme 5: Managing and Mitigating Impact

  • Invasive species
  • Climate change
  • Threatening processes

Important Dates

Abstract Submissions Open: 24 January 2025

Abstract Submissions Close: 21 March 2025

Notification of acceptance: 23 May 2025

Note for Students and ECRs:

The conference committee welcomes the submissions of papers and posters from university students and postdoctoral fellows. To facilitate your ability to obtain funding to attend the conference, acceptance letters will be sent out as soon as possible.

Please let us know the following information at the time of submission of your Paper or Poster abstract:

  • The degree that you are enrolled in (Hons/MSc/PhD)
  • Your supervisor/s, School and Institution

The Western Australian Marine Science Institution Marine Science Grants and Awards:

The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) provides independent marine research for the benefit of the environment, the community and the Blue Economy. WAMSI seeks to support Students and Early Career Researchers presenting papers or posters on marine science who require assistance to support their conference registration.

If your paper or poster on marine research is accepted, and you would like support to cover your conference registration, please email Martina Marsic for information.

Prizes for the best paper and poster will be presented at the conference.

Instructions for Abstracts and Spoken Papers:

  • Please keep the length of your abstract to 2,000 characters, including spaces (approx. 285 words) and your biographical note to 500 characters, including spaces (approx. 70 words).
  • All abstracts submitted must be original, founded in research and contribute new knowledge.
  • Abstracts, biographical notes and posters will be published online.
  • Authors of accepted papers, or their representatives, must register and attend the conference for the paper to be presented.
  • Authors are encouraged to consider how they can make their presentations engaging to the audience, and whether the topic would lend itself to an interactive format. Authors may be approached by the Program Committee to discuss alternative forms of presentation.
  • Oral Presentations – Authors will be given 15 minutes to present their paper with 5 additional minutes for discussion with the audience.
  • Speed Talks – Authors will be given 5 minutes to present their paper (no Q&A), maximum of 5 slides.

Instructions for Posters:

Posters will be displayed in a designated space at the conference venue. Please print your posters at A0 size and make your own assessment of readability before submission.

A social poster session/Sundowner will be held on 28 October 2025 from 6pm. Presenters should stand by their posters to highlight their research and to engage in discussion with conference attendees.  The posters will be judged at this time.