Outcomes of the Fifth International Conference on Bioscience and Biotechnology, 2024 (ICBB-2024): Planetary Health—A Local Discourse

Suvechhya Bastola, Maria Alba Abad, Anurag Adhikari, Gaurav Adhikari, Aagat Awasthi, Ashim Dhakal, Rijan Maharjan, Rojlina Manandhar, Rukumesh Paudyal, Sunil Pokhrel, Amina Singh, Neha Shrestha, Lekhendra Tripathee, Remco Kort () and Prajwal Rajbhandari ()
Additional contact information
Suvechhya Bastola: Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kathmandu 44614, Nepal
Maria Alba Abad: Institute for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
Anurag Adhikari: Kathmandu Research Institute for Biological Sciences, Lalitpur 44700, Nepal
Gaurav Adhikari: Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kathmandu 44614, Nepal
Aagat Awasthi: School of Education, Kathmandu University, Lalitpur 44703, Nepal
Ashim Dhakal: Phutung Research Institute, Kathmandu 44611, Nepal
Rijan Maharjan: Phutung Research Institute, Kathmandu 44611, Nepal
Rojlina Manandhar: Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kathmandu 44614, Nepal
Rukumesh Paudyal: Himalayan Environment Research Institute, Kathmandu 44602, Nepal
Sunil Pokhrel: University of Nepal Development Board, Kathmandu 44604, Nepal
Amina Singh: University of Nepal Development Board, Kathmandu 44604, Nepal
Neha Shrestha: Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kathmandu 44614, Nepal
Lekhendra Tripathee: Himalayan Environment Research Institute, Kathmandu 44602, Nepal
Remco Kort: Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prajwal Rajbhandari: Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kathmandu 44614, Nepal

Challenges, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: The Fifth International Conference on Bioscience and Biotechnology, 2024 (ICBB-2024), held in Godawari, Nepal, from 21 to 24 April 2024, aimed to address planetary health challenges within the local context of Nepal while fostering global dialogue. Bringing together 240 participants from 10 countries, including 20 international invited speakers, the conference sought to explore the intersections of human health, environmental sustainability, and societal well-being. Jointly organized by the Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology (RIBB), the University of Nepal Development Board (UoN-DB), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA), and the Himalayan Environment Research Institute (HERI) and co-organized by Phutung Research Institute (PRI), Kathmandu Research Institute for Biological Sciences (KRIBS), Engage Nepal with Science (ENwS), and Kathmandu Center for Research and Education (KCRE), the conference represented a collaboration of 15 institutions and companies. With attendees from diverse backgrounds—academia, research institutes, private companies, NGOs, and government organizations—the conference featured a robust program of keynotes, workshops, panel discussions, focus group discussions, and oral and poster presentations. Thematic focuses included sessions on Air and Water, Climate Change, Ecology, Evolutionary and Environmental Sciences, and Global Health. A major highlight was the recognition of Nepal’s rich biodiversity and its vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. The event drew inspiration from the European Planetary Health Hub, convening and exploring sustainable, locally relevant solutions to global planetary health issues. Outcomes of the conference included new research collaborations, an enhanced focus on interdisciplinary approaches to biodiversity conservation, and a deeper understanding of how indigenous knowledge can play a crucial role in environmental sustainability. Additionally, ICBB-2024 set a precedent for eco-friendly conferencing practices by emphasizing sustainability throughout the event. In conclusion, ICBB-2024 succeeded in fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration, inspiring both local and global actions to address pressing planetary health challenges. The event underscored the importance of integrating science, policy, and traditional knowledge in the pursuit of sustainable solutions for planetary health.

Keywords: planetary health; transdisciplinary research; biodiversity loss; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A00 C00 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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