The town will host the annual meeting of the GLEON scientific network, bringing together around 150 professionals in research, engineering and environmental management from across the five continents. Banyoles was chosen because of the Estany’s status as one of the leading sites for aquatic ecology research. This will be the first time the conference has been held in a lake environment in the Iberian Peninsula and across the Mediterranean region.

From 29 August to 4 September, Banyoles will host the international conference of the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON), one of the world’s leading scientific networks dedicated to the study of lakes.

The event, which will bring together around 150 experts from around the world, will be centred around the Estany and several venues and facilities in the town centre. Over the course of a week, researchers, engineers and environmental managers will exchange knowledge, experiences and new ideas through working groups, plenary sessions, scientific presentations and workshops. Participants will also take part in discussions with local stakeholders on water management and aquatic ecosystems, as well as field excursions. The programme will include activities open to the public aimed at highlighting local knowledge and promoting scientific and environmental awareness.

Banyoles will become the first host location for the conference in both the Iberian Peninsula and the wider Mediterranean region, reinforcing its position as a leading centre for the study of inland aquatic ecosystems. Núria Catalán, Chair of the Organising Committee, notes that “this meeting is a unique opportunity to place Banyoles on the international map of environmental research and to strengthen the connection between science and society”.

The event is organised by the Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), the University of Girona (UdG) and the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), with support from Banyoles Town Council, the Estany Consortium and other regional institutions. It is also supported by the esGLEON network, which coordinates several research groups across Spain and strengthens links between local and international scientific communities.

The Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON)

GLEON is a scientific community comprising more than 1,000 members from 62 countries. It promotes open and collaborative science to improve understanding of how lake ecosystems function, the impacts of climate change and other human pressures upon them, and the ways these impacts can be mitigated.

One of its distinguishing features is its horizontal and inclusive structure, which helps remove barriers related to research funding capacity, career stage or cultural differences. At its conferences, participants work in interdisciplinary groups to develop project ideas during the meeting itself. Early-career researchers play a particularly prominent role, leading many of the projects promoted by the network with the support of more experienced professionals.

To facilitate the participation of early-career researchers and scientists from the Global South, the esGLEON network, together with the companies Ens d’Abastament d’Aigua Ter-Llobregat and Xylem, has launched the Freshwater Futures programme. These grants cover the main costs associated with attending the conference and aim to ensure greater diversity and representation within the scientific community gathering in Banyoles.