Central Coordination Office (BEO)

The Biodiversity Exploratories Office (BEO) coordinates the entire project and is based at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre in Frankfurt am Main. It is the central interface between all scientists inside and outside the platform, politicans, the authorities, media and the interested public.

The BEO acts as the primary point of contact for all types of enquiries, such as requests for cooperation or external use of research data. Its core tasks include the central coordination of research work, the support of the steering committee, administrative responsibilities and public relations. The latter encompasses website management, the preparation of an internal newsletter, social media activities, press work and the creative development of information materials and brochures.

Additionally, the BEO organises and coordinates the annual general BE Assembly which involves over 40 projects and approximately 200–250 participants. It is also responsible for conducting various internal training workshops on relevant research methods and social skills, fostering knowledge and method transfer within the community.

Another key focus of the BEO is the support and networking of early-career researchers. To this end, we have established an exchange programme between collaborating rearch groups and an internal mentoring programme. Complementing these initiatives, we regularly organize workshops specifically designed to promote career development. The BEO also oversees the implementation of gender equality measures within the project and provides tailored funding opportunities for female researchers.

Furthermore, the BEO works closely with the Local Management Teams (LMTs) and the Central Data Management Team, to streamline workflows and prepare scientific information in a target-audience-appropriate manner for various stakeholders, including landowners, practitioners, administrators, and authorities. This results in the creation of German-language Articles and brochures and knowledge transfer tools. In addition, nationwide workshops are organized to make scientific findings accessible and practical for a broad audience.

Picture: The diagram shows the task overview of the Central Coordination Office of the Biodiversity Exploratories. Five circular shapes, which overlap, represent the following areas: firstly, contact point administration, secondly, equality measures, thirdly, support for young female and male explorers, fourthly, coordination and synchronisation of management and research, and fifthly, public relations. In the middle of the circular shapes, as a central element, there is a smaller circle representing the offices of the Biodiversity Exploratories. — The task overview of the Central Coordination Office (BEO)

Publications

Neue Ergebnisse aus den Biodiversitäts-Exploratorien

Fischer M., Boch S., Allan E. (2014): Neue Ergebnisse aus den Biodiversitäts-Exploratorien. Senckenberg Natur · Forschung · Museum 144 (3/4), 98-101

Implementing large-scale and long-term functional biodiversity research: The Biodiversity Exploratories

Großräumige und langfristige funktionielle Biodiversitätsforschung: Die Biodiversitäts-Exploratorien

Fischer M., Bossdorf O., Gockel S., Hänsel F., Hemp A., Hessenmöller D., Korte G., Nieschulze J., Pfeiffer S., Prati D., Renner S., Schöning I., Schumacher U., Wells K., Buscot F., Kalko E. K. V. ,Linsenmair K.E., Schulze E.-D., Weisser W.W. (2010): Implementing large-scale and long-term functional biodiversity research: The Biodiversity Exploratories Basic and Applied Ecology 11 (6), 473-485. doi: 10.1016/j.baae.2010.07.009

Exploratories for Large-Scale and Long-Term Functional Biodiversity Research

Exploratorien zur funktionellen Biodiversitätsforschung

Fischer M., Kalko E. K. V., Linsenmair K. E., Pfeiffer S., Prati D., Schulze E. D., Weisser W. W. (2010): Exploratories for large-scale and long-term functional biodiversity research. In: Long-term ecological research – between Theory and Application. Müller F., Baessler C, Schubert H., Klotz S, eds.),Part 7, 429-443, Springer, Dordrecht

Exploratories for Functional Biodiversity Research

Exploratorien zur funktionellen Biodiversitätsforschung

Pfeiffer S., Gockel S., Hemp A., Wells K., Prati D., Nieschulze J., Kalko E. K. V., Buscot F., Linsenmair K. E., Schulze E.-D., Weisser W.W., Fischer M.: Exploratories for Functional Biodiversity Research in “Atlas of Biodiversity Risk” Settele J., Penev L., Georgiev T., Grabaum R., Grobelnik V., Hammen V., Klotz S., Kotarac M., Kühn I. (eds., 2010). Pensoft, Sofia, Moscow, Page 26-29

Exploratorien für funktionelle Biodiversitätsforschung

Pfeiffer S., Bernert P., Großmann M., Henne E., Kalko E.K.V., Linsenmair K.E., Prati D., Schulze E.D., Weisser W.W., Fischer M. (2008): Exploratorien für funktionelle Biodiversitätsforschung. In: Wolters V., Krüß A. (eds) Naturschutz und Ökologie - Ausgewählte Beiträge zur GfÖ-Jahrestagung 2007 in Marburg. Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt 60, 183-188.