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Defra seek Digital Sequence Information expertise ahead of COP15 – register your interest by 16/01

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are seeking to convene a panel of experts on the treatment of Digital Sequence Information in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The panel will focus discussions on Access and Benefit Sharing and discussions will help inform UK’s negotiation strategy ahead of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). 

CAPE are exploring the role universities can play in supporting engagement around rapid-policy needs, through the convening of ‘pop-up’, or short-term expertise groups that differ from the Scientific Advisory Council models. CAPE are encouraging colleagues from across UK Higher Education Institutions to register their interest, and the opportunity has also been shared with UPEN members. 

Defra are keen to hear a range of views and perspectives on the topic, and are particularly interested in engaging with communities they haven’t previously worked with. 

Discussions and outputs from this panel will include workshop summary papers and a recommendations report to help inform the UK’s negotiating position. Panel members will be provided a letter of recognition from Defra in acknowledgement of their contribution.  

The Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement Project (CAPE) will be supporting Defra in providing the secretariat, and will be monitoring and evaluating the process.  

Read the terms of reference for the panel of experts.

For any queries, please contact the UCL CAPE Coordinator, Kayleigh Renberg-Fawcett.