Society for

Tropical Ecology [gtö]

#ECTE2026

Keynote Speaker

​Dr. Bea MaasUniversity of Vienna

​Interview: Dr. Bea MaasWhat are you currently working on – and what fascinates you personally about your research topic?I currently lead and co-lead research projects that investigate how biodiversity and ecosystem services respond to land-use change and conservation efforts, particularly in tropical and Mediterranean agroecosystems. What fascinates me is the dynamic interplay between ecological processes and human activities - and how science can support sustainable solutions that work for both nature and people. I am especially inspired by interdisciplinary collaborations and science communication efforts that help translate ecological knowledge into real-world impact.What contribution do you think the conference can make to international research?The European Conference of Tropical Ecology offers a vital platform for interdisciplinary exchange and inclusive dialogue across continents. It connects researchers working in tropical regions with European institutions, encourages early-career engagement, and fosters collaborations that are urgently needed to address the biodiversity and climate crises. Conferences like this play a key role in building strong, diverse scientific communities and sharing innovative, locally grounded research at a global scale.What advice would you give to young researchers or students interested in tropical ecology?Stay curious, open-minded, and persistent. Tropical ecology is both incredibly rewarding and often challenging - it requires intercultural sensitivity, ethical awareness, and a commitment to long-term learning. I encourage young researchers to build supportive networks, engage with local communities, and communicate their work beyond academia. Above all, follow your fascination and remember that every contribution matters. 

​Prof. Rob MarchantUniversity of York

​Interview: Prof. Rob MarchantWhat are you currently working on - and what fascinates you personally about your research topic?There are a number of themes I am working on around the East African Mountains. Mountains globally are under pressure from a perfect storm of changing climates, growing populations, biodiversity threats and agricultural transformations; challenges that increasingly impact not just mountain communities, but also the surrounding lowlands that rely on highlands for the provision of resources, most obviously water. But such changes have global impacts too, since mountains are often hotspots of biodiversity and act as carbon sinks. The multiple services provided by ecosystems are referred to as Nature's Contribution to People and encapsulated within the Nature's Future Framework. However, there is little appreciation of how mountain socio ecological systems have evolved and how people's interaction with nature has changed and what the drivers of this change have been. We recognize that human systems and ecosystems are now so interlinked that they must be understood as social-ecological systems; in our case mountain socio ecological systems. Focussed on contrasting East African mountain settings, we are combining state-of-the-art modelling and valuation assessments to co-produce pathways for sustainable futures by understanding the past, present and future of MtSES within the Nature's Future Framework that characterises how societies exploit, co-exist with, or enhance nature and how this relationship has evolved.What contribution do you think the conference can make to international research?There are so many great new insights and data presented at conferences such as this - this is where the research agenda is shaped, new collaborations formed and new seeds sown for the future tropical ecology shoots.What advice would you give to young researchers or students interested in tropical ecology?Take opportunities where possible, make opportunities happen by reaching out to people you could be interested in working with and most importantly follow what you enjoy doing - play to your strengths, whatever they could be…