ACTNOW–WadSED Symposium: Integrating Science, Policy, and Stakeholders for Coastal and Marine Resilience

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Europe’s coasts and seas are under growing pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss, and human activity. Two major research initiatives – ACTNOW and WadSED – are tackling these challenges from different but complementary angles.

ACTNOW examines how multiple stressors, such as climate change, pollution, and human use, interact to affect marine biodiversity and the ecosystem services societies depend on. Its goal is to deliver science-based tools that help policymakers safeguard healthy and productive seas.

WadSED focuses on the Wadden Sea and Western Scheldt, exploring how sediment transport and morphology shape coastal resilience. By linking sediment dynamics to governance and climate adaptation, the project seeks strategies for managing estuaries and tidal systems in a changing world.

This symposium will bring these two perspectives together for the first time. By connecting biodiversity science with sediment research, the meeting aims to:

  • Identify shared research priorities at the interface of sediment dynamics, marine ecosystems, and ecosystem services.
  • Foster collaboration across disciplines, linking natural sciences with social sciences, engineering, and governance.
  • Engage stakeholders and policymakers to co-create practical strategies for coastal and marine management.

Through keynote talks, scientific panels, and stakeholder dialogues, the symposium will bridge knowledge on cumulative impacts, nature-based solutions, and decision-support tools. Local case studies from the Wadden Sea and North Sea will be linked to broader European and global biodiversity targets.

The event is by invitation only and will gather scientists from ACTNOW, WadSED, and Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ alongside policymakers, managers, and NGOs. Expected outcomes include a joint policy brief, new research collaborations, and pathways for translating science into action for more resilient coasts and seas. Feel free to reach out if you're interested to join.

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