eLTER at EGU General Assembly 2025

The European Long-Term Ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI) will be prominently represented at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2025, taking place in Vienna from 27 April to 2 May. With a rich programme of talks and interactive sessions, eLTER researchers will spotlight how long-term, integrated, and interdisciplinary ecosystem research is vital to addressing today’s most urgent environmental challenges.

Throughout the week, the eLTER community will showcase a wide range of contributions that reflect the infrastructure’s essential role in advancing long-term ecosystem science across Europe and connecting it with global efforts. Among the featured topics are a newly developed web application for simplifying cost calculations at research sites and an in-depth exploration of eLTER’s Standard Observations—a harmonised framework designed to support consistent, long-term environmental research across diverse ecosystems. (eLTER related presentations)

Speakers will also highlight eLTER’s role as an integrative research platform bridging disciplines and ecosystems—from terrestrial to freshwater and transitional zones. This vision of integration extends beyond Europe, with presentations addressing the Global Ecosystem Research Infrastructure (GERI) and initiatives for cross-infrastructure collaboration in tackling global environmental change.

On the applied side, the programme includes studies on the impacts of nitrogen deposition and climate extremes in forests, sustainability research through LTSER platforms, and the ecological recovery following natural disturbances. Additional talks will present eLTER’s growing suite of digital services, such as virtual research environments and open-access tools designed to support data sharing, analysis, and informed policy-making.

Austria Center Vienna has been the official venue for the European Geosciences Union General Assembly since 2005. Photo credit: Robert F. Tobler

Among the key contributions from the eLTER community at EGU 2025, three presentations stand out in underscoring the infrastructure’s integrative and forward-looking mission:

• Dr. Michael Mirtl, in collaboration with Prof. Jaana Bäck, will open the conversation with an introduction to eLTER’s ‘whole system’ approach—demonstrating how harmonised, long-term data collection across diverse ecological and socio-economic variables enables robust environmental assessments and supports evidence-based policymaking. 
• Dr. Steffen Zacharias will present eLTER’s Standard Observations framework, a foundational model for long-term environmental research that brings together biotic, abiotic, and human dimensions in a unified methodology—enhancing the comparability, resolution, and usability of ecosystem data. 
• Dr. Veronika Gaube will share insights from Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) platforms, highlighting how place-based, participatory research at the landscape level helps bridge local knowledge with global sustainability goals, offering critical guidance for managing socio-ecological transitions.

Visit us at ENVRI Booths 64 & 65 – Right by the Entrance!

Drop by the eLTER space at ENVRI booths 64 & 65 to connect with our team, explore our work, and learn more about Europe’s leading ecosystem research infrastructure.

Lunchtime Talk on eLTER Services (ENVRI Lunch talk programme)

Wednesday, 30 April at 13:15 CEST
Speaker: Dr. Ulf Mallast
A special session where Dr. Mallast will introduce eLTER’s evolving service portfolio and discuss how it supports researchers, data users, and policy stakeholders across Europe and beyond.

Join us at EGU 2025 and meet the researchers behind some of Europe’s most ambitious environmental research. Together, we are building the foundations for globally connected, locally relevant, and deeply informed ecosystem science.

Discover all eLTER related presentations at EGU 2025!

Useful links:

For full programme details, visit the official EGU 2025 Programme.

Have a look at the EGU25 OSPP prep, presentation uploads, and walk-through videos!

Read and follow EGU Blogs.

###

Follow eLTER on Bluesky and LinkedIn for updates from #EGU25!

Subscribe to the eLTER newsletter!