B-Cubed partners recently attended the BioSpace25 conference, held at ESA-ESRIN in Frascati, Italy, between 10 and 14 February. The first international conference dedicated to the application of Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) in biodiversity research, monitoring, and policy. Organised by the European Space Agency (ESA) alongside key partners such as the European Commission, GEO BON, and CEOS, the event facilitated cross-sector discussions on the integration of remote sensing and biodiversity data.

B-Cubed was featured in multiple sessions, including:

• "Effective Use of GBIF-Mediated Data" (Andrew Rodrigues, GBIF Secretariat) – A session demonstrating best practices for accessing and utilising GBIF’s vast biodiversity dataset, focusing on data quality, accessibility, and applications in ecological research.

• "Biodiversity Data Cubes" (Maarten Trekels, Lissa Breugelmans, Rocío Cortès, Duccio Rocchini) – A hands-on demonstration introducing participants to biodiversity data cubes, their role in ecological modelling, and their potential for developing biodiversity indicators.

• "Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) with Neural Networks and Maximum Entropy" (Maxime Ryckewaert et al.) – A poster session showcasing an innovative SDM approach that integrates machine learning with Landsat-derived environmental covariates.

Attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions on how to further integrate satellite-derived data with biodiversity data cubes, with a particular focus on Species Distribution Models (SDMs) as a key linkage between the two fields. B-Cubed partners reported high participation and valuable feedback, underscoring the potential for continued collaboration between the remote sensing and biodiversity monitoring communities.

Rocío Cortès demonstrates to participants the biodiversity data cubes, their role in ecological modelling, and potential for developing biodiversity indicators

Alongside the sessions, B-Cubed shared its policy brief, project overview materials, and other outreach resources with participants. The conference served as a significant step toward strengthening interdisciplinary efforts, advancing biodiversity monitoring methodologies, and fostering new opportunities for integrating Earth Observation technologies into biodiversity science and policy.