International Conference Evolution in Action

Congressi Stefano Franscini, Monte Verità, Switzerland

June 11 - 15, 2023

The International Conference Evolution in Action brought together researchers with a common interest in genomic technologies and their application to evolutionary questions.

Evolutionary biology plays a central role in understanding mechanisms and processes that shape biological systems. Despite its relevance for many scientific fields, researchers addressing evolutionary questions often work somewhat isolated in their respective discipline, discouraging interdisciplinary discussions.

The genomic revolution has strongly altered the research field of evolutionary biology. Sequencing technologies have become so powerful and affordable that the genetic variability of entire genomes and even of many individuals can be directly studied. Such approaches enable research especially on rapid evolutionary changes and are key to understanding, e.g., the evolution of human, animal, and plant pathogens, domestication principles, and processes underlying rapid adaptation. These are socially important topics, as seen for example in the speedy emergence of virus variants in SARS-CoV-2 or the adaptation of wild species and crops to climate change.

With this conference, we aimed to facilitate interdisciplinary research integrating biology, medicine, agricultural, and computer sciences to address evolutionary questions that are relevant to our changing world and society.

The conference was supported by