RESTOREID Newsletter - 1st Edition

RESTOREID Newsletter - 1st Edition

As leaves continue to fall and autumn fully settles in, what better occasion to get cosy inside with a hot drink and read our very first edition? 🌍

 

How will you shape the world around you? 🌍 Dive into Restore, our interactive game fro the University of Stirling and GLITCHERS ! A fun and educational resource to explore the benefits of environmental restoration and the risks of pandemics.

Ready to play? 👉[Read more here]👈 and 👉[Play here]👈!

 

Cover Image for "Restore"

Main Achievements So Far

Here's a quick round-up of what we've been working on:

  • Knowledge Synthesis & Scenario Analysis: We’re focused on understanding how restoration impacts disease dynamics through a policy and literature review. So far, we’ve screened over 160 articles, contacted more than 110 authors, and extracted data from over 100 locations.
  • Biodiversity Assessment Approaches: We’re developing accessible biodiversity assessment tools. We’ve carried out acoustic sampling in several locations and are finalising our ultrasonic spectrum analysis. The next steps include protocol review, additional workshops, and in-depth sampling!
  • Linking Biodiversity & Disease Emergence: We’re identifying key spillover mechanisms, and experimental tests are underway. Small mammal trapping for our observational studies has started.
  • Socio-economic Drivers: We conducted field visits and meetings in Yangambi, DRC, and Tanzania to develop our social science research protocols and identify potential case study locations.
  • Knowledge Exchange & Dissemination: Our website is live, and we’re working on several campaigns on our social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter) to keep you updated! Our partners are contributing valuable field content, and we’re preparing for joint communication efforts with similar projects.
  • Management & Coordination: We've submitted our project handbook and data management plan and are finalising preparations for the General Assembly in Antwerp this coming January.

Check out our Blog Posts!

 

Promotional image for the launch press release of RESTOREID

 

  • Explore Uganda with RESTOREID! In one of our latest entry, you'll have the chance to dive into our fieldwork in Uganda, where PhD student Olivia Dimov teamed up with experts to kickstart restoration efforts in Kibale National Park.

All images © Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research / Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HZI/HIOH).

 

Promotional image for Disaster Risk Reduction Day 2024

 

Caterpillar found by the research team during their time in Congo

 

Interesting Resources

 

  • Have you seen our Factsheet yet? Check it out to get a clear overview of the RESTOREID project and its key numbers. Resources | RESTOREID

Resources | RESTOREID

 

  • Listen to the podcast from our partners at ITM: Tune in to “Transmission, Stories from Inside” for fascinating insights into how viruses jump from animals to humans, aligning with RESTOREID’s focus on zoonotic diseases.

Transmission | Podcast on Spotify

Events

 

  • Kick-off Meeting Highlights: In January, we launched RESTOREID with a hybrid kick-off at the University of Antwerp! We explored the project’s goals, fostered collaboration among partners, and laid the groundwork for future work! Additionally, we had the pleasure of being joined by our sister project, ZOE, which set the groundwork for a fruitful collaboration between both projects.

Group picture from RESTOREID's Kick-off (January 2024)

 

  • IUFRO World Congress 2024: Our coordinator, Dr. Lucinda Kirkpatrick, has been busy at work and representing RESTOREID at different events, including IUFRO World Congress last June together with our sister project BEPREP-eu!

Promotional image from RESTOREID's participation at IUFRO 24

 

  • Max Planck Conference: Back in July, RESTOREID was also present at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, where our coordinator discussed how restoring biodiversity is key to preventing the next pandemic, highlighting insights from the project.

Promotional image from RESTOREID's coordinator presentation at the Max Planck Institute

 

  • 5th ESP Europe Conference: Together with ZOE, we will be attending the ESP conference under the theme Ecosystem Services: One Planet, One Health, which will take place in Wageningen from the 18th to the 22nd of November.

Poster for the 5th ESP Europe Conference (November 2024)

Thank You! That’s it for our first newsletter! We’re grateful for your support and look forward to sharing more on our journey to healthier ecosystems and disease prevention.

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