FBIP Workshops Empower Researchers Across South Africa to Strengthen Biodiversity Science

The Strategic Science Missions (SSM) Unit, led by Mr Jonathan Diederiks within the Thematic Research, Support and Advancement Department at the National Research Foundation (NRF) – under the leadership of Senior Manager Dr Zolani Dyosi – successfully hosted a national series of capacity-building workshops through the Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP). Funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the FBIP is jointly managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the NRF.

These workshops engaged 19 universities and four research institutions across South Africa, drawing participants from a diverse range of scientific disciplines, including (but not limited to) biochemistry, food and nutrition, entomology, zoology, plant ecophysiology, biodiversity conservation, ecology and GIS, botany, microbiology, agriculture, marine zooplankton studies and DNA metabarcoding. The participants, who were both early-career and established researchers, engaged in insightful discussions on proposal development, data mobilisation, and collaborative opportunities.

The first workshop took place on 2 September 2025 at the University of Fort Hare in Alice, with participants from Walter Sisulu University, Rhodes University, and Nelson Mandela University. The second session was held on 4 September 2025 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and was attended by representatives from the Durban University of Technology, University of Zululand, and Mangosuthu University of Technology. The third workshop followed on 5 September 2025 at the University of Limpopo, with delegates from the University of Venda and the University of Mpumalanga in attendance.

The workshops aimed to raise awareness about the FBIP’s role in advancing biodiversity research, while also guiding researchers and potential grant holders on how to align their projects with the programme’s objectives. Special focus was placed on engaging Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs), ensuring that their researchers are empowered to access funding opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the national biodiversity knowledge base.

The FBIP plays a crucial role in generating, mobilising, and applying biodiversity data that informs policy, guides sustainable development, and supports decision-making at both national and global levels. By fostering collaboration across disciplines and institutions, the FBIP strengthens South Africa’s contribution to global biodiversity knowledge while also building capacity among emerging researchers. Through its work, the programme ensures that biodiversity science is not only advanced, but also inclusive, relevant, and impactful for society as a whole.

Speaking on the significance of the FBIP Diederiks said, “As we strive to push the societal impact of Global Change research in South Africa, the programme is crucial. It provides the basic data needed for biodiversity research and decision-making, enabling ecosystem mapping, sustainable resource use, and the monitoring of biodiversity’s health in the face of global change. This information underpins strategies for climate change mitigation & adaptation, and the development of both bio and circular economies. Without foundational biodiversity knowledge, it is impossible to understand, protect, and sustainably manage the natural world or its essential services.”

Diederiks added that the goal is not only to transform the research cohort in terms of demographics, but also to reshape the framework within which researchers operate. This involves encouraging researchers to engage with the broader societal relevance of their work by asking how their research can meaningfully improve people’s lives. In doing so, the aim is to move away from the “bubble” academic approach that still persists and towards a more impactful, socially responsive approach to research.

“Within this context, the need was identified to target under-resourced Universities and engage them directly on how to better prepare applications related to FBIP calls, hoping that the number of researchers from these targeted Universities that receive funding will increase over the short to medium term,” said Diederiks.

A final, virtual workshop on 30 September 2025 will accommodate all the country’s public institutions.