Environmental Omics Meeting

3-4 September 2026

Te Pae, Christchurch, New Zealand

Convenors: Dr Benjamín Durán-Vinet; Ms Gracie Kroos, Dr Kaj Kamstra; Dr Alana Alexander, Distinguished Professor Neil Gemmell. Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago.

This session brings together cutting-edge developments in environmental 'omics to showcase how high-resolution molecular profiling, from ecosystems to individual cells, is driving new insights across ecology, evolution, conservation, and biosecurity. It encompasses both fundamental and applied research, alongside mātauranga and tikanga perspectives on the use and application of these technologies.

Key topics (but not limited to):
i. AI and machine learning in environmental genomics
ii. Applied and emerging technologies in environmental omics
iii. Environmental applications of CRISPR in ecology
iv. Ecological applications of single-cell technologies
v. Environmental nucleic acid innovations for biodiversity and biosecurity monitoring
vi. Environmental transcriptomics and functional ecology
vii. Underpinning tikanga frameworks and working alongside mātauranga Māori

Our satellite meeting is being led by a combination of senior and early-career researchers who represent the diversity of the research community our meeting is targeted towards. We are committed to fostering an environment where all attendees, speakers, organisers and sponsors feel respected, valued, and included.

Confirmed invited speakers
Plenary | Professor Amanda Black (Lincoln University, NZ)
Plenary | Dr Antoinette Piaggio (United States Department of Agriculture, US)
Professor Susie Wood (Lincoln University, NZ)
Professor Phil Wilcox (Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago, NZ)
Dr Alejandro Trujillo Gonzalez (University of Canberra, AU)
Dr William Pearman (University of Auckland, NZ)
Dr Angela (Ang) McGahran (University of Waikato, NZ)
Dr Manpreet Dhami (Bioeconomy Science Institute, NZ)
Dr Anna Clark (Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago, NZ)
Sebastián Alvarez-Costes (Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago, NZ)
Teremoana Porter-Rawiri (Victoria University of Wellington/Royal Australasian College of Physicians)

Satellite meeting supporters
Genetics Otago Centre, University of Otago
CRISPR-hub, University of Otago
Consortium for the Application of CRISPR in Ecology (CACE), University of Warwick and Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago.