UKEOF will host its online conference Sensing the Environment: Emerging Technologies for Monitoring and Decision-Making on the morning of 24th February 2026 (9:00 – 13:00). The event aims to showcase a diverse range of examples of the application of emerging technologies in environmental monitoring and assessment of interest particularly to environmental policy and academic sectors.
Talks will highlight recent important advances in the development of sensors, sensor networks, molecular techniques and AI systems to quantify and track everything from individual species to ecosystems, inform on risks to human health and develop early warning capabilities to manage natural resources. Recurring issues are likely to include approaches to validation, development of common standards, managing and processing large data streams, the development of sensor networks and ensuring transparency and data accessibility.
The day will begin with perspectives on policy needs in this area provided by representatives of national governments and will be followed by three sessions of presentations under the themes of:
- Assessing biodiversity from the detection and processing of biological signals
- Monitoring human environmental exposure and ecosystem health
- Scaling up to assist management and decision support.
Conference delegates will be encouraged to submit questions for speakers to address at the end of each session and participate in online polling sessions to gauge audience views on priorities, opportunities, current limitations and potential solutions across this area. Participation is free but delegates will need to register in advance.
The 2026 conference has a dedicated web page. Programme details will follow shortly and registration will open soon.