Sunset in Yangambi (DRC)

Network Workshop

Funded by Belspo, COBECORE aims to make the analog archives of the Institut National pour l’Etude Agronomique du Congo belge (INEAC) digitally accessible, in addition to extracting eco-physiological relevant plant traits from historical herbarium specimens. Our main objective is to establish baseline measurements necessary for long-term (retrospective) ecological and climatological research by valorising unexplored historical data. In this workshop we present the first results of the COBECORE project and reach out to partners to support and grow project activities.

Update: detailed network workshop minutes can be found on a separate page.

Program of the Network workshop:

09:00-09:40: introduction, round-table presentation

Morning - COBECORE

  • 09:40 - 10:00 - Hans Verbeeck - The importance of COBECORE for long-term ecological and climatological research in the Congo Basin (PDF)
  • 10:00 - 10:20 - Kim Jacobsen - COBECORE activities at the RMCA and the State Archives (PDF)
  • 10:20 - 10:40 - Filip Vandelook - COBECORE activities at the Botanic Garden Meise (PDF)
  • 10:40 - 11:00 - coffee break
  • 11:00 - 12:30 - Opportunity for feedback/advice from Follow-up committee
  • 12:00-13:30: Lunch (business lunch at Het Pand)

Afternoon - Invited speakers

History & memories

  • 13:30 - 14:00: Edmond De Langhe, INEAC
  • 14:00 - 14:30: Eric Tollens, IFA/INERA after 1970 (PDF)
  • 14:30 - 15:00: Yves Segers/Stephanie Kerckhofs, ICAG KULeuven (cancelled)
  • 15:00 - 15:30: coffee break + opportunity for discussion

Data rescue & Citizen Science

  • 15:30 - 16:00: Rob Allan, ACRE, Copernicus C3S DRS & COBECORE (PDF, part 1,part 2)
  • 16:00 - 16:30: Quentin Groom, Citizen Science at the Botanic Garden (PDF)
  • 16:30 - 18:00: Opportunity for discussion

  • 18:30 Informal drinks in Gent