Ten years ago, in the millenium year 2000, the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) of the University of Amsterdam was founded with a mission to increase our understanding of the biodiversity and functioning of ecosystems and their response to natural and human-induced changes. This year, increasing concern about the impact of human activities on ecosystems worldwide and in particular their species diversity prompted the United Nations to declare 2010 as the ‘International Year of Biodiversity'. Possible threats of biodiversity by climate change, overfishing, acidification of the oceans and habitat degradation make our research mission more relevant than ever.

For that reason, IBED celebrated its 10th anniversary by a symposium on recent developments in international biodiversity research. Our guest of honour was professor David Tilman of the University of Minnesota, who greatly advanced our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics in the last decade. Therefore, IBED took the initiative to nominate him for the 2010 edition of the Heineken Prize of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). To our delight, the nomination was successful and David Tilman travelled to Amsterdam to receive this highly prestigious award.

The symposium was held in the afternoon of 24 September 2010, a day after the award ceremony of the Heineken Prize. At the symposium, David Tilman presented an extended keynote lecture covering his advances in biodiversity research. In addition, several other leading biodiversity scientists from within and outside IBED highlighted their latest research advances and views. After the lectures there was ample opportunity for discussion with David Tilman and other experts in an informal atmosphere whilst enjoying a drink.

Programme