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2026 Global eDNA Conference

Hosted in partnership with the MTS eDNA Committee and the University of Washington’s eDNA Collaborative, the conference will convene a global community of eDNA enthusiasts from across economic sectors to build connections, learn from one another, and further advance eDNA science.

The global conference will feature three days of concurrent sessions, focusing on a diverse array of eDNA-related topics (e.g., conservation applications, quantitative analysis, community engagement, policy-relevant communication, technological development, and many others), as well as a set of plenary speakers, a call for abstracts, a poster session, and unstructured time for networking. Contact [email protected] for questions.

Dates: October 28-30, 2026
Location: Bell Harbor International Conference Center (2211 Alaskan Wy, Seattle, WA 98121)
Flyer: Click here >> 

REGISTER HERE

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission and Registration Opens: January 28, 2026
• Abstract Deadline EXTENDED: June 12, 2026
• Abstract Notifications: by July 13, 2026
• Early Bird Registration Ends: July 31, 2026

Plenary Speakers

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Phillip Levin is the Director of The Nature Record, an independent national assessment of nature and its benefits to people in the United States, and Interim Executive Director of EarthLab at the University of Washington. He is also Professor of Practice in the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. From 2023 to 2025, he served as Director of the National Nature Assessment at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Levin is a conservation scientist focused on bridging theory and practice, integrating social and natural sciences to support more effective and equitable environmental decision-making. His work centers on developing interdisciplinary approaches to understand and manage marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems—and the communities that depend on them.

Prior to his current roles, Levin was Lead Scientist for The Nature Conservancy in Washington and a Senior Scientist and Program Manager at NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. He also served as scientific lead for NOAA’s Integrated Ecosystem Assessment programs in the California Current and Puget Sound, helping advance approaches to assess ecosystem health and forecast the cumulative effects of coastal management and climate change.

Levin has received numerous awards for his contributions to marine and coastal science. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and co-edited two books, Conservation of the Anthropocene Ocean and Extinction, as well as the forthcoming Nature Record: An Assessment of Nature and Nature’s Benefits to be published by MIT Press.

Levin received his B.A. in Zoology from the University of Texas, his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina.

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Melania Cristescu is Professor of Biology at McGill University, Director of the eDNA Discovery Hub, and former Canada Research Chair in Ecological Genomics. She is internationally recognized for her contributions to environmental genomics and for pioneering the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) and environmental RNA (eRNA) to study biodiversity, ecosystem health, and ecological responses to environmental change.

Her research integrates molecular ecology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and aquatic ecology to develop next-generation biomonitoring tools for freshwater and marine ecosystems. By combining field ecology with advanced sequencing technologies and bioinformatics, her work has helped expand the application of eDNA and eRNA from species detection toward more comprehensive assessments of ecosystem function, resilience, and biological activity.

Professor Cristescu’s research program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and translational science, with applications spanning conservation, invasive species detection, climate change research, and environmental management. Through the eDNA Discovery Hub, she leads collaborative initiatives that connect academic research, technological innovation, and real-world environmental monitoring needs.

Registration

Registration includes refreshments, breakfast, and lunch on all three days. 

Early Bird (MTS Member): $590 USD
Early Bird (Non-Member): $665 USD (includes 1-yr MTS membership)
Non-Early Bird (MTS Member): $650 USD
Non-Early Bird (Non-Member): $725 USD (includes 1-yr MTS membership)
Low and Middle Income Country: $450 USD**
Student: $460 USD (Must be an MTS member to receive student price. If you are not a member, you can sign up here for $25)
One Day Registration: $250 USD (Student: $160)

REGISTER HERE

**If you are traveling from a country listed as low income or lower middle income on World Bank, email [email protected] to receive a discount code bringing the registration fee to $450.

By registering for this event, all attendees, regardless of MTS membership status, agree to adhere to the Marine Technology Society's Code of Conduct.

Exhibit

EXHIBIT HERE

 Abstracts