MDPI International Mother Earth Day Webinar 2025
22 April 2025
Welcome from the Chair
In commemoration of International Mother Earth Day <https://www.un.org/en/observances/earth-day>, MDPI is organizing a special webinar to bring together researchers and experts to share their thoughts on raising awareness about the importance of environmental protection and addressing pressing global issues such as climate change, ecosystem recovery, and sustainable development.
The theme of the webinar revolves around fostering a deeper understanding of humanity’s role in preserving our planet for future generations, as well as the crucial roles of biodiversity conservation and sustainable practices in preserving our ecosystems for future generations. This webinar will provide a platform for meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange on the importance of climate change and the importance of the recovery of our ecosystems.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the MDPI International Mother Earth Day Webinar 2025. Please find an up-to-date outline of the presenters below.
Date: 22 April 2025
Time: 8:30 am CEST | 4:30 pm AEST | 2:30 pm CST Asia
Webinar ID: 878 0932 6864
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Keynote Speakers
National Program of Earthquakes and Volcanoes, Saudi Geological Survey, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,
Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science, Sopron, Hungary,
Geoconservation Trust Aotearoa SW Pacific, Opotiki, New Zealand
Presentation Title: Geoheritage as the building block of the geodiversity of Earth heritage. Abstract: This presentation will provide a critical review of the significance of geoheritage from an Earth heritage perspective. The talk will outline the link between geoheritage and geodiversity in light of their role in geosystem services. The lecture also will cover aspects of various geohazards from a geoheritage perspective, especially to link natural hazards and geoheritage, to promote human society resilience development. The presentation will explore the link between traditional knowledge on Earth heritage and its potential for blending with modern research aspects to co-develop geoconservation ventures for local communities.
Károly Németh was Professor in Geology at Massey University, New Zealand, until 2022. He retained his academic position at Massey University as an Adjunct Professor in Geology. He has been a Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences since 2024 (DSc). He also holds a Senior Researcher position at the Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science in Hungary. He is Research Affiliate of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia di Bologna, Italy. He obtained a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Otago, New Zealand, in 2001, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Sopron, Hungary, in 2003. His expertise includes sedimentology, volcanology, and geoheritage. He has worked extensively on research on monogenetic volcanism and volcanic geology in various geotectonic settings. He has completed research on each of Earth’s continents and gained strong field-based geology skills, including geological mapping and the reconstruction of interactions between volcanism and the sedimentary environment. He has worked on geoheritage research that expanded the characterization of geodiversity. He is currently the Chairperson of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) Subcommission on Geological Heritage Sites. He has been the reviewer of numerous UNESCO Global Geopark applications, prepared key books about geoheritage and geodiversity, and extensively worked on various geological heritage research studied in Argentina, China, Colombia, Hungary, Morocco, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and Samoa.
Presentation Title: A science perspective on ethics, multi-species kinship and duty of care to future generations. A brief abstract: From a scientific perspective, “multi-species kindship” is not a particularly foreign concept because science states as known facts that humans are just one of millions of species on the same tree of life and that all life (including humans) emerged from and co-evolved with Earth’s environment. Earth system science also makes it clear that human wellbeing, and that of future generations. remains dependent on a healthy Earth environment and therefore on interdependencies with other species. Scientific knowledge informs human ethics (as in the verb: deciding what the right or wrong thing to in a given situation) and what kind of ethics (as in a statement of ethical principles) should guide our individual and collective behaviours.
Prof Brendan Mackey is Director of the Griffith Climate Action Beacon at Griffith University, Queensland. He has a PhD in plant ecology from The Australian National University and over 300 academic publications in the fields of climate change research and biodiversity as well as related topics in environmental science and policy. Brendan was a Coordinating Lead Author for the 2022 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC 6th Assessment Report, Working Group II - impacts, vulnerability & adaptation. He was also a member of the core drafting team for the Earth Charter.
Registration
This is a FREE webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
Can’t attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Program
|
Time (CEST) |
Program and Content |
|
8:30 am–8:35 am |
Opening Ceremony MDPI Presenter |
|
8:35 am–9:05 am |
Geoheritage as the Building Block of the Geodiversity of Earth Heritage Speaker: Professor Károly Németh This presentation will provide a critical review of the significance of geoheritage from an Earth heritage perspective. The talk will outline the link between geoheritage and geodiversity in light of their role in geosystem services. The lecture also will cover aspects of various geohazards from a geoheritage perspective, especially to link natural hazards and geoheritage, to promote human society resilience development. The presentation will explore the link between traditional knowledge on Earth heritage and its potential for blending with modern research aspects to co-develop geoconservation ventures for local communities. |
|
9:05 am–9:35 am |
A Science Perspective on Ethics, Multi-Species Kinship and Duty of Care to Future Generations Speaker: Professor Brendan Macke From a scientific perspective, “multi-species kindship” is not a particularly foreign concept because science states as known facts that humans are just one of millions of species on the same tree of life and that all life (including humans) emerged from and co-evolved with Earth’s environment. Earth system science also makes it clear that human wellbeing, and that of future generations. remains dependent on a healthy Earth environment and therefore on interdependencies with other species. Scientific knowledge informs human ethics (as in the verb: deciding what the right or wrong thing to in a given situation) and what kind of ethics (as in a statement of ethical principles) should guide our individual and collective behaviours |
|
9:35 am–9:55 am |
Q&A Session |
|
9:55 am–10:00 am |
Closing of Programme |
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
