Working in the European Science Service for Biodiversity

The Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD) is the European Union’s biodiversity-related science-policy-society interface – a platform where science, society and policy making meet and exchange in order to create robust and well-informed policy solutions for biodiversity. This course was designed to give a detailed overview of how the SSBD works – what are its main functions, which principles drive its day-to-day work, and who participates in which capacities. Our main objective is to enable interested experts, policy decision makers, and practitioners to effectively participate in the SSBD and to create a common understanding of its internal procedures.

This course is for you, if you intend to participate in the SSBD as a scientific expert or practitioner wanting to share their knowledge, a policy maker seeking advice, or an early-career researcher hoping to gain policy-relevant experience.

By the end of this course you will…

• be able to operate competently and independently in the SSBD as an expert, a focal point, or a requester,
• understand the purpose, principles, structure, actors and operation of the SSBD,
• have a clear notion on different actors’ responsibilities, the interactions they will be involved in, the support they will recieve through the SSBD,
• acquire basic skills needed to operate in the SSBD.

The course contains 12 lessons, each requiring 20-30 minutes to complete. Lessons combine different learning materials, such as written explanations, images, short videos and presentations, quizzes, and recommended literature. Once signed in, you get access to all course materials, so you can follow your own pace and progress with the course flexibly.