To find new, unconventional, effective, replicable, nature-friendly, and cost-efficient methods for managing invasive species, everyone interested is invited to participate in the “Catching Aliens in Latvia's Nature” ideathon. The event is organised by the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre (LLKC) in cooperation with the Nature Conservation Agency (DAP), the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU), the University of Latvia, Daugavpils University, and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

 

An information session on the ideathon will be held online on 7 March. The marathon itself, featuring a competition for the best idea, will take place on 22 and 23 March as a 24-hour in-person event at the LBTU Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Akadēmijas iela 11, Jelgava.

 

The application form can be filled out online until 23.59 on 3 March: https://www.mittoevents.com/ideju-maratons-keram-svesos-latvijas-daba

 

The ideathon is open to anyone aged 18 or older who has ideas relevant to the event's theme. Participation in the marathon is free of charge. Participants may apply individually or as a partially or fully formed team (5 participants per team). During the event, participants will also have access to consultations with specially invited experts and mentors, as well as various educational activities.

 

Nellija Tinusa, LLKC Project Manager: “In the ideathon, we are looking for ideas that have not been previously applied in Latvia, are cost-effective, selective (effective against a specific organism), nature-friendly, and as widely applicable as possible in other areas. Therefore, we are particularly looking for proposals to limit Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), low shadbush (Amelanchier spicata), Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), boxelder maple (Acer negundo), and Japanese rose (Rosa rugosa).”

 

The top three teams in the competition will receive one-off cash prizes, as well as incentive prizes from the event's partners.