Conference Description
The Speciation GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.
For the 2027 GRC on Speciation, we seek to highlight areas of speciation research where paradigms and perspectives have shifted in recent years. This meeting will highlight how new conceptual, methodological, and comparative perspectives are reshaping our understanding of how species form and persist. Key sessions will explore the predictability, repeatability, and evolutionary outcomes of hybridization, alongside the ecological, behavioral, and genetic mechanisms underlying prezygotic barriers, including postmating–prezygotic isolation. The genetic basis of postzygotic isolation will be examined through the lens of structural variation and pangenomic approaches, offering new insights into the architecture of incompatibilities. The conference will synthesize evidence for reproductive isolation across taxa, highlighting potential mismatches between measures of reproductive isolation and patterns of gene flow. A strong focus on genomics will consider how to move beyond descriptive patterns to robust inference of evolutionary processes, addressing challenges in identifying genomic signatures of speciation.
During the 2027 meeting we will pay special attention to fostering meaningful dialogue between the participants, facilitating the exchange of diverse perspectives from early to late career participants.
The conference chair is currently developing their preliminary program, which will include 9 sessions and the names of the invited speakers and discussion leaders for each of these sessions. The preliminary program will be available by April 29, 2026. Please check back for updates.
