[READ] How can biobanks help fight the illegal trade of wildlife in South Africa (and beyond)? That’s what SANBI Wildlife Biobank Senior Technician Keneilwe Mosupye set out to find when she attended Barcode of Wildlife Project Training. Here's what she learned. bbsa.org.za/2026/06/30/b...

Happy #WorldOceansDay! More than seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. It’s where life began - and even now, where most of it lives. So biobanks that tackle aquatic biodiversity will definitely have their work cut out for them. Luckily, the NRF-SAIAB biobank is up to the task.

🌍🧬 Interested in biodiversity genome updates? Check out the EBP custom feed on Bluesky and help keep the conversation growing. Add your posts to the feed by referencing biodiversity genomics. 🌱🌎🧬 bsky.app/profile/did:...

Did you know? South Africa is a wonderful place, with thousands of fascinating species of plants, animals, fungi and more. This #WorldEnvironmentDay we’re looking at how to keep it that way - and how that helps us fight poverty, food insecurity and climate change. bbsa.org.za/2023/07/18/s...

[WE WANT YOU] This #YouthMonth, we’re celebrating young scientists who’re changing how we see the world…and proving that while it’s not easy to become a #YoungBiobankingSuperstar, it’s definitely worth it. So if that’s you, why not let us share your story with the world? bbsa.org.za/2026/05/20/y...

Happy #WorldMilkDay! This year, we're honouring the women behind successful farming - like Grootfontein Biobank for Sheep & Goats researcher and manager Dr Gretha Snyman. Her team helps farmers breed healthier, happier and more productive bovines. Here's why she does it: bbsa.org.za/2023/08/08/m...

🧫⚙️ Researchers discovered how some #bacteria survive oxygen exposure by blocking a key #enzyme, shedding light on #microbial adaptation to changing #environments. #Microbiology #CellBiology #MicrobialEcology #Microsky via @sciencex.bsky.social

Happy #AfricaDay! Biobanks offer a chance to investigate Africa’s rich genetic diversity and tackle the continent’s health and conservation challenges. That’s why the Pan-African Biobanking Network (PABNet) decided to investigate the current status of African biobanking. bbsa.org.za/2026/04/30/h...

Happy #WorldBiodiversityDay! Did you know? South africa is one of the world's most biodiverse regions. Biobanks can help study, preserve and protect that diversity - and also help solve food security, medical and economic challenges. But how does that actually happen? bbsa.org.za/2023/06/23/s...

Happy #InternationalTeaDay! Did you know? Rooibos tea has been consumed for centuries, cultivated by the KhoiSan, and has since been studied for its bio-active properties. That's just part of the work done by biobanks like those at the Agricultural Research Council. bbsa.org.za/2025/10/31/a...

📣@tdwg.org 2026 Call for Abstracts deadline has been extended to 26 May 2026, 23:59 UTC-12. This is the final call, submit your abstract now! 🏃‍♀️ Conference Theme 🤖:  Research and Robot-ready Biodiversity Data Standards. See you in #Oslo! More info: 🔗 tdwg.link/call-for-a...

[REGISTER NOW] Interested in #taxonomy and #biodiversity #informatics around the world? Registration is still open for Taxon Works Together, a three-day perspective on describing life hosted by @taxonworks.bsky.social - and it's *free*. But hurry - #TWT2026 starts today! together.taxonworks.org

Happy #PlantHealthDay! Fun fact: plants are pretty important. They help provide us with foods, with medicines, with essential ecosystem functions - even the air we breathe. So we’d better make sure we keep them healthy. Here’s how biodiversity biobanks can help… bbsa.org.za/2026/05/12/w...

Happy #WorkersDay! Today we celebrate some of the many hardworking people who make biodiversity biobanking in South Africa possible - from rangers to researchers, whether working with fish, flowers or fungi, we couldn't do it without them. Hardworking people like... bbsa.org.za/meet-the-mem...

[READ] As genomic technologies evolve, researchers may require DNA of higher quality than what traditional preservation methods provide. The NRF–SAIAB National Aquatic Biodiversity Biobank, in partnership with @diplomics.bsky.social, has launched a project to help. bbsa.org.za/2026/03/06/b...

Happy #EarthDay, everyone! There are some challenges that are too big for just one country to tackle - things like poverty, climate change, education, inequality. So how can biodiversity biobanks help tackle these big challenges - and make the world a better place? bbsa.org.za/2023/06/05/b...

#ERGAReads | Long-read sequencing for biodiversity analyses—A comprehensive guide 🧬 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @ilianabista.bsky.social @sgn.one @sangerinstitute.bsky.social @britishecologicalsociety.org #longreads #sequencing #guide #biodiversitygenomics #genomics

#DidYouKnow Biodiversity biobanks have a big role to play in understanding human health. For example: In a groundbreaking study, the UFS Yeast Culture Collection has identified the South African brown locust as a natural reservoir for the drug-resistant yeast, C. auris. bbsa.org.za/2026/02/16/b...

[INVITE] Laboratories and biobanks help build a greener, more sustainable future. Find out how at the FREE ISBER / My Green Lab webinar today (18:00 SAST, 25 March 2026) on “How Biobanks and Laboratories Can Lead the Way to a More Sustainable Future". Learn more here: www.isber.org/page/webinars

[WATCH] Happy #AnimalRightsDay, South Africa! Warthogs are worthy of care, hippos deserve a hand, and lions need love, too. So when they need help, where do they go? That's where the SANParks Veterinary Wildlife Services unit and biobank comes into it... youtu.be/-bj-b0u1EfY

Happy #TaxonomistAppreciationDay! South Africa is a megadiverse country, with thousands of amazing species of fauna and flora. But just how many species are there? Well, before we can count, we need to know *what* we’re counting. That's where taxonomists come into it. bbsa.org.za/2023/07/31/w...

The 1KSA Academy is back! This free, 5-day workshop gives 1KSA sample contributors the hands-on skills to take their samples from DNA QC all the way through to a de novo genome assembly. 11–16 May DIPLOMICS Training Lab, Cape Town Free to attend | Lunches provided Apply here: redcap.link/1uy4xe1t

[JOB OPPORTUNITY] The Durban Natural Science Museum (DNSM) is seeking to appoint a DIRECTOR to direct and promote work on the history of life on Earth. If you're interested in museums, #biodiversity and/or #collections, please apply by Friday 27 March 2026. bbsa.org.za/2026/03/17/j...

When it comes to solving humanity's biggest challenges, it takes a (global) village. So this #InternationalWomensDay, we’d like to share some of our #scienceheroines, whose work made it possible for biodiversity #biobanks as we know it - and changed the world. bbsa.org.za/2023/03/08/w...

Care and Management of Natural History Collections 📅 March 16th–27th, 2026 (Online) Explore the principles and responsibilities behind preserving and managing natural history collections. http://www.transmittingscience.com/courses/museums-and-collections/care-management-natural-history-collections/

#DidYouKnow The wildlife biobank at the South African National Biodiversity Institute has been dedicated to the long-term collection, curation and archiving of biodiversity samples for over 20 years. And they've made them available for a whole lot of interesting uses. For example... #FridayFunFacts

[READ] Throughout history, women in science have been isolated and ignored - but the times, they are a-changing. So this #InternationalDayofWomenAndGirlsInScience, we're taking time to celebrate a few of the many amazing young women of the BBSA. bbsa.org.za/2025/02/11/w...

📖 Published! This review provides an overview of studies to date using long-read sequencing platforms for biodiversity analyses of eukaryotes, from eDNA and community metabarcoding, shotgun sequencing, and DNA barcoding🧪 🧬 🌍 Read more:

Long-read sequencing can revolutionise the way we monitor #biodiversity. A comprehensive guide for using #ONT & #PacBio for analysis of biodiversity through #eDNA, #metabarcoding, metagenomics Just published in @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Did you know? Humans aren't the only animals that get cancer - not by a long shot. That's why Frontiers in Veterinary Science is inviting submissions that aim to explore cancer epidemiology in animals from multiple perspectives. #WorldCancerDay Find out more: www.frontiersin.org/research-top...

[NOMINATIONS OPEN] The NSTF-South32 Awards, aka the ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa, are calling for nominations for those scientists and innovators who make a difference. Nominations close 29 January 2029, so don't delay - share a champion now! Find out more: nstf.org.za/how-to-nomin...

The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership anchored by @rbgkew.bsky.social has just turned 25! In that time, MBSP South Africa has banked thousands of seeds, shared knowledge with local communities, and even rediscovered plant species once thought extinct. Find out more: bbsa.org.za/2024/06/05/s...

[READ] It's World #ScienceDay for Peace & Development, a time to highlight the importance of science in society and our daily lives. Here's how biodiversity biobanks are playing their part in improving the world we live in, one discovery at a time. Find out more: bbsa.org.za/2023/07/18/s...

The Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) genome has officially been published in Nature Scientific Data! A proud moment for South African science, proof that world-class genomics is thriving right here at home. Read the full publication: doi.org/10.1038/s415... #Spekboom #CenGen #1KSA #Genomics

It’s no secret that our health is influenced by our environments - so if we want people to live longer, healthier and happier lives, we need to take care of the ecosystems and organisms around us. This #OneHealthDay, we’re looking at how biodiversity biobanks can help. bbsa.org.za/2025/11/03/o...

🌍 Today is #OneHealthDay - a day to focus on the tight links between animal, human and environmental health 🚀 Join us on a journey around the #OneHealth globe to explore how the biobanking and biomolecular resources community embraces #OneHealth 🔗 Explore the full story: buff.ly/zwIJqqh 🧵 1/4

Happy #WorldCitiesDay! Did you know: there are biodiversity #biobanks all over South Africa, from the biggest cities to the most rural areas to the wilds of our national parks. Basically: Wherever there's #biodiversity, there's a BBSA biobank. Meet some of them here: bbsa.org.za/meet-the-bio...

It’s almost time for the Genomics for Biodiversity Conference — happening next week! 🗓️ 29–31 October 💻 Fully online & free of charge Find all the details, including the full programme 👇 www.erga-biodiversity.eu/post/genomic... @biogeneurope.bsky.social @ebpgenome.bsky.social #genomics #biodiversity

Look, more than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. It’s where life began – and where most of it still lives. Tackling all that requires a lot of brainpower. That's why the NRF-SAIAB aquatic biobank believes that when it comes to science, sharing is caring. #OpenAccessWeek #MarineMonth

The Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa is a network of many of South Africa’s most important biodiversity biobanks. BBSA biobanks store, study and share hundreds of thousands of samples from plants, animals, bacteria and fungi, from field to farm to ocean – and beyond. bbsa.org.za/meet-the-bio...

Did you know? #Biobanks can help study, preserve and protect our #biodiversity - and also help us research diseases and genetic abnormalities in humans, livestock and more. But no, they aren’t part of a conspiracy to track your DNA or resurrect dinosaurs. Probably. bbsa.org.za/2022/11/17/f...