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The level of demand we saw is shaping how we think about seed funding in this space going forward. If you applied: thank you. The quality and ambition we saw reinforce a simple point: the UK is an exceptional place for Engineering Ecosystem Resilience work, and our field has real momentum.

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Many proposals we couldn't fund were, frankly, as strong as some we did. Even with an intentionally light-touch application process (short online form, no formal costings or institutional sign-off), I know applications take time, and I want the process to feel genuinely worthwhile for applicants.

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We could only fund a small number of projects. That’s because ARIA actively manages every project we fund, helping teams to problem-solve, remove blockers, and navigate pathways to impact. Honouring that commitment requires a highly focused portfolio.

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Many proposals were genuinely aligned with ARIA’s “edge of the possible” mission: ambitious, thoughtful, with great teams and potential outcomes. This clearly signals that the UK has the people, skills, + ambition to lead the field, + to create an Engineering Ecosystem Resilience toolkit and economy

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Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

We just completed our first round of opportunity seed funding for the Engineering Ecosystem Resilience space. This is a new field for @aria-research.bsky.social , and one that set a new record for numbers of seed applications.

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Call for Accelerated Adaptation concepts (3 pages) is open until March 6th 2pm.

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Reposted by Yannick Wurm

Alex Wild @alexwild.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Apparently some paints contain chemicals attractive to ants, which leads the ants to create really intricate patterns as they cut away and carry off paint chips. From Reddit:

reddit.com

From the ants community on Reddit: Just saw some artsy ants in Dominican Republic, creating a cool pattern through paint!

Explore this post and more from the ants community

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Reposted by Yannick Wurm

Vivek Nityananda @viveknityananda.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

New #PhD on #bees (BeeHd?)! Despite the ad saying "UK Students only", a limited number of scholarships are available for international candidates. So please apply!

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Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Salle C 14:15 @popgroup2026.bsky.social I'm excited to help you understand how to engage with ARIA's current funding call (projects up to 500k, 3 pager, international ok, closing Feb 2nd), and help shape what will hopefully soon follow. #PGG59

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Programme Development | Engineering Ecosystem Resilience

We are also specifically interested in understanding ethical red lines regarding study systems or potential interventions, and understanding how we could ensure the capabilities we develop survive beyond the funding lifecycle. Read the draft and contribute here www.aria.org.uk/engineering-...

aria.org.uk

Read the programme thesis for our current thinking and discover some of the ways we've shaped our programme direction.

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Programme Development | Engineering Ecosystem Resilience

• We are sharing a draft programme thesis for a potential £50m “Accelerated Adaptation” programme. It has been shaped by conversations and feedback from diverse stakeholders. We would love your input too.

aria.org.uk

Read the programme thesis for our current thinking and discover some of the ways we've shaped our programme direction.

We approach this with humility. We acknowledge the immense complexity of living systems, and believe that any potential intervention requires immense care, and rigorous consideration of ethics, social responsibility and governance.

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Aligned with ARIA’s mission to work “at the edge of the possible,” we created the Engineering Ecosystem Resilience opportunity space. We believe new technologies can unlock precision approaches to help wild species and ecosystems in a manner that complements or enhances traditional conservation.

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Humanity must urgently reduce environmental pressures, from the impacts of industrial monoculture, to plastic pollution, and the spread of plant and animal pathogens.

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The world is changing faster than nature can adapt. One in four species risks extinction within the next century. These losses are not just tragic; they threaten the foundations of our civilisation.

Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

E. Tentative EER timelines (subject to approvals): -Nov 20: programme thesis published (we’ll want your feedback) -Nov 20: call for Opportunity Seeds (up to £500k/project, ~£5m total budget). Closing Feb 2nd. -Feb 13: Programme call (~£50m across 5-15 teams; 3-page concept papers due March 16th.

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Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

B. Three-year role (London based, £70-105k/year; apply by Nov 16th). aria.pinpointhq.com/en/postings/... C. Virtual info session November 14th @ 10am. Understand ARIA’s mandate, setup, and process, our current EER thinking + next steps. forms.monday.com/forms/c7063e...

aria.pinpointhq.com

Technical Specialist - Population Genetics + Eco-evolutionary Dynamics

Job Opening: Technical Specialist - Population Genetics + Eco-evolutionary Dynamics at ARIA in London.

Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

More ARIA Engineering Ecosystem Resilience news - two jobs and and two meetings: A. Hiring ASAP: We’re hiring a genes-to-ecosystems/conservation thinker for 6 months (London-based, up to £550/day). Apply quick, we'll start reviewing applications on Monday 10th. forms.monday.com/forms/d00798...

forms.monday.com

Engineering Ecosystem Resilience - Technical Consultant | WorkForms

From requests, feedback to data collection and more. Turn your insights into action with customizable WorkForms.

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🗓️ 4. Extremely tentative timelines (it couldbe that none of this happens): - Late Nov: programme thesis published (we'll want your feedback). - Late Nov: call for Opportunity Seeds (up to £500k/project, ~£5m budget). - Mid-Feb: main call for concept papers aligned with the ~£50m programme.

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🔬3. ARIA has several open bio-focused or bio-relevant funding calls: innate immunity, engineering mitochondria, biological security, and AI scientists: lnkd.in/e5VcXUam

(In line with ARIA's mandate, our programme and Opp seeds must be at "the edge of the possible", where the level of risk and ambition is such that we're doing stuff outside most people's thinking & comfort zones, where most projects fail, but where success can change the world.)

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🌱 2. We've funded ~20 three-month projects to help explore the EER space... from new robotics and genetics to ethics workshops & governance reviews. See the full list: lnkd.in/ebjBgJVM ⚠️ These are not indicators of directions for our future funding - they help to refine our understanding.

✨ 1. We're hiring a "genes-to-ecosystems thinker" who can help shape and manage our ~£50m EER programme and opp seeds. You'd be working with an amazing team to fund moonshots to help the world flourish. (£70k - £105k/annum; 3 year contract; King's Cross; Apply by Nov 16th). Details: lnkd.in/eNzczHzB

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Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Big news: ARIA's Engineering Ecosystem Resilience (EER) opportunity space has begun funding, we're hiring, and we're sharing our (tentative) roadmap.

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I will be there in my role with @aria-research.bsky.social - I'm keen to gather input on how we should best shape our Engineering Ecosystem Resilience funding. If you have ideas or just want to learn more, I'd love to talk!

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Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

A September highlight for me is always the Centre for Ecology & Evolution's Autumn Mixer symposium - a fantastic event that pulls together great scientists from across London's diverse institutions. This Friday the 19th, Mojca Kristan is hosting it at LSHTM. www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/e...

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Reposted by Yannick Wurm

Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) @aria-research.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

We’re looking to fund ~10 short discovery projects to dive into potential research directions for a programme within our Engineering Ecosystem Resilience opportunity space, led by @yannickwurm.bsky.social. Find out more + apply by 18 September: link.aria.org.uk/eer-preprogd...

link.aria.org.uk

Engineering Ecosystem Resilience

Living organisms underpin our food, climate stability, and materials – ecological collapse threatens the foundations of civilisation. By pairing advanced monitoring with resilience-boosting interventi...

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Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

We're funding ~ten 3-month projects within our Engineering Ecosystem Resilience space with up to £20k each. (Apply by September 18th)

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Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

@aria-research.bsky.social at #eseb2025 starting in 122/123 at 5pm. We'll have drinks too 🍻

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Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

👉 What do you think could be the most impactful focus for a major new R&D effort to strengthen ecosystem resilience? We would love your input. Please share your thoughts via the form and/or grab us at #ESEB2025 next week. We want to get this right.

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Yannick Wurm @yannickwurm.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

We now have the opportunity to design a £50M research programme to help us get onto that path. The challenge is identifying which directions could be most fruitful. We need diverse perspectives to help us navigate this responsibly.