Vision

Steps towards the creation of a Mediterranean Life Sciences Union (MedLIFE)

Mediterranean Life Sciences Union (MedLIFE) aims to create a unique federation that brings together and represents the Mediterranean life sciences communities. Researchers from all fields of life sciences, both in the Mediterranean area and throughout the world, will be invited to join MedLIFE.

MedLIFE intends to develop several initiatives that enable life scientists to perform transdisciplinary research with stakeholders. This can contribute to theory development since integrating academic and experiential knowledge from practice actors is considered vital to transforming towards sustainability. The new union is also hoped to provide opportunities for Mediterranean life scientists to undertake interdisciplinary collaborative research. As a result, the foundation of this union will offer life sciences more influence in policy-making and in the implementation of solutions to the most critical socioeconomic and environmental concerns. MedLIFE will recognize the work of the most active life scientists with awards and medals.

The plan is to establish a large organization for the Mediterranean region that is more influential than any local life science society to foster fundamental and applied life sciences research that addresses critical societal and environmental issues and provides solutions for many global challenges posed by sustainable development. MedLIFE’s overarching vision is to contribute to realizing a sustainable future for humanity and the planet.

The creation of this union will give the life sciences more influence in policy-making and in the implementation of solutions to preserve the natural environment and develop more sustainable societies for the people in the Mediterranean region. In this context, MedLIFE will serve as a worldwide platform for scientists of all disciplines and countries to collaborate and communicate to promote multidisciplinary joint research, training, and education as well as advocate for information and resource access and sharing.

Although MedLIFE has not yet been officially inaugurated, its first annual meeting will be organized in December 2024 in Istanbul. This will provide a forum to achieve a consensus for forming this non-profit international union of life scientists. Membership will be open to individuals with professional engagement in life sciences and related studies, including students and retired seniors.

The MedLIFE Committees have taken an ambitious approach to launching the MedLIFE-24 this year. They hope to develop it shortly into the largest international life science event in the Mediterranean and the broader Middle East region. The aim is to support life scientists in this part of the world that lacks bilateral and multilateral cooperation by organizing this global congress. It is expected that hundreds of participants from this region and all over the world will attend, making this meeting one of the largest and most prominent life sciences events. The meeting sessions will cover many topics, with more details on the Conference Tracks. This MedLIFE-24 will have a "hybrid" format, with both in-person and virtual participation. The proceedings will be published in a book series (indexed in Scopus) by Springer, and several special issues will be published in diverse scientific journals (for more details, see Publications).