Global experts flock to Cairns for bat conference

Cairns Convention Centre will host the 20th International Bat Research Conference (IBRC) with more than 400 global experts in bat research, conservation, and management expected to gather for the event.

The conference, held every three years, will run from 3-8 August 2025, and will be co-hosted by the Australian Bat Society and the Pacific Bat Conservation Network. The previous two editions were held in Texas and Phuket, while the 1989 one was also hosted in Australia, in Sydney.

The six-day event will see attendees taking part in a programme of symposia, workshops and networking events. Topics will include key biodiversity areas for bats, impacts of wind energy, genomic tools for conservation, bat diseases and immunity and media engagement and mentorship opportunities. Field trips are planned throughout Tropical North Queensland, offering delegates the chance to observe local bat species in their natural habitats. Locations include Rainforestation Nature Park, Tolga Bat Hospital, Cattana Wetlands Bat Walk and Kuranda Day Trip and Bat Walk.

The conference is expected to deliver significant economic and educational benefits to the region, with many delegates expected to extend their visit to explore the neighbouring Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Janet Hamilton, general manager of Cairns Convention Centre, said, “We are honoured to welcome the IBRC to Cairns in 2025. With more than 44 species of bats found in our region, and a strong local research and conservation community, Cairns is uniquely positioned to support and inspire this important global gathering.”

Organising committee member and Professor of Animal Ecology at Western Sydney University, Justin Welbergen added: “This conference is a vital forum for advancing bat science and conservation globally. Bringing the IBRC to Cairns reflects the region’s growing importance in environmental research and its commitment to fostering international collaboration.”