Landscape analysis on taxonomic expertise needs and gap analysis on academic taxonomic training

The TETTRIs project — Transforming European Taxonomy through Training, Research, and Innovations — addresses the critical gap in taxonomic expertise crucial to tackle biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Within Work Package 5, a landscape analysis on the needs and gaps in taxonomic training and expertise across Europe was carried out. By engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including industry, policymakers and academia, key requirements for taxonomic proficiency were identified and shortcomings within academic taxonomic training programmes were highlighted. This report further underlines the need for interdisciplinary approaches, incorporating modern technology and science communication. Furthermore, it underscores the necessity of fostering collaborations among natural history collections, universities, and corporate entities to effectively use the present taxonomic knowledge. The findings aim to inform strategies for educational improvements, align academic training with market needs, and improve career prospects for the next generation of taxonomists inside and outside of classical basic science. This initiative seeks to empower the next generation of taxonomists to play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation and sustainable innovation across diverse sectors