Dear EWRS members and friends,
As Easter arrives, it offers a nice moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead with renewed energy. EWRS continues to move forward with confidence, scientific vitality, and a strong sense of shared purpose. Despite the difficult conditions, weed science remains a cornerstone of sustainable European agriculture, and EWRS plays a key role in advancing integrated, system-based solutions and connecting science with practice across sectors.
Equally encouraging is the dynamic activity within our Working Groups. The first round of thematic webinars has been successfully completed, clearly demonstrating the strong interest within our community for exchange, training, and scientific dialogue across topics and generations. I would like to sincerely thank all those who contributed to these events.
In the coming months, a rich program of Working Group meetings, workshops, and a second round of webinars will continue to build on this momentum. I warmly encourage all members to stay tuned and actively participate. These events provide an excellent platform to present research, exchange ideas, develop collaborations, and engage with colleagues from different disciplines and regions. Your involvement -as speakers, contributors, or participants- is essential to maintaining the scientific excellence and relevance of our Society.
Looking ahead, preparations are well underway for our next major milestone: the 21st EWRS Symposium, which will take place in Uppsala, Sweden, from 28 June to 2 July 2027. Under the theme “System-Based Solutions to Sustainable Weed Management”, the symposium will offer a unique opportunity to explore future directions of our discipline and strengthen our scientific network in an outstanding setting. I strongly encourage you to mark your calendars and plan your participation.
At Easter, we are reminded that renewal is something we actively create together. Let us continue to strengthen EWRS as an open, inclusive, and forward-looking society - supporting excellence in research, fostering collaboration, encouraging early-career scientists, and reinforcing the role of weed science in shaping sustainable agricultural systems across Europe.
With my warmest wishes for a peaceful Easter and a productive spring,
Ilias Travlos
President, EWRS
April 1st, 2026