Abstract submission deadline: 5 September 2026
With the last three years being the hottest on record and heatwaves now affecting over 10% of Earth’s land surface, understanding and mitigating the effects of extreme heat is more urgent than ever. The 47th New Phytologist Symposium, held in Córdoba in June 2026, brought together more than 150 researchers to share insights and develop strategies to extend the thermal limits of life and safeguard the future of our ecosystems.
The programme explored examples of how: plant metabolism has adapted to extreme heat; water and life history traits are used to mitigate heat stress; heat affects reproduction and pollinators; plant–microbe interactions are altered under heat stress; the impacts of heat are modelled across a range of scales; remote sensing tools are used to monitor vegetation responses to heat; and landscapes and food systems can be designed to cope with a hotter world.
Building on these discussions, we now aim to advance the field by bringing together related cutting-edge research, along with forward-looking, solutions-focused articles, in a joint Special Collection of New Phytologist and Plants, People, Planet. We welcome submissions from both symposium delegates and the wider research community.
47th New Phytologist Symposium
Extreme Heat: extending the thermal limits of life
Explore how extreme heat affects plants and other ectothermic organisms that underpin ecosystem productivity.
Recordings of selected talks will be available 2-3 weeks after the symposium
News
47th New Phytologist Symposium: Extreme heat – poster prize winners
Congratulations to the poster prize winner, two runners-up and six honourable mentions at the 47th New Phytologist Symposium, Extreme heat, held in Córdoba, Spain, 2–5 June 2026.