Environmental DNA (eDNA) research has expanded rapidly, demonstrating extraordinary sensitivity and broad applications across biodiversity monitoring, biosecurity, and ecosystem assessment. Yet despite this scientific progress, uptake into routine regulatory and management practice remains limited. Many agencies and end users still lack confidence in the consistency, comparability and defensibility of eDNA data.

In this webinar, Professor Di Gleeson - Director of the National eDNA Reference Centre at the University of Canberra - explores the growing implementation gap between research capability and operational adoption. She will examine how issues such as inconsistent methodologies, variable QA/QC, limited standardisation, and uncertainty around interpretation are constraining trust and decision-making. The talk argues that the future success of eDNA depends not only on technical innovation, but on robust standards, validated workflows, proficiency testing and fit-for-purpose quality systems that enable eDNA results to be trusted in real-world management and regulatory contexts.