CASE STUDY · Erlangen, June 2026

Carbon Drawdown Initiative · Carbon Drawdown Symposium 2026

Science without borders.
The future of hybrid scientific events.

50 of the world's leading enhanced rock weathering researchers. Two days of data, science, and hard questions about carbon removal. A fully hybrid event, extending the science beyond the room. In seamless collaboration with its event agency partner Eventelligence, run.events delivered the complete solution: virtual hosting, professional video production, photography, and full on-site management.

Read the Story See the Platform

50 Scientists

2 Days of Science

1st Hybrid Pilot

run.events hybrid events debut · June 2026

June 16–17, 2026

Hotel Luise, Erlangen

Carbon Drawdown Initiative

First Hybrid Event

The Story

The world's largest ERW experiment — brought to the world.

The Carbon Drawdown Initiative runs the world's largest greenhouse experiment for enhanced rock weathering (ERW) — a natural process that permanently removes CO₂ from the atmosphere by accelerating the weathering of silicate rocks. This year, CDI gathered the leading minds in the field for a focused two-day symposium: work-in-progress data on the table, hard questions in the room, and a culture of radical scientific openness.

For June 2026, CDI made a pivotal decision: go hybrid. The symposium would open beyond its 50 invited researchers — bringing the science to the broader CDR community through live virtual access. run.events stepped in as the single partner for the entire operation: on-site event management, virtual hosting infrastructure, professional video production, and event photography.

It was run.events' first fully hybrid event deployment. A new chapter for the platform — and a complete success on the ground.

Carbon Drawdown Symposium 2026 at Hotel Luise Erlangen

Scientific discussion at CDI Symposium 2026

The Challenge

Intimate by design. Global in ambition.

CDI's symposium has been deliberately small — 50 invited scientists, two focused days, one shared dataset. But the questions being answered in that room mattered to hundreds more researchers, policymakers, and carbon market participants who couldn't be there. The goal: go hybrid without losing what made the in-person experience exceptional.

Broadcast-quality production

A hybrid event is only as good as its stream. Remote participants needed professional video and audio — not a laptop camera — to feel genuinely part of the experience. The production bar had to match the scientific bar in the room.

One platform for two audiences

Managing on-site registration, check-in, and badging while simultaneously serving a virtual audience requires a platform built for both — not two separate tools stitched together. Everything had to flow from a single dashboard.

Documentation the science deserves

The work presented at this symposium is some of the most important in-progress data in the CDR field. Professional photography and video ensure the science, the speakers, and the conversations are captured in a way that does justice to the work.

First-time complexity, no margin for error

For an organisation running its first hybrid event, technical failure was a real risk. CDI needed a single partner who could own every moving part — on site and online — from a single point of accountability.

The Solution

One partner. Every layer of the event covered.

run.events answered each challenge with a specific capability — not as separate vendors but as a single integrated team. This is what made the CDI hybrid possible without friction.

Professional video production on site

run.events' production team handled camera, audio, and live stream management from the room — giving virtual participants a broadcast-quality feed that matched the experience of being there in person.

Virtual hosting + full on-site management

In-person registration, virtual registration, check-in, badging, and virtual hosting — all from a single dashboard. No tool-switching, no data silos between physical and online attendees.

Full two-day event photography

Professional photography coverage across both days — capturing speakers, discussions, and the atmosphere of the symposium. CDI walked away with a complete image library for communications and social channels.

Single partner, end-to-end ownership

run.events was on site for the full two days — not handing over software but operating the entire infrastructure alongside CDI's team. One point of accountability for everything that moved.

Full Platform

Every capability. One event.

From virtual hosting to on-site check-in, run.events deployed its complete hybrid event product for the Carbon Drawdown Symposium — configured specifically for a scientific audience with both in-person and virtual attendees.

Hybrid Core

Virtual Hosting

Branded virtual environment with live stream management and engagement tools for the online audience — not a bolt-on, but a first-class part of the event experience.

Hybrid Events

Video Production

On-site camera and audio team shooting and streaming all sessions. Broadcast-quality output so remote participants experience the symposium at the same level as those in the room.

Production

Professional Photography

Full two-day coverage capturing the speakers, the science, and the atmosphere. CDI received a complete library for communications, publications, and social channels — ready to use.

Photography

Registration & Attendee Management

Separate flows for in-person and virtual attendees, unified in one dashboard. Automated confirmations, attendee communications, and full post-event reporting included.

Registration

Check-In & Badging

On-site check-in and production of personalized bamboo badges for all 50 in-person scientists — fast, seamless, and consistent with the quality expectations of a world-class research event.

On-Site

Analytics & Reporting

Unified data across in-person and virtual participants — full visibility over registration peaks and the impact of organic marketing and run.events Influencer marketing campaigns.

Analytics

Results

What run.events delivered

1^st Fully Hybrid Pilot run.events' debut hybrid event deployment

50 On-Site Scientists Plus a virtual audience from the global CDR community

2 Days, One Platform In-person + virtual managed from a single dashboard

0 Technical Incidents Flawless on-site and virtual delivery throughout

Carbon Drawdown Symposium 2026 — session at Hotel Luise Erlangen

On Site · June 16–17, 2026

Two days of open science. Captured for the world.

Event Highlights

From opening presentations to the Day Two Bar Camp moderated by Patrick Niedermayer, run.events' production team was in the room — capturing every session, every data discussion, and every connection between researchers. Simultaneously, the virtual audience followed through a professional live stream. One event, two dimensions, delivered without a single interruption.

World-leading ERW speakers Chris Sherwood, Mel Murphy, Mike Kelland, Philip Pogge von Strandmann & more

Fully hybrid delivery Professional live stream extending the symposium to the global CDR community

Voices

What they say

“

Thank you to run.events and the team at Hotel Luise for organising and hosting us so impeccably. The level of engagement, the focus, the depth of the questions, and the open discussion — that is exactly the scientific culture ERW needs right now.

Jens Hammes Head of Science · Carbon Drawdown Initiative

“

We invited 50 scientists for two days dedicated to the science of enhanced rock weathering. All our conversations were based on samples and data of the world's largest ERW greenhouse experiment. Thanks to run.events, beyond content GmbH and Hotel Luise for their support.

Dirk Paessler Founder & CEO · Carbon Drawdown Initiative

Why run.events

Hybrid events done right — not a camera bolted on.

Hybrid events fail when they're treated as an afterthought. run.events builds hybrid from the ground up — production, platform, and on-site execution in one package, from one partner who owns the entire outcome.

Professional production, not DIY

Our production team handles camera, audio, and stream management on site. Remote attendees get broadcast-quality content — not a shaky webcam. The experience bar for virtual participants is the same as being in the room.

One platform for both audiences

In-person registration, virtual registration, check-in, badging, and virtual hosting — all from one dashboard. No stitching together separate tools. No data silos between physical and online attendees.

Photography included — not an add-on

Professional event photography is part of the delivery. CDI walked away with a full image library for their communications, publications, and channels — no separate brief, no separate contract.

On-site team, not just software

run.events doesn't hand over a platform and step away. Our team is on site for the full event — managing check-in, running production, and handling every operational layer alongside you.

Science without borders.
The future of hybrid scientific events.

The world's largest ERW experiment — brought to the world.