Event – Postgraduate International Course on “Global Environmental Change” – 9 to 16 November
Posted in Events, Movements, Research by fedwards on August 8th, 2008
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE: CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS
BACKGROUND
Integrated Assessment of Global Environmental Change Many aspects of our planet are changing rapidly due to human activity. Over the last 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in other comparable period of time. All these changes, including climate change, land use change, pollution and biodiversity loss are
strongly interrelated and cannot be seen in isolation. Because their impacts influence the entire planet, the combined changes are commonly recognized as global environmental change.
OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
To study and understand the causes of global change and possible responses and to learn how to use scientific information in Integrated Assessments. The course is not only meant to discuss the latest scientific findings on global change issues, but also to train skills that are needed for making this knowledge available for policy making
FOR WHOM?
This multidisciplinary course is especially intended for PhD students from the natural and social sciences.
WHERE AND WHEN?
The summer course will be held 9-16 November 2008, at a central location in the Netherlands.
PROGRAM
The course will consist of lectures by prominent international scientists, model exercises and exercises in writing texts for Integrated Assessments. Besides the regular lectures, each day will end with a stimulating aperitif lecture, which will include controversial and philosophical topics. Active discussion with the lecturers will be stimulated by asking participants to prepare propositions for each lecture. Interaction with lecturers and fellow participants will be further stimulated by poster presentations.
Finally, a small group assignment will encourage discussion the lectures, guided by topical questions. The study load is equivalent to 3 credits (ECTS).
APPLICATION
The course is primarily intended for PhD student, and is limited to 30 participants. However, motivated post-docs and other researchers are also encouraged to apply.
You can send your application to the SENSE Education Desk (educationdesk@sense.nl) before 1 September 2008., including:
- Your Name
- Name and address of research group
- Status: PhD student/ postdoc/ other
- If applicable: graduate school name
- a short motivation letter, and
- CV
After a selection procedure, you will be notified about participation by September 2008. You can also register online http://www.sense.nl/courses/course/S340.
FEE
The course fee is EUR 500, except for PhD students from the Research Schools SENSE, PE&RC and Mansholt with an approved Education Plan (TSP), for whom the fee is EUR 350. For a few participants from developing countries the fee may be waived. Fee includes B&B, coffee, tea, lunches, dinners and course materials.
INVITED SPEAKERS
- Rik Leemans, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
- Robert T. Watson, University of East Anglia, UK
- Ekko Van Ierland, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
- Frans Berkhout, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Pavel Kabat, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
- Carolien Kroeze, Wageningen University
- And many others
ORGANIZED BY
SENSE Research School for the Natural and Socio-Economic Sciences of the Environment (www.sense.nl)
FURTHER INFORMATION
Lindsey Wuisan
Environmental Systems Analysis Group
Wageningen University, The Netherlands
lindsey.wuisan@wur.nl