Please share this announcement of an exciting new PhD field course in Borneo offered by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). For anyone interested in joining this course, please email Niles Hasselquist ([email protected]) by July 15, 2018.
Forest Management, Land Use Change and Ecosystem Services In Degraded Tropical Landscapes Ph.D. Course, 5 Credits, October 7th – 19th, 2018. Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU, Umeå, Sweden. Scope: This course is an intensive, two-week long field course in Sabah, northern Borneo. The overall objective of this course is to provide an in-depth understanding of the causes of land degradation as well as the trade-offs between biomass production and ecosystem services among a wide range of different forest management practices in degraded tropical landscapes. The first part of the course will be based in a conversation area that will give student a firsthand experience of an undisturbed, pristine lowland tropical forest. During the second part, we will travel to the INIKEA Sow-A-Seed project area to visit a large-scale restoration project and discuss the trade-offs between different forest management practices and ecosystem services to identify sustainable forest management practices of degraded tropical landscapes. Requirements: Admission to Ph.D. program in the field of ecology, conservation biology, forestry, or related field. Course Fee: There is a 4000 SEK course fee to attend this course, which includes all lodging, food and transportation during the two-week field excursion in Sabah. In addition, students are required to fund their own round-trip travel from their home institution to Sabah, Malaysia. Content: This course will be conducted in English and will take an integrative approach that focuses on biodiversity, biogeochemistry, ecology, economic value, human health, and plant ecophysiology aspects associated with different land use types in northern Borneo. Specific topics include: 1) introduction to the causes of land degradation and forest management practices of degraded landscapes in northern Borneo, 2) overview of methods and experimental design to quantify ecosystem services and economic value, 3) understanding of how land use change influences biogeochemical processes, 4) assessment of biodiversity across different spatial scales within the different land use types, 5) awareness of restoration techniques and application of these techniques in the field. These general themes will be explored trough discussion of literature that will be coordinated with short lectures. Pedagogical Form: Literature will be sent to students in advance on topics relevant to land use change and forest management practices in the tropics. Prior to the field trip, student will be asked to prepare a two-page in-depth summary on a topic of interest to them based on the literature provided. Once is in Borneo, this course will include a combination of short lectures, field excursions and exercises, discussion of literature, and student-led presentations – all designed to facilitate close interactions among students and instructors. Learning Outcome: Students will be able to 1) Explain and discuss the complex socio-economic drivers behind land use change and forest degradation in tropical rain forests, 2) Describe and differentiate the advantages and disadvantages of different methods and experimental designs to understand ecological processes, 3) Compare and contrast how different land use types influence biogeochemical processes, 4) Identify and discuss different approaches to assess biodiversity across multiple spatial and temporal scales and 5) Characterize key components for successful restoration and assess how restoration practices can to be adapted to meet local and regional requirements. Timetable: September 7th, 2018: Course reading materials distributed to students. October 7th- 19th 2018: Field course in Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia. Pass Grade Requirements: The course will be pass-fail, and will be based on participations, oral presentation and written assignment on a topic relevant to land use change/and or forest management practices in the tropics. Application and Further Information: If you are interested in the course, please send an email, along with a one-paragraph description of how this course will benefit your PhD studies, to Niles Hasselquist ([email protected]) and Daniel Lussetti ([email protected]) by July 15, 2018. We will limit the course to 16 participants, and if the number of applicants exceeds the positions available we will select applicants on the basis of merit and the one paragraph description of how this course will benefit the applicant’s research. Postdocs are welcome to apply for this course, although preference will be given to PhD students. Additional course information, including a more detail itinerary and course reading assignments, will be provided to the selected applicants by the beginning of August 2018. If you have any question, please contact Niles Hasselquist ([email protected]).
