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Objectives 

Under the general framework of Global Change Ecology, the goal of this course is to provide the participants with the most recent and practical knowledge on the use of Functional Diversity. This includes the selection of functional traits and calculation of Functional Diversity Indexes. Examples of the application of this knowledge will be given regarding Ecological Indicators and Ecosystem Services. 

The specific objectives are:

  • To give a general overview on global change drivers and point out the needs of current and future studies on Ecology
     
  • To synthesize the most useful methods and tools for Ecosystem Services assessment, focusing on Ecological Indicators
     
  • To allow the participants to apply the acquired knowledge on case study data (participants’ data or data provided by the organizers), using R software. Examples of calculation with other software will also be provided.

Participants have to be present at 85% of the contact hours (this means that they can miss one half-day), and actively participate in all activities. 

This course can give credits to PhD programmes at CIÊNCIAS or of programmes with partnership from CIÊNCIAS and other institutions with 6h-7h of contact hours per ECT, as a function of specific requirements. For these students additionally to the exercises done during the week the delivery of a written report done after the course is mandatory. For programmes with less hours of contact per ECT (6h/ECT, getting 6 ECTs from the course) students need to do an additional assignment (summary report). If needed 1 or 2 additional hours of contact may be added. Such report(s) are also advised for other students requesting accreditation of the course in their institutions.

Minimal formation of students: Bachelor in Biology, Natural Science or related areas 

Directed to: MSc or PhD students in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Ecology or related areas, postdocs and professionals working in related topics. 

General plan

Monday
09:00-09:30 Welcome session and program presentation
09:30-12:30 Ecological Indicators: background
                    Link to Ecosystem Services
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-17:30 Personal project: presentation  

Tuesday
09:00-12:30 Functional Diversity Indices: theory and methods
                    Database management
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-17:30 Computer Lab – personal project

Wednesday
09:00-12:30 Computer Lab – personal projec
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-17:30 Computer Lab – personal project 

Thursday
09:00-12.30 Case studies from CE3C
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-17:30 Preparation of presentation of personal project  

Friday
09:00-12.30 Personal project: results and discussion 
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-17:00 Personal project: results and discussion
17:00-17:30 Closure

Fees

Free for 1st year PhD students in Doctoral programmes at CIÊNCIAS (e.g. Biologia), Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV UL; UP) and Biology and Ecology of Global Changes (BEAG UL, UA), when the course counts credits for their formation, in which case the delivery of a final report done after the course is mandatory; the course is also free for more advanced PhD students of the BIODIV programme (ULisboa or UPorto); 60 € for more advanced PhD students of CE3C; 100 € for PhD students of the PEERS network not from CE3C (CFE); 150 € for CIÊNCIAS Master students and unemployed; 200 € for BTI, BI and other PhD students with scholarship; 300 € for Professional and postdocs.  

When the maximum number of students is reached, 10 vacancies will be available for non-paying 1st year PhD students mentioned above, being, by order of preference students from: 1) CE3C; 2) BIODIV (not from CE3C); 3) CIÊNCIAS (not from CE3C); 4) BEAG (not from CE3C or CIÊNCIAS ). 

How to Apply

Candidates should fill in the APPLICATION FORM, which will be available in this section when the call opens.

This form is strictly confidential and will only be used for the purposes of this application.   

When filling the form mind to:  

  • FILL ALL THE MANDATORY FIELDS  
  • UPLOAD CV AND MOTIVATION LETTER, both mandatory.

For any doubts please contact the coordinator of the CE3C courses Inês Fragata (irfragata@ciencias.ulisboa.pt) and the teachers Melanie Köbel (mkobatista@ciencias.ulisboa.pt) and Bernardo Rocha (brrocha@ciencias.ulisboa.pt).