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Marine evolution under climate change - CeMEB Advanced Course for PhD students and postdocs, 13-19 Dec 2015

Publicerat av GBIF-Sweden --

The Linnaeus Centre for Marine Evolutionary (CeMEB) invite PhD students and postdocs from all over the world to gather for one week in a stimulating environment to discuss how climate change (including global warming, ocean acidification, hypoxia) affects evolutionary rules that shape ocean ecosystem.

What determines species-sensitivity to future environmental stressors and how does it relate to species´ recent evolutionary history?

What life-history strategies will be selected in future oceans?

How can we assess a species adaptation potential?

What is the role of phenotypic plasticity in species resilience?

What will be evolutionary rules in future oceans?

What is the role of ecological interactions in future ecosystem changes?

13 - 19 December 2015 – Marine Evolution under climate change, 4th edition Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences - Kristineberg, Sweden. Organizers: Sam Dupont, CeMEB Piero Calosi, Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR), Canada.

Deadline for registration is: 30th September. Send your application to: eva.marie.rodstrom@gu.se

Welcome! Eva Marie Rödström, coordinator

You will find more information about the courses on: http://cemeb.science.gu.se/activities/courses/marine-evolutionary-biology-advanced-courses/advanced-courses-2015/climate-change

Africa Rising celebrates International Day for Biological Diversity with programme launch, joint declaration

Publicerat av GBIF.org --

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Nearly 100 delegates representing dozens of national agencies, international organizations and research institutions marked the United Nations’ International Day for Biological Diversity while concluding a four-day conference in Cape Town Friday,

Attendees convened at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden for Africa Rising: Mobilising Biodiversity Data for Sustainable Development, an engaging, intensive work session led by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).

The event culminated with the release of a ‘Declaration on biodiversity information for sustainable development in Africa’, a joint statement of intent developed by participants during the conference. The declaration’s release on International Day for Biological Diversity carries added poignancy given that the theme for UN’s 2015 occasion is ‘Biodiversity and Sustainable Development’. 

Friday also saw the formal launch Biodiversity Information for Development, or BID. Funded by the European Union and led by GBIF, this programme will focus on increasing the mobilization and use of biodiversity data for policy and research in the ‘ACP countries’ of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Africa Rising provided the occasion for the first of BID’s three planned regional meetings.

Text of the declaration follows.

Africa Rising was organized and hosted by SANBI with support from GBIF, the JRS Biodiversity Foundation, RESILIM: USAID Resilience in the Limpopo Basin, and the United Nations Environment Programme – World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).

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Declaration on biodiversity information for sustainable development in Africa

On this International Day for Biological Diversity in 2015, we the participants of the conference, Africa Rising: Mobilising Biodiversity Data for Sustainable Development, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 19 to 22 May 2015, agree that the quality of decision-making relies on the quality of information considered and hereby declare our vision for 2030 as a world in which biodiversity information contributes fully to sustainable development in Africa. Specifically, we desire that:

  • Governments subscribe to the principle of free and open access to biodiversity information;
  • Policymakers are adequately informed to respond effectively to global environmental change;
  • Countries are sufficiently capacitated to measure and track the status and trends of biodiversity and ecosystem services;
  • Biodiversity considerations are mainstreamed into all planning decisions; and
  • All sectors of society can contribute towards and benefit from a global pool of biodiversity knowledge derived from Earth observations.

Biodiversity is the bedrock of sustainable development. In Africa, biodiversity makes a profound contribution to human wellbeing and security, underpinning vital sectors including agriculture, fisheries, forestry, water, public health, tourism and energy. Next to our people, biodiversity is our greatest asset. If managed wisely, it could bring about a surge in green economic opportunities, strengthening the resilience of livelihoods, and catalysing sustainable development across the continent.

Data is the currency of the information age. The global data revolution presents new opportunities for evidence-based decision-making, active citizenship, technology transfer, education and research.

Critical data-deficits impair decision-making. Achieving sustainable development in Africa will require relevant reliable biodiversity information as well as tailored products and services to be made available to researchers, natural resource managers and policymakers in consumable forms.

Regional cooperation can spur coordinated action. By working together we can pool resources, share expertise, enhance capacity and efficiently progress towards the following goals:

  • Evidence-based decision-making supported by coordinated science-policy dialogue within and outside the biodiversity sector;
  • Capacity building across the information value chain to empower stakeholders to produce and make accessible accurate biodiversity data for sustainable development;
  • Mobilize and make openly accessible relevant biodiversity data to support education, research and decision-making for sustainable development;
  • Leverage sustained funding.

Africa could lead the world in biodiversity information management. Our continent is bursting with human ingenuity and brimming with natural resource wealth. Let us unlock the potential of biodiversity information to help secure a sustainable future for all. It is our responsibility. 

Jobb i Norge!

Publicerat av Mats Wedin --

The NTNU University Museum, Department of Natural History

Associate professor of molecular biodiversity

The NTNU University Museum is seeking a highly qualified and motivated candidate for an associate professor position in molecular biodiversity. The position is part of NTNU’s strategic focus on young, ambitious and excellent researchers (the “Onsager fellowships”) and is financed for 6 years. After this time it is expected that the candidate will obtain full professor qualifications and permanent employment.

The position in molecular biodiversity is central in the Department of Natural History’s strategy for further increasing the use of next generation sequencing data in studies of patterns and changes of biodiversity in time and space. More specifically, the successful candidate will carry out cutting-edge research within the field of evolutionary and environmental genomics, and extensive experience in handling and analysing complex genomic data sets using custom scripts and open source tools is expected. Background in population genomics, phylogenetics and proficiency in statistics is considered essential. The candidate must have experience in team-work and is expected to be working with broad research topics within evolutionary biology and ecology.

The successful applicant will have a strong interest in evolutionary biology and a PhD in biodiversity science (molecular ecology, molecular systematics or closely related fields of evolutionary biology research) or bioinformatics. Experience in analyses of different types of molecular data is an advantage. Applicants must document excellence in research during and after completed PhD, be goal-oriented and able to deliver results when expected. Excellent skills in written and spoken English and creative problem-solving abilities are expected.

Selection criteria:

  • Scientific excellence documented through peer-reviewed publications.
  • Experience with project acquisition and management.
  • Relevance of research area in relation to the NTNU University Museum research strategy.
  • Experience with teaching and supervision is an advantage.

In addition to what is listed as qualifications for the Onsager Fellows, for the Museum position it is expected that the successful candidate during the first 6 years:

  • Develops and submits one or more competitive project applications to the European Research Council.
  • Develops and submits project applications to the Research Council of Norway and similar funding sources.
  • Develops an active research group at the museum that contributes to relevant leading international networks.
  • Teaches at NTNU, the Research School in Biosystematics (ForBio) and the Nordic Academy of Biodiversity.
  • Contributes to the development of qualitative and innovative teaching resources in molecular biodiversity at the international level.
  • Fulfils the requirements for formal pedagogical competence at university level (PEDUP).
  • Participates in public outreach activities.

The NTNU University Museum, Department of Natural History has 15 faculty positions, 6 temporary research positions and 12 technical and administrative positions. The research is facilitated through two research groups; the Conservation Biology Group and the Systematics and Evolution Group. The Systematics and Evolution Group has its research focus in general questions in systematics and evolutionary biology such as: speciation events, species discrimination and delineation, phylogeny, character evolution, population genetics, phylogeography, DNA barcoding, archaeological genetics, and distribution of species in time and space. The Conservation Biology Group focuses on process related questions (land and water use, plant animal interactions, habitat destruction and fragmentation) and ecological biogeography. The group also has an applied research profile and works towards nature management authorities and stakeholders, at levels from populations to ecosystems.

More information about the department and the position can be obtained from Head of Department Torkild Bakken, phone: +47 73 59 23 82, e-mail torkild.bakken@ntnu.no; Professor Hans K. Stenøien, phone: +47 73 59 22 84; e-mail hans.stenoien@ntnu.no; Professor Torbjørn Ekrem, phone: +47 73 59 78 12, e-mail torbjorn.ekrem@ntnu.no.

Salaries

The associate professor position follows code 1011 starting grade 57-77, gross NOK 482 800-710 400 per annum (before tax). There will be a 2 % deduction to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Found from gross salary.

Other information 

NTNU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from both EU/EEA and non-EU countries. The university is strongly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from members of ethnic minorities.

NTNU would like to increase the percentage of female scientists in academic positions.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants.

All applications must include a letter of interest, certified copies of academic transcripts, CV, a complete list of publications and statements from three references. Copies of the considered 10 most important scientific papers should be attached as well as a short explanation of the applicant’s contribution in case where there is more than one author. The application must be submitted electronically through www.jobbnorge.no (reference VM2015/6026).

Application deadline: 25 May 2015.

http://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/112322/associate-professor-of-molecular-biodiversity

Short notice! Schander Memorial Fund – Deadline, May 31!

Publicerat av matz.berggren@gu.se --

About the Schander Memorial Fund
 
The main focus of the fund lies in encouraging scientific cooperation in marine biology by providing financial support for fieldwork (collecting of material for taxonomic and/or biodiversity work) and taxonomic studies in museum collections. 
 
Visiting marine taxonomists and systematists can apply for funding for travel and accommodation in connection to short term visits at the Marine Biological Station in Espegrend and at the University Museum of Bergen Norway. Likewise, Master and PhD students in marine biology at University of Bergen can apply for support for short-term projects in cooperation with other institutions or support for conference participation where they will present their own results. Projects including fieldwork or work in scientific collections will be prioritized.
 
Selection will be done by the five member funding board of national and international scientists and family members. Announcements and deadlines are given below.
 
Applications
Next application deadline: May 31, 2015
In 2015, three grants will be funded, with a fixed rate of 10 000 NOK, each.
To apply for a grant, please send your application to:
 
Prof. Karin Pittman (karin.pittman@bio.uib.no) subject: Schander fund
 
Please include a letter of intent, describing the purpose of your stay in Bergen or trip to other institutions, and a short CV. Students should include a letter of support from their supervisor. Applications will be evaluated shortly after the submission deadline and successful candidates will be informed in early June.
 
Karin Pittman
Fisheries Ecology and Aquaculture Research Group
Dept. of Biology
Thormøhlensgate 53B
PB 7803
University of Bergen
N-5006 Bergen
NORWAY