Abstract submission is now open for Urban Transitions 2016 which will take place 5-9 September 2016 in Shanghai. Cities are incredibly vibrant centres of innovation, education, employment and commerce. Today, more than half of the world population lives in urban areas, and each week, the urban population increases globally by 1.3 million. As we become a mainly urban species, we have significant challenges and exciting opportunities ahead of us, as we try to transition towards a more: Economically competitive urban future Sustainable and resilient urban future Equitable and inclusive urban society Digitally supported urban future Contributions are welcome to each [...]

The Sustainability Research Unit (www.nmmu.ac.za/sru) at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University  (NMMU) has opportunities for post-graduate students at PhD and Master's level with a keen interest in transdisciplinary research at the interface between society, ecosystems and sustainability in the Garden Route. Examples of topics include: risk, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change;  incentives and motivations for ecosystem stewardship; collaborative management of watersheds; conceptualizing and modelling human-nature relationships; perceptions of ecosystem degradation and restoration; framings, mental models and mind-sets about nature; management decision making about natural resources, and especially the management of invasive species and / or water-linked ecosystems. Innovative proposals for [...]

ESPA (Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation) is seeking a dynamic and experienced specialist to support our global science and development programme. Leading in East and Southern African you’ll help ESPA build impact benefitting society, the environment and economy. You role will be to help connect to ESPA’s world-class research to create and influence change at all levels in this region. You will work with ESPA’s researchers and wider group of stakeholders influencing policy, and practice. You will be working as a key member of an international team at the forefront of research and development impact, connecting to and linking over [...]

Systems ranging from the brain and society to ecosystems and the climate can have tipping points where even minor perturbations can invoke a critical transition to a contrasting state. Mathematical theory suggests that the vicinity of a tipping point for such transitions may be inferred from generic features of fluctuations and spatial patterns. The PhD positions offered will elaborate this exciting new idea further, and search for ways to detect such early warning signals in data. The work will be done in close collaboration with our highly interdisciplinary community of collaborators including mathematicians, climate scientists, medical specialists, social scientists and [...]