Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Stellenbosch University's Centre for Complex Systems in Transition is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship position for anyone with a PhD who is interested in focusing on the financial dimensions of South Africa’s renewable energy programme (REIPPPP). Introduction to the Centre for Complex Systems in Transition The Centre for Complex Systems in Transition (CST) is a new Stellenbosch University and National Research Foundation ‘flagship’ initiative established in 2015. As an interdisciplinary research centre within Stellenbosch University, the CST has three core themes: complexity thinking, sustainability science and transdisciplinary research, applied across four broad case study areas [...]

PhD position in agroecology at the University of Goettingen (Germany), with a focus on South African landscapes “A biodiversity hotspot faces intensification of viticulture: The role of fynbos remnants for the conservation of butterflies”   Start: 15th April 2017. 3-year position (TV-L E13 65%) Biodiversity hotspots are global priority areas for nature conservation, as they contain numerous endemic species and have lost much natural habitat in the past. One example is the Fynbos biome within the Cape Floristic Region in South Africa, which is under pressure due to land-use change. Here, viticulture increasingly expands into remnants of Renosterveld vegetation, with [...]

The Stockholm Resilience Centre in Sweden offers a 2-year Master’s Programme on Social-Ecological Resilience for Sustainable Development (SERSD), starting in autumn (northern hemisphere) every year. The programme aims to enhance students’ knowledge of the complex interactions between ecological and social dynamics in the context of change and uncertainty. In the 2-year Master’s programme students are introduced to multiple research approaches and methods for studying coupled social and ecological systems. The programme is designed with an emphasis on resilience - the ability to deal with change and continue to develop - and focuses on using systems-based methods to develop new approaches to the governance and management of social-ecological systems. Students will be [...]

The STEPS Centre invites applications for its 2017 Summer School on Pathways to Sustainability, which will take place from 15-26 May in the UK. Applications are invited from highly-motivated doctoral and postdoctoral researchers working in fields around development studies, science and technology studies, innovation and policy studies, and across agricultural, health, water or energy issues. Participants will explore the theme of pathways to sustainability through a mixture of workshops, lectures, outdoor events and focused interaction with STEPS Centre members. The Summer School takes place on the Sussex University campus, near Brighton, UK. The deadline for applications is 29 January 2017 at [...]

This workshop at the Santa Fe Institute (June 25-July 7, 2017, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US) will bring together a group of advanced graduate students and a small faculty for an intensive two week study of computational social science modeling and complexity. The workshop will consist of lectures by faculty, special topic seminars by members of the Santa Fe Institute, and presentations of work in progress by graduate student participants. The primary goal of the summer workshop is to assist graduate students pursuing research agendas which includes a computational modeling component. A significant portion of the workshop will be devoted to analyzing [...]

The Complex Systems Summer School at the Santa Fe Institute (June 11- July 7, 2017 - Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA) offers an intensive four week introduction to complex behavior in mathematical, physical, living, and social systems for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professionals in the sciences and social sciences. The school is for participants who seek background and hands-on experience to help them prepare to conduct interdisciplinary research in areas related to complex systems. Application deadline: January 23, 2017 Who is eligible: Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in any discipline. Proficiency in English is required. APPLY NOW HERE Further information [...]

1 Year Fixed term contract, 50% full time equivalent The African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) and Department of Environmental and Geographical Science (EGS) at the University of Cape Town is seeking to appoint a convenor/lecturer for the interdisciplinary MSC/MPhil in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, that is convened by the ACDI, and hosted academically by EGS. The Lecturer/Convenor will teach on, and manage academic and administrative aspects of the MSc/MPhil, specifically, academic oversight of the students, teaching, and administrative tasks related to the ACDI MSc/MPhil.   The post-holder will work closely with the graduate teaching coordination team in EGS and [...]

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) (www.tropicalstudies.org) seeks applicants for its field-based undergraduate programme in Savanna/Fynbos ecology, run in partnership with the Universities of Cape Town (UCT) and Witwatersrand (WITS) and South African National Parks. This course, based in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, accepts students from both South Africa and the USA. We are seeking to fill the post in January 2017. It is a five-year grant-funded contract with probation, and contracts are renewable based on performance. The successful applicant will work closely with other staff and the Programme Director in the design and implementation of rigorous programmes of field [...]

ecoSERVICES, a research project of Future Earth, is committed to co-designing a research agenda aimed at deepening our understanding of the governance of ecosystem services. ecoServices aims to bring together the variety of voices present in the global ecosystem services knowledge community in order to shape governance research in this area. In order to achieve this, a short 5-minute survey has been developed that asks participants to identify, based on their own experience, what they feel are the 3 most compelling research questions related to the governance of ecosystem services. To participate in this important survey, please follow this link. The survey is available in seven language: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, [...]

About Cirrus: Cirrus is a young consulting and research firm that advises governments and companies on climate change and the management of natural resources. The firm specialises in the land-use aspects of global change, providing advice on climate change mitigation and adaptation measures as well as on the science and governance of ecosystem services more broadly. Our strength lies in our robust analytical skills and willingness to tackle the multidisciplinary analyses that characterise the global-change domain. With a passion for ecology and economics, our intention is to provide key decision-makers with sound advice on the governance of emerging African landscapes. [...]