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Call for applications: Masters and PhD bursaries & Postdoctoral fellowships for 2016
SARChI Research Chair in Social-Ecological Systems and Resilience Hosted by the Centre for Complex Systems in Transition at Stellenbosch University Call for applications: Masters and PhD bursaries & Postdoctoral fellowships for 2016 Deadline for applications: 15 January 2016 Download advert here Escalating global challenges such as climate change, food and water security, biodiversity loss, socio-political conflict and economic volatility, demand new approaches to researching and governing our environment and societies. Approaches that account for the complex relationships between human well-being and ecological sustainability, while dealing with ongoing change and uncertainty, have become [...]
SAPECS learning event: The practicalities of engaging with society in social-ecological research
- by Odirilwe Selomane Just before the first ever Programme on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS) conference this past November in Stellenbosch, SAPECS organised a pre-conference learning event for early career social-ecological systems researchers at STIAS; coordinated and facilitated by Christo Fabricius from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). The topic of the event was “Participatory Action Research in Social-Ecological Systems”, and the focus was particularly on discussing the principles and practice of doing this research. The format for the day was three 15 minute food-for-thought presentations, each followed by an [...]
PECS Science-Policy Dialogue explores different pathways towards creating good Anthropocene futures in southern Africa
We have entered a new geological era called the Anthropocene, where human actions that are characterized by an increase in connectivity, speed and mobility are profoundly influencing the functioning of the earth system. Arguably the challenges of living in the Anthropocene are too complex and intractable to be solved by scientists, policymakers or corporate business in isolation of one another. To tackle the problem of navigating the complex mix of intertwined social-ecological drivers, biophysical constraints and improved social conditions for all, the Programme on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS) (an [...]
Storify summary of #PECS2015
The first PECS conference, held near Stellenbosch on 3 - 5 November, was a resounding success, with provocative and insightful keynote presentations, innovative sessions and much merry mingling aided by some of the best wine South Africa has to offer! More posts on this conference will follow in the coming days on this website, but in the meantime, a great Twitter overview is available at the following Storify account: https://storify.com/PECS_Project/pecs2015-conference Stay tuned for more!
Creating positive stories of the future
Two workshops were recently held in Mozambique and Kenya, as part of the "Seeds of Good Anthropocenes" initiative. In the post below, Laura Pereira describes one of these workshops and its outcomes. Once upon a time in Paradiso village, there lived a fisherman with his wife and two children… As we all know, this is how all good stories start, and it was no different for the third day of the Kenyan workshop where the participants got to draw on all their creativity and story-telling skills to build positive stories [...]
RELATED NEWS
Short-term postdoctoral research fellowship with ACDI
The African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) is looking for a postdoctoral fellow to identify research gaps as well as policy gaps, in the South African and African context using science literature, national and international policies and guidelines, and grey literature. The literature review will be complemented by telephonic and in-person interviews with key researchers, to map the research expertise at UCT, and in South Africa to identify important stakeholders for future engagement. The Fellow will be supported by an advisory committee of senior researchers working in aligned thematic areas. [...]
Professor in the Department of Environmental Science
Academic, Eastern Cape East London R 819159 Annually Professor in the Department of Environmental Science Recognising that diversity is important in achieving excellence, Rhodes University especially encourages South African members of underrepresented designated groups to apply. Spouses and partners of existing staff members are also encouraged to apply. Please note that this appointment will be made in line with the requirements of the Employment Equity Act of RSA and the University’s recruitment and selection policies and equity strategies. The initial focus will be on equity candidates. In terms of Immigration [...]
Postdoctoral position with The Natural Capital Project: modeling urban ecosystem services
Natural Capital Project Postdoctoral Associate Understanding and modeling urban ecosystem services The Natural Capital Project at Stanford seeks a creative and independent researcher to support the development of models, tools, and approaches to assess urban ecosystem services. The postdoc will lead the technical development of the models and their application in case studies in the U.S. and internationally. The position will be based with The Natural Capital Project at Stanford University, in the lab of Prof. Gretchen Daily (Biology; Natural Capital Project founder and faculty mentor), and will be co-supervised by [...]
Louis Bacon Environmental Leadership Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School
The Center for Public Leadership (CPL) at Harvard Kennedy School seeks to recruit its third cohort of Louis Bacon Environmental Leadership Fellows for the 2018-2019 academic year. The Bacon Fellowship brings together emerging leaders from the government, business, and the NGO communities eager to take up the mantle of environmental leadership by bringing new ideas and innovation to the policies and programs that preserve and enhance our shared environment. The Louis Bacon Environmental Fellows come to Harvard and connect with highly accomplished national and international leaders, who provide them with both knowledge [...]
Call for Applicants for SASAC Doctoral Scholarships for Research using a Systems Analysis Methodology – 2018
The Southern African Systems Analysis Centre (SASAC), launched in November 2011 is a multi-year initiative coordinated by the University of the Western Cape, in partnership with the Universities’ of Limpopo and the Witwatersrand, and Stellenbosch. This initiative takes cognisance of additional and multi-level systems analysis capacity interventions, and a comprehensive approach to policy related activities in South- and Southern Africa. SASAC has dedicated three-year bursaries for South African and Africa PhD students based at a South African university to complete their studies with a supervisor from South Africa, experienced in systems analysis, possibly in collaboration with a co-supervisor [...]