NEWS
New Research Chair in “Social-Ecological Systems and Resilience”
Dr Reinette (Oonsie) Biggs has been awarded a Research Chair in "Social-Ecological Systems and Resilience” as part of the South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI). The Research Chair Initiative was established in 2006 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), with the aim of attracting and retaining excellence in research and innovation at South African public universities. Since then, a total of 197 Chairs have been awarded in diverse disciplines across the natural sciences, engineering, humanities and social sciences. To be chosen as [...]
New paper on using ecosystem services to identify green- and red-loop systems
SAPECS researchers Maike Hamann, Oonsie Biggs and Belinda Reyers recently released a study on identifying social-ecological systems based on the level of ecosystem service use among households. The paper, published open-access in the journal Global Environmental Change, explores the relationship between people and nature within so-called 'green-loop' and 'red-loop' systems in South Africa. The researchers used national census data to evaluate the direct use of six ecosystem services: animal production such as livestock and poultry, crop production, use of freshwater from a natural source, use of firewood for cooking, use of [...]
SAPECS Learning Event: Participatory Action Research in Social-Ecological Systems, 01-02 Nov
Participatory Action Research in Social-Ecological Systems: Principles and Practice when Working with Communities Dates: 1 November at 16:00 until 2 November 17:30 (before the PECS2015 Conference, www.pecs2015.org) Venue: Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS), 10 Marais Street, Stellenbosch Facilitators: Christo Fabricius with Dirk Roux; Maria Tengö; Franck de Saint Simon; Karen Esler and others Background Scholars of the dynamics and interactions of ecosystems and society are beginning to appreciate the value of local and informal knowledge and the need to share information with stakeholders. People’s participation is therefore [...]
PECS 2015: Registration closes 18 September
PECS 2015 Conference Spier Estate | Stellenbosch | South Africa 3 - 5 November 2015 www.pecs2015.org Registration Closing: 18 September 2015 Limited space still available Click here to register ACCOMMODATION BOOKING REMINDER Bookings close 18 September 2015 Accommodation with discounted rates only for PECS2015 registrants available. Please click here for further information. We have arranged complimentary transfers from the conference selected hotels to the conference venue at Spier. DRAFT SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME UPLOADED Click here KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Click here · Eduardo S. Brondizio - Professor of Anthropology and [...]
Oonsie Biggs receives prestigious rating from the NRF
SAPECS researcher Oonsie Biggs received a prestigious P-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) for her outstanding research on social-ecological regime shifts and their impact on ecosystem services. P-rated researchers have demonstrated the potential of becoming future international leaders in their field based on exceptional research performance and output early in their careers. Biggs says the P-Rating is an honour, and a real boost for social-ecological sustainability research in the region. "I hope that this award will open up new opportunities to train students and carry out collaborative research with [...]
RELATED NEWS
Three open positions at the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA)
Country Programme Directors: Botswana, Lesotho and Malawi The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) is seeking qualified candidates to fill the role of Country Programme Directors in Botswana, Lesotho and Malawi for an anticipated three-year funded programme to strengthen democratic structures and institutions of political parties in each of these SADC countries, with a particular focus on water and energy resource management. For more information, please follow these links: Botswana: https://www.eisa.org.za/pdf/job2016bot.pdf Lesotho: https://www.eisa.org.za/pdf/job2016les.pdf Malawi: https://www.eisa.org.za/pdf/job2016mal.pdf Closing date 3 February 2017.
Renewable Energy postdoc at Stellenbosch University
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 [...]
PhD position in agroecology with a focus on South African landscapes – University of Goettingen
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. [...]
Applications open: SERSD MSc programme at the Stockholm Resilience Centre
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 [...]
STEPS Summer School 2017
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, [...]