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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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]