EDIT - European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy -

ALTER-Net Summer School 2009

The ALTER-Net Summer School shall contribute to durable integration and spread of excellence within and beyond the network, with a view to promote interdisciplinary approaches. The 2009 Summer School will focus on:

* Biodiversity and ecosystems in Europe;

* Ecosystem processes, function, services and benefits;

* Resilience of social and natural systems;

* Valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services;

* Linking biodiversity research with policy and the public.

Experts will give lectures on the themes mentioned above. Guided by tutors in the afternoons, working groups will discuss implications of findings for actual European ecosystems and their services and compile these in a written report. An excursion will illustrate land-use change in the Provence.

For further details, please see the attached flyer or visit the Summer School website (address below).

To apply
Online information, the preliminary programme and application forms are available the website below.

The deadline for applications is 31 may 2009. Successful applicants will be notified by 15 July 2009.

The Botanical Society of Scotland Student Symposium will be held at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh this year, after a 20 year break. The day promises to be full of interesting talks highlighting the diversity of botanical research in Scotland. It will be held on the 22nd September, and I would like to encourage students to submit abstracts for talks or for posters. Other researchers (non-students) are encouraged to attend too. This is the ideal opportunity for researchers in the early stages of their career in botany or plant science to discuss their research findings in a less intimidating environment, and to meet other botanical students (including undergraduates, Msc and PhD students). There will also be a keynote speech from Professor Richard Abbott (University of St Andrews). The cost of attending is £14, which includes lunch and coffee. I would also appreciate it if you could forward this to anyone else who might be potentially interested. The deadline for abstract submission (200 words) is the 24th July, and registration deadline is the 10th August.