2012
Courses and workshops
PhD course - Gender, Development and Environmental Governance
7,5 ECTS
Time: September 10 – October 12, 2012, 100%, daytime
What role do gender equality and democracy have in processes of environmental governance and the attainment of sustainable development?
This multidisciplinary course provides students, researchers and practitioners working in the fields of environment and development studies with gender sensitive tools and skills necessary to understand issues of gender and power in their area of work and to carry out successful research and program development in natural resource management, agriculture and development.
The course will 1) Introduce you to gender issues in and explore interconnections between gender, environmental governance and development in multiple contexts and spaces. 2) Provide you with methods and tools for power and gender analysis in an increasingly interconnected and world and 3) Allow you to focus on a project in course discussions that is directly related to your research and area of work.
Teachers: Seema Arora-Jonsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Course coordinator)
Cindi Katz, State University New York
Andrea Nightingale (prel.), Edinburgh University
(a detailed programme as well as the reading list will be put up shortly on http://www.slu.se/sv/fakulteter/nl-fakulteten/om- fakulteten/institutioner/sol/lbutv/)
To register for the course and for more information, contact: Seema Arora-Jonsson, Seema.Arora.Jonsson@slu.se Tel. +46-018-67 11 92 or Elinor Carlbrand, Elinor.Carlbrand@slu.se, Tel +46-018 671443
Department of Rural and Urban Development, SLU, Box 7005, 750 07 Uppsala
You can download the course flyer here (pdf, 50 kb)
Exploring tradeoffs around farming livelihoods and the environment - using farming systems modelling (3 ECTS credits)
13-17 August 2012. Ultuna, Uppsala
This is a course on farming systems analysis and modelling, using the NUANCES framework as an example. NUANCES is an integrated crop-livestock modelling tool that has been developed in an African context. Analyses carried out include trade-offs in the short and long term e.g. for allocation of land, labour and organic resources for the individual farmer and for villages. It can be used as a cost effective support tool for future choices for land management taking into account preservation of natural resources and food security. The course introduces the framework and gives hands-on assignments that facilitate its exploration. The course is primarily intended for PhD students undertaking studies related to natural resource management. To take full advantage of the course, knowledge in agronomy or equivalent corresponding to an MSc is needed. The course will include a one week pre-assignment followed by a one week on-campus part with lectures and exercises given at Ultuna, Uppsala, 13-17 August, 2012.
Learning objectives
- You learn the basic principles of systems analysis as applied to research on and design of farming systems
- You are able use such principles to evaluate trade-offs between alternative objectives in farming systems
- You are able to use simulation modelling to analyse interactions in crop-livestock systems.
- You are able to explain long-term consequences of resource allocation on productivity of crop-livestock systems analysed at farm level.
- You are able to use indicators to evaluate management scenarios.
The course consists of three parts
1) A literature based pre-assignment to bring all participants to a similar level. Introduction of simulation modelling and the need to analyse farming systems, concepts of farming systems and farm typologies.
2) Three days of lectures and exercises where farming systems analysis and modelling, and the NUANCES framework is presented and explored.
3) Two days with hands-on case studies where participants can use own data if available.
Teachers
The on-campus part of the course will be led by Dr. Mariana Rufino, International Livestock Institute (ILRI), and Prof. Pablo Tittonell, Wageningen University, both members of the team that developed the NUANCES framework. The pre -assignment will be handled by Dr. Sigrun Dahlin (Department of Soil and Environment, SLU).
Registration
Expression of interest before June 15th, 2012 to Sigrun Dahlin (Sigrun.Dahlin@slu.se). Confirmation of participation by June 30th. Maximum number of participants 25.
This is a course on farming systems analysis and modelling, using the NUANCES framework as an example. Analyses carried out include trade-offs in the short and long term e.g. for allocation of land, labour and organic resources for the individual farmer and for villages.
The course is primarily intended for PhD students undertaking studies related to natural resource management.
Nature-Society Relationships in transition
Action Research methodologies to collectively deal with experience and utopia
VI ARALIG PhD-course, Portugal, 3-7 June 2012
This course focuses on the perspective of sustainability in nature society relations as a continuous process of transition. Transitions are long-term, co-evolutionary and multi-actor processes that require changes both on system and actor level. Action research underlines a connection between theory and practice, between understanding and change, and an active cooperation between researchers and participants, and contributes with methodological approaches that can work within a change perspective.
The course aims to bring together a multidisciplinary group of people interested in action research, in the relation between practice and reflective learning and, broadly, in transition processes, in order to share, discuss, and reflect on their experiences with different methods and activities.
Credits: 5 ECTS
Deadlines:
The deadline for applications and abstracts is 15th March
The deadline for extended abstracts and synthesis presentation is 13th May
Submission and contacts:
Vanja Karadzic – karadzic.vanja@gmail.com;
You can also contact Maria Albertina Raposo – albertina@ipbeja.pt
Fee: 250 euros (only for accommodation, meals and fieldtrip)
Download the course application (doc file, 13 kb) and course announcement (doc file, 51 kb)
Water as a mirror of landscapes: How useful a hypothesis for resource management?
Workshop and PhD defense - March 28-30 in Ultuna (Loftets Stora Sal).
Water holds the key to the future in many regions of the world. Since water is generally agreed to mirror the landscape, water needs to be remembered in many aspects of land use planning. Afforestation, irrigation, biofuels, and a host of other alternatives facing individuals, communities and governments involve difficult tradeoffs where knowledge of the implications for water should be considered. But do we know enough about how the water regime reacts to land use change to make water-wise decisions?
You are invited to three days of presentations and discussions for those interested in this complex nexus of land-water interactions. On the first day, Wednesday, March 28th, distinguished international visitors will provide their perspectives. On the following day, ongoing research based in Mälardalen will be presented in the morning. In the afternoon, a set of parallel round tables discussions will be convened, each led by two or more of the presenters. Ample time will be left for informal discussions as well. On Friday at 10:00 the workshop will conclude with Solomon Gebreyohannis' defense of his PhD Thesis "Half a century observations and community perception of hydrology and forest changes in the Blue Nile Basin: What can be learned for future water management?"
This workshop is sponsored by the Uppsala Water Center and the SLU Research Schools: Natural Resources Management and Livelihoods - Focus on Soils and Water.
For more information contact Prof. Kevin Bishop (Kevin.Bishop@slu.se).
Research communication with the media: training and skills acquisition, 1.5 HEC
Target group:
PhD-students within research schools belonging to the NL-faculty. First priority will be given to registered students at the end of their PhD-studies (year 3 and 4).
Aim:
The overall aim of this course is to equip students with skills and tools for effective communication of their scientific results with the media. These skills will be provided through individual assignments, group exercises, discussions, feedback and guidance with professional journalists and communicators.
The course will be held during 2 days in March 2012 on Ultuna Campus at SLU in Uppsala. Dates: March 6-7, 2012
You can find more information at the web page of the course.
2011
Courses and workshops
Participatory Research Methods, 7.5 ETCS
31st October – 18 November 2011
Department of Urban and Rural Development, SLU
The main objectives of this course are to introduce the learner to the theory and practice of Participatory Research Methods and basic field research skills. These skills include: qualitative research methodology; Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA), Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Participatory Learning and Action (PLA), Action Research (AR); and other forms of analysis focusing on qualitative study design, data collection and analysis. The course includes hands on practical exercises and a short field assignment.
For Course registration and information, please contact Alex R. Arévalo Vásquez, arevalito@gmail.com
Course description and tentative schedule >>>
Course: Land use, land-use change and forestry: issues of climate change, rights and food security (7.5 HEC)
12-30 Sept 2011 (lectures 19-23 Sept)
Further information to be added shortly.
Course: Redefining a critical edge of sustainability: possibilities from action research approach (ARALIG Methods) (5 HEC)
6-9 June 2011 + pre- and post assignment
Sustainability is a concept and a strategy which now for years has been mainstreamed and incorporated in all kinds of institutional strategic plans. Such things happening leave us with a need to ask for the critical edge in the concept and in the strategy. By critical edge we understand the implication for including challenges to societal structural aspects of sustainability and questioning basic forms of every day work and living. Connecting the issue to action research means a questioning of possibilities of action research to open up for societal – democratic change and for creating critical knowledge about immanent limits for sustainability in the current main streams sustainabilities. We address the issue in 3 levels: local, national and global.
Further information>>>
Course: Plant breeding and crop production - meeting the 2050 food security demands (4.5 HEC)
16-20 May + pre- and postassignment
Welcome to a course about plant breeding, crop production and food security!
Topics covered in the course
- Plants as food source in a world-wide social and agronomic perspective
- Genetic resources and plant breeding: goals and techniques
- Important crops in an international perspective
- Environmental and economic costs/benefits of plant breeding
- Use of new crops and varieties
- Legislation and policies
Confirmed teachers:
Christer Andersson, The Swedish Food Administration and European Food Safety Authority, EFSA
Göran Djurfeldt, Lund university
Bo Gertsson, Lantmännen SW Seeds
Marie Nyman, The Swedish Gene Technology Advisory Board
Patrick Okori, Makerere University, Uganda
Sten Stymne, SLU, Alnarp
Eva Thörn, CBM, SLU
Ivar Virgin, Swedish Environmental Institute, Stockholm
Björn Welin, Plant Biotech, Argentina
and researchers at SLU, Uppsala: Christina Dixelius, Anna Westerbergh, Jens Sundström, Torbjörn Fagerström, Klara Jacobsson, and
Jonathan Yuen
The format of the course is 4-5 days of lectures and seminars during 16-20 May 2011. Students will be given literature to read before the course and a follow-up assignment after the course.
The course is open to PhD students with an interest in plant breeding, crop production, ecology, food security and related areas.
Deadline for application is 20 April 2011.
The course is organized within the research school NRML by Per-Olof Lundquist, C-G Thornström, Jens Sundström and Christina Dixelius
Information and application: Per-Olof.Lundquist@slu.se
course outline>>>
schedule>>>
- 24 Feb-4 March: Analytical Writing
- 16-20 May: pre- and post-assignment: Plant breeding and crop production - meeting the 2050 food security demands
- 6-9 June: pre- and post-assignment: Redefining a critical edge of sustainability: possibilities from action research approach (ARALIG Methods)
- 12-30 Sept: Land use, land-use change and forestry: issues of climate change, rights and food security
- 3-7 October: NUANCES modeling framework
- Proposal writing in interdisciplinary research
- November: Participatory research methods
- The cost of landscape ecology
Seminars
8 March: Agricultural adaptation to climate change: farmer responses to experienced climate variability in Ethiopia by Woldeamlak Bewket
21 March: Durban - sustainable city in practice - water supply, sanitation and small scale food production by Neil Mcleod
Fight between the sciences
Salmon aquaculture in Chile
25 may: Harnessing north south partnerships for Africa’s development: Experiences and lessons from an SLU alumnus byPatrick Okori
2010
13 December 2010: Seminar by Geoff Tansey. A Sustainable Food System - links to health, sustainability and equity, globally
24 November 2010: Symposium Ecosystems and development: implications for food security, market policies and rural/urban migration
documents>>>
18 November: SLU International ALUMNI – Africa launch with Regional Forum For Agricultural Universities in Africa (RUFORUM)
documents>>>