STARTING DATE:

March 29, 2016

APPLICATIONS DUE:

February 1, 2016

The Operating Unit of the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) in Namibia, Sam Nujoma Campus, of the University of Namibia, Henties Bay- Namibia, is pleased to announce the third international research training course in Microbial and Geochemical Oceanography in Upwelling Ecosystems. The course dubbed “3rd African Discovery Camp for Research-based Training: Science for the Sustainable Use and Management of Marine Ecosystems and their Resources” will be held from March 29 to April 29, 2016.

Applications are invited from PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, honors MSc students, and also from professors who consider the microbiological and geochemical topics of interest to their research. Participation is limited to 14.

Deadline for Application:

Before February 1, 2016.

Course Description

Course participants will learn about microbial and geochemical oceanography, more particularly about ways in which microbes participate in geochemical cycles in upwelling ecosystems and how chemical, physical and atmospheric processes in turn influence microbial physiology. Among many other things, the famous Thiomargarita spp. and other benthic and pelagic microbes of the sulfur, nitrogen and carbon transformation cycles and mud and microbenthos from various sediment habitats will be collected and studied. During two – five days cruises on Namibia’s R/V MIRABILIS and together with scientists from the National Marine Information and Research Center (Nat MIRC), participants will perform in situ measurements and collect samples for later work on land.

Before embarking and after the cruises, students will practice techniques and design experiments in the University’s laboratories. During lectures and discussions, students will also learn about benthic and pelagic habitats of the BCE and the complex relationships between the microbiome, geochemical cycles and ecosystem health, which ultimately influences the productivity and the harvestable fish yield of the BCE. The interdisciplinary approach merges microbial, geochemical and food web oceanography into comprehensive views about upwelling ecosystems. The research results will support decisions on sustainable ecosystem management, based on an in-depth understanding of environmental changes, natural variability and recovery from disturbances in the BCE.

Application Procedure:

Please fill the attached form in the related tab.

For further information, please visit: http://www.microeco.ethz.ch/rgno_namibia_16/RGNO_Namibia_16.html