Winter School in Interdisciplinary Biodiversity

Programme overview

Loss of biodiversity affects the functioning of natural ecosystems and threatens human well-being. In the current times of global biodiversity crisis, the word ‘biodiversity’ has become pivotal for conservation and management. Yet, biodiversity is often used only as a catchphrase in political, societal and even scientific debates.

The loss of biodiversity or its increase is not a simple sum of recordable data. Rather, it is a complex result of quantitative and qualitative aspects, socio-ecological systems, cultures, anthropogenic drivers and assets. This is the reason why a deep understanding of biodiversity is difficult to reach. Thus, communication can fail, and decision-making is often less efficient than needed. This winter school aims to assist students in building an all-round idea of biodiversity, which includes contents and competencies from the humanities, natural and social sciences in a fruitful interaction. If we look at the planning for the restoration law, it seems that to preserve habitats is not sufficient anymore.

How did the European Union reach this huge conclusion? Because, according to this law, quantifying biodiversity in agricultural areas, will require measuring three different biodiversity indicators

1. The grassland butterfly index
2. The organic carbon stock in soils
3. The percentage of agricultural land with highly diverse landscape features.

Which are the other possible systems for measurement of biodiversity? What is biodiversity? What are the different biological levels of biodiversity? How can it be measured nowadays, and its changes determined with respect to the “natural” state of the environment? What are the ecosystem services provided by the biota and their effects on human health, food production and energy supply? How is biodiversity conservation regulated by law? Our Winter School aims to investigate and discuss all these questions through an interdisciplinary approach so that students are able to listen to the biodiversity of others, feeling it as complementary to their own.

This programme is organized in the Venetian lagoon, a unique treasure chest of biodiversity. Participants will visit a natural protected area by boat, and will have the chance to get an insight on the MOSE system and its technical, landscape, environmental and social implications.

Partner institutions

This programme is organized by Ca' Foscari University in collaboration with CNR ISMAR (Istituto di Scienze Marine), and funded by the National Biodiversity Future Center. 

Applications

The programme will enrol a restricted group (up to 30) of young researchers, graduate or postgraduate students, who will be selected by a Teaching Committee based on the selection criteria outlined in the Call for Applications.

All details on requirements, selection criteria, fees and so on can be found in the Call for Applications on this webpage. Please read the document thoroughly and apply through this application form.

Applications are open until November 7th, 2024!

N.B The Call for Applications is being updated: we will not require students to submit a Declaration of Value.

Call for Applications

230 K

Tuition Fees

Tuition costs including field visits are covered for all selected students.

Accommodation

Accommodation costs - which will be arranged at a student residence within the larger Venice area - will be covered for the 24 highest ranked students. Students who do not need accommodation can specify this in the application form.

Travel

Twelve of the highest ranking students applying from outside of Italy will be provided airfare. Check the Call for Applications to read our eligiblity terms and conditions!

Organising Committee

Fantina Madricardo, Senior Researcher at CNR ISMAR in Venice, and Corinna Guerra, Assistant Professor at Ca' Foscari University

Programme structure

The keynote will be held by Isabel Sousa Pinto, Professor at the University of Porto and Group Leader of the Coastal Biodiversity Research Group at Ciimar.

The introduction will be held by Maria Chiara Carrozza, President of the CNR (National Research Council).

Lectures will be held by:

• Ernesto Azzurro, Research Director at CNR IRBIM
• Daniele Brombal, Associate Professor Ca' Foscari University
• Edy Fantinato, Assistant Professor at Ca' Foscari University
• Diego Fontaneto, Research Director at CNR IRSA in Verbania
• Silvia Francescon, Research Fellow at Ca' Foscari University - THE NEW INSTITUTE Centre for Environmental Humanities (NICHE)
• Elena Gissi, Senior Researcher at CNR ISMAR, Marie S. Curie Alumni
• Valentina Lauria, Senior Researcher at CNR IRBIM
• Stefano Mammola, Senior Researcher at CNR IRSA in Verbania
• Valentina Marcheselli, Research Fellow at Ca' Foscari University
• Veronica Nanni, PhD Candidate at CNR IRSA, will hold a lecture with Stefano Mammola
• Pietro Daniel Omodeo, Associate Professor at Ca' Foscari University - UNESCO Chair "WHSD" Research Group
• Justas Patkauskas, Research Grant Holder at Ca' Foscari University - UNESCO Chair "WHSD" Research Group
• Sabrina Tamburini, Assistant Professor at Ca' Foscari University
• Massimo Warglien, Full Professor at Ca' Foscari University

Each facet of Biodiversity will be dedicated a 2-hour slot, in which students will come into contact with the lecturer's specialization. The programme is designed to provide insight at any level of experience or expertise. That is, according to the student's previous academic background, they will be able to acquire basic or advanced knowledge on each topic, for example, scientists will learn something about biodiversity in social and human sciences, while human and social scientists will learn something about biodiversity in science, and so on.

Winter School in Interdisciplinary Biodiversity - Brochure 2025

1.11 M