PE&RC provides a platform for collaboration of the groups within the school and associated groups; examples are given below:
PE&RC has established a modelling platform to ensure that basic competence and continuity in modelling is maintained and coherence between groups active in modelling is stimulated.
PE&RC has a leading role in the Netherlands Ecological Research Network (NERN) involving all leading academic groups in ecology in the Netherlands. One of its objectives is to coordinate a nation-wide educational programme in ecology for PhD candidates. The highlight of NERN activities is the annual meeting which is attended by more than 300 ecologists (2010) in the Netherlands. PE&RC is also one of the leading parties in the organization of the NERN symposium series Current Themes in Ecology.
PE&RC contributes to the research on Systems Biology with two main objectives: (a)to connect studies in this field at lower integration levels (cell, organisms) to higher integration levels (plants, crops, ecosystems) and (b) to make available conceptual modelling expertise within PE&RC groups obtained at higher integration levels (plant and above) to groups working at sub-plant integration levels.
PE&RC has launched a call for Emerging Science Themes (ESTs),encompassing activities of 3-6 PE&RC groups to be initiated by a Talents & Topics Team (TTT). This team is composed of young researchers, who recently acquired a prestigious research grant such as VENI or VIDI or otherwise excelled in the previous three years. A personal development scheme for the researchers involved will be implemented.
PE&RC encompasses a number of discussion groups that consist of a multidisciplinary group of scientists. The groups meet on a regular (often monthly) basis and discuss scientific issues/ papers (e.g. key publications, PhD manuscripts and proposals, new developments in scientific theory). The complete list of PhD discussion groups can be found here