Courses open for registration

While much of statistics focusses on associations between variables and making predictions, the aim of structural equation modelling is to establish causal relationships between variables. The focus will be on classical structural equation models with a small number of (latent) variables, but we will also give an introduction to recent developments on methodology for high-dimensional data.

The central theme of this course is the development of resilient seed systems (RSS) with participatory breeding programs (PPB) that are responsive to the needs of farmers and society as a whole. The focus is on longer-term solutions for sustainable, agro-ecological agriculture in the broad sense, departing from the underlying question: how to move food systems forward in the South and the North?

The course aims at assisting steps towards a holistic understanding of the complex social-ecological landscape that is the northern Maloti-Drakensberg. Centered on the Bergville/Mont-aux-Sources/Royal Natal National Park area, the course will provide an opportunity for an in-depth study of the ecological and social processes that drive change (for good or bad) in this region.

In this third edition of the European Forestry course, organised under the flag of the Euro League for Life Sciences (ELLS), we aim to shed light on the current management strategies of European forests, and how to adjust these to become climate-smart. There is much variation in forest management across Europe, at least in part based on differences in ecology, economics, social perceptions, ethics and morality towards forests and the resources and services they provide. The idea of this course is to bring PhD candidates and postdocs from various countries and cultural backgrounds, and working in different scientific disciplines but related to European forests, together in a professional on-site training course. The course will be organised at the BOKU training centre “Traunkirchen” in Austria. This venue is perfect for this course, as it sits in a location that is surrounded by forests that are managed in a varied way, so as to provide excellent learning experiences for the participants. A travel subsidy is available for PE&RC PhD candidates.