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NOVA PhD Course "Invasive Pest Threats in the North" - Open for Applications

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    Illustrasjon: Shutterstock, sciencepics

The course will take place on 25-29 Sept. 2017 in Helsinki, Finland.
Application deadline: 15 Jul. 2017.

By ingehjet

The course is of 3 ECTS and is organised by Prof. Heikki Hokkanen, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.

NOVA course information web page

Course flyer

Apply here

The course is the first course in the NOVA PhD course series "Climate Change Entomology in the North" which is scheduled for 2017-2019:

Course Description
The series "Climate Change Entomology in the North" focuses on the fundamental and drastic demands in agricultural entomology in the Nordic countries, caused primarily by climate change. At an accelerating rate new serious, invasive pests threaten our primary production systems in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and wilderness areas. Furthermore, our pollination and biocontrol ecosystems services - vital to our crop production as well as wild flowers and berries - are at risk due to invading pests, competitors, and diseases; changing phenology of flowering; multiple generations of pests; decline and even forecast extinctions of certain pollinator species, etc. We need to train a new generation of experts in this area to be able to cope with the growing challenges. Foremost immediate threats include the spotted wing Drosophila -fly, recently introduced from Asia to Europe, and which is making its way northwards (recorded at many locations in Sweden already).

Content
In the course series we will train the students to understand the mechanisms of invasions, what alternatives we have in coping with and preventing the spread, what can be used for rapid and early diagnostics of such new problems, and how to mitigate negative impacts of invasions. Similarly the rapid decline of diversity and overall population densities of key pollinators requires in-depth understanding of the mechanisms, in order to design and apply suitable mitigation measures (including regulatory approaches).

Programme Outline

  • Pre-campus assignments
  • Lectures and interactive seminars on mechanisms of invasions, what alternatives we have in coping with and preventing the spread, what can be used for rapid and early diagnostics of such new problems, and how to mitigate negative impacts of invasions. Similarly topics dealing with the rapid decline of diversity and overall population densities of key pollinators, understanding of the mechanisms, designing and applying suitable mitigation measures (including regulatory approaches).
  • Lab-work, demonstrations, and field assessments concerning e.g., detection and monitoring of invasive pests, control methods, and pollinator networks
  • Field trip related to species invasions and pollinator assemblages

Detailed course schedule

Main teachers:

  • Dmitry L. Musolin, Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University
  • Paul Becher, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
  • Aurelie Ferrer, ISARA Lyon
  • Toke Thomas Höye, Aarhus University
  • Panu Välimäki, University of Oulu

Please find more information on the course and on how to apply here:
https://www.nmbu.no/en/students/nova/students/phd-courses/phd-2017/node/29906

Published 16. May 2017 - 13:23 - Updated 23. May 2017 - 19:08