June 22 – June 26
UNIgreen’s JRC8 – Responsible Governance, Land Use, and Climate Change – Scientific Mission
Who?
Researchers and PhD students of UNIgreen Alliance universities. Participants should have a PhD (e.g., postdocs or faculty) or be in and advanced stage of their PhD studies, working on topics related to the SM.
Objectives
- Intensification of academic exchange by enhancing access to advanced research resources
- Facilitation of mobility for academics and doctoral students
- Establishing international scientific networks among participants
- Improving research quality through knowledge exchange
- Advancing UNIgreen towards becoming a collaborative community focused on innovation and sustainability
Programme
- Day 1: Arrival of participants, registration, icebreaker.
- Day 2: Potential of biocrust development for ecological restoration and climate-change resilience in Iceland and similar environments. Visit to reclaimed site under restoration, near Borgarnes.
- Day 3: Mapping of biocrust, bare ground and vegetation cover with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), in five selected sites where biocrust have developed as a result of a restoration practice (e.g., fertilization); and in reference sites where biocrust have developed without assistance.
- Day 4: Planning of dates and strategy for:
- data analysis,
- further data collection,
- writing of manuscript,
- research proposal. Verification of competences.
- Day 5: Group photo, certificates, departure of participants
Topics of Training
Building capacity for ecological restoration and climate-change resilience.
- Soil/biocrust biology
- Remote sensing
- Ecological restoration
- Climate change
Who can apply?
Scientists employed by the UNIgreen Alliance Universities or persons completing their doctoral studies at the UNIgreen Alliance Universities, with
- At least CEFR B2 English language proficiency
- At least EQF level 7 of education in the subject area: Health or Agronomy
Application deadline: 20 March 2026.
