La Palma Science School 2017


The next La Palma Science School will take place from February 17th to March 3rd on the island of La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. It is focused on interactions between climate and biodiversity. Particularly, remote sensing approaches shall be linked with field data. We will develop and implement research concepts for short studies that student groups will apply during 2-week field period.


The island of La Palma is completely protected as MAB biosphere reserve and hosts a national park (Caldera de Taburiente) and Natura 2000 sites. Human population density and pressures are rather low in comparison with other islands. The climatic conditions are very diverse, also because of the prominent elevation that reaches up to more than 2400 m a.s.l. which is above the tree line. Large parts of the island are covered by natural Canary Pine forests and by laurel forests. Sub-recent volcanism took place until 1971 creating young lava flows and vast lapilli fields.


The school will include a preparation phase, where precise hypotheses are elaborated and a methodological concept for a study is designed. Students will organize in groups and develop all approaches together (e.g. via skype).


The course is appropriate for Master students and for PhD students in ECOPOTENTIAL that are interested in in-situ studies and how these can be linked to landscape scales, protected areas and remote sensing.

Supervisors include:
Prof. Dominique Strasberg (Université de La Réunion, France)
Dr. Antonello Provenzale (Italian National Research Council, Italy) Prof. Richard Field (University of Nottingham, UK)
Prof. Alessandro Chiarucci (Università di Bologna, Italy)
Prof. José-Maria Fernandez-Palacios (Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain)
Dr. Severin Irl (University of Bayreuth, Germany)
Prof. Carl Beierkuhnlein (University of Bayreuth, Germany)

Accommodation will be organized in inexpensive private housing. Costs for accommodation and food need to be covered on-site. Transport can only be granted for students of the University of Bayreuth. All other participants must take care of their own travels. Additional costs for local transport (rental cars) and the school sum up to 350 € per person.


Applications shall include a short CV as well as a description of previous expertise in fieldwork and ecological experience. Furthermore, candidates should indicate their motivation for this school (max. 1 page).


Send application until November 6th, to both This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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