Farming and food systems as social ecological systems - integrated assessment for resilience and adaptive capacity

4 ECTS (1 ECTS ~ 25-30 hours work load)

The overall aim of the course is to introduce PhD students with conceptual frameworks and methodological approaches of studying farming and food systems as social ecological systems, and integrated assessment for sustainability of these.

The key learning goals include conceptual modelling of agri-food systems as social ecological systems, tools for their integrated assessment, and resilience and adaptive capacity as key parameters of sustainability of such systems. Along the rationale of the NOVA agroecology network (see e.g. Francis et al. 2003), an emphasis is in applications relevant not just to mainstream systems, but also to organic/ecological systems.

Course responsible 
Professor Juha Helenius, Helsinki University, Finland

Course teachers
Professor Tor Arvid Breland, UMB, Norway

Senior scientist Mette Vaarst, AU Denmark

Associate professor Vibeke Langer, LIFE/KU, Denmark

Invited teachers

Martin van Ittersum, WUR, Associate Professor, plant production systems, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Charles Redman, Arizona State University, Director, School of Sustainability, and Professor, School of Human Evolution and Social Change

Reimund Rötter, Agri-Food Research Finland, Adjunct Professor, Docent of agroecology, University of Helsinki

Course description

The course consists of a pre-course assignment 1-31 May, and an intensive course 13-18 June.

Course schedule

Scientific description

Pedagogical approach

The pedagogical approach is based on a concept developed over the series of earlier courses of the Agro-ecology network, consisting of the following four elements:
• A good preparation of participants ensures a high level at the course. Thus, a pre-course assignment must be accepted before coming to the intensive course period.
• A research-based learning environment is sought by linking to an internationally recognized research examples, by eminent guest teachers. Creativity is facilitated by including conceptual frameworks stemming from a range of disciplines.
• A high degree of interactions during the intensive course period is sought by integrating windows of interaction with invited experts, interactions among participants through walk-and-talk and discussion topics.
• Ownership of own learning is sought by using a tool that has proven its value during the previous courses of the Agro-ecology network, which is that the participants apply what they learned in developing research proposal (group work) which is being defended in front of all participants.

Registration

Deadline for registration is April 19th.

Registration by e-mail to Taina Mäkinen (taina.makinen @ helsinki.fi)

Please download the application form, fill in and send to Taina.

If there are more applicants than we can accept at the course, the 
selection is made by motivation. The participants are expected to have a basic understanding of issues of ecological sustainability in its socio-economic and cultural context in farming and food systems.

 

Cost and fees

The table below shows the differentiated model for payment, which is a NOVA condition for the grant. SOAR PhD students from non-NOVA universities will be paid for by SOAR. Accommodation covers food and lodging. Travel costs are not covered.  

NOVA Universities are:

LIFE, DJF, HU-AF, HU-V, UEF-F, LBHI, UMB, NVH, SLU

See list at NOVA website

BOVA Universities are:
EMU, LLU, LZUU, LVA
See list at BOVA website
 

Venue

Tvärminne Zoological station is situated in south coast of Finland, 
about 100 km from Helsinki.

The place is surrounded by nature conservation areas and sea, and nature there is unique!

More information (in english) of Tvärminne station can be found here: 
http://luoto.tvarminne.helsinki.fi/english/index.htm