Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, Helsinki, Finland, 29-31 August 2012

Climate change Adaptation - Analysis, Planning and Implementation

A PhD Workshop on 26-28 August 2012 in Helsinki, directly linked to the 2^nd Nordic International Climate Change Adaptation Conference, 29-31 August 2012, Helsinki

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Context

Two Nordic Networks (NONAM and NORDCLAD-Net) are jointly organizing a conference on climate change adaptation (see: http://www.nordicadaptation2012.net/). In addition the two networks offer PhD students in the Nordic countries the opportunity to take part in a two-day workshop.

NONAM stands for NOrdic Network on Adaptive Management and NORDCLAD-Net for NORDic CLimate change ADaptation research Network. Both networks are funded by Nordforsk's Top-level Research Initiative: http://www.toppforskningsinitiativet.org/en/programmer-1/program-1

The PhD Workshop organizers are:

Adriaan Perrels (Finnish Meteorological Institute; Conference co-chair; NONAM project leader)

Jens Christian Refsgaard (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland; NONAM core member)

Ingrid Nesheim (University of Oslo; MILEN; NORDCLAD-Net core member)

Henningh Høgh Jensen (KFT, Aarhus University; NORDCLAD-Net core member)

Sigrún Karlsdottir (Iceland Meteorological Office; NONAM core member)

Oskar Wallgren (SEI Stockholm Environment Institute; NORDCLAD-Net project leader)

Michael Goodsite (Aarhus University; Nordic Center of Excellence NORDSTAR – director)

Themes

The themes of the PhD Workshop are linked to the first four theme areas of the Conference, which are listed at the Conference website as: (1) Risk assessment and impact response, (2) Vulnerability and adaptive capacity, (3) Building resilience, and (4) Policy development and implementation. However, an additional focus that cuts across these four themes is also pursued for the PhD Workshop, relating to:

Decision making, decision support models and procedures and processes applied in analyzing, planning and implementing adaptation to climate change.

Virtually all sub-themes mentioned in the Conference call, as well as many others not described, can be related to the practical uptake of adaptation. Studies, that address sectoral or regional dimensions of adaptation, are of particular interest.

Character of the Workshop

The purpose of the Workshop is to offer PhD students an opportunity to review in depth selected themes and aspects of their dissertation research. When applying, students are requested to indicate their PhD study theme and title, and then to formulate two questions they would like to present and have discussed during the workshop (e.g. relating to dilemmas they face in the approach, structure, analysis or interpretation of their study). Small clusters of 3 or 4 related dissertation projects will be discussed and reviewed with the aid of experts in parallel sessions. Following acceptance and registration for the Workshop, every PhD student will be allocated a mentor from the pool of experts. Each cluster will receive several assignments for group work. The Workshop will also include 2 or 3 lectures of 45 minutes from international specialists on climate change adaptation. As a concrete output of the group work, a selection of PhD students will be offered the opportunity to make a short plenary presentation during the conference.

Criteria for application

Applications are invited from PhD student who fulfill the following two criteria: (1) their PhD study should be carried out at and supervised by a university or research institute in one of the Nordic countries, and (2) their dissertation should not yet be submitted for final (external) review by the time the Workshop is held. PhD students with a social science angle to their PhD study (e.g. sociology, economics, business administration, psychology, anthropology, political science, human geography) are especially encouraged to apply, but applications from students with a background in subjects such as civil engineering, architecture, urban ecology and law, whose studies match the theme areas described above, are equally welcome.

Venue / Costs / Registration

The PhD workshop will be organized at the same venue as the Adaptation Conference, i.e. Rantapuisto Conference Centre and Hotel, Helsinki. It will begin on Sunday evening with an informal get-together. The Monday and Tuesday will be full day programmes, running from 9-18.

NONAM and NORDCLAD-Net will cover all of the local costs (accommodation, including the period of the conference, meals and course rooms) as well as the Conference registration fee. Funding for travel costs must be organized by the participants themselves.

Applications should be submitted using the Application Form (download here), after filling the Word file, please send it to adriaan.perrels@fmi.fi and c.c. to vaino.nurmi@fmi.fi

Applications close on 25 April 2012 at 6 pm EEST(1). All applicants will be notified of the decision before 5 May 2012.

NB!! Only applications of PhD students located at and supervised by a Nordic university or Nordic research institute (2) will be taken into consideration. There is NO provision to take in students from other areas or to provide any other kind of support.

Questions

In case of further questions, please send an e-mail to adriaan.perrels@fmi.fi.

(1) EEST = Eastern European Summer Time (= CEST + 1 and BST + 2)
(2) Denmark, Finland Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and affiliated territories