Announcements

The first seminar of new center of excellence EcolChange will take place on Monday, 23rd of May, 12.00 in room 2C5 in Metsamaja (Kreutzwaldi 5). There will be two presentations (both in English):
“Short information about the new Centre of Excellence” – Ülo Niinemets
“Field experiments in Järvselja and perspectives” – Steffen Noe, Dmitrii Krasnov

What is EcolChange?

The Centre of Excellence, EcolChange – Ecology of Global Change: natural and managed ecosystems –, is created in cooperation of two universities, Estonian University of Life Sciences and University of Tartu. The research of the Centre of Excellence covers the field of global change ecology from molecular to biome-level responses.

The EcolChange represents a synergistic network of expertise to elaborate global and local scenarios for terrestrial ecosystems in the context of global change. Through lateral integration six top-level research teams, one from Estonian University of Life Sciences and 5 from University of Tartu, contribute towards further internationalization and strengthening of the research agenda and provides the necessary resources to target national priorities in environmental and agricultural research and adaptation to climate change.

It aims to:

Integrate studies of ecosystem function, biodiversity and adaptability;

Create symbiosis between macroecological big-data, genetic and experimental approaches

Incorporate ecological knowledge into principles of adaptation to global change through sustainable ecosystem management;

Enhance ecologically sustainable economic growth via smart regional planning in forestry and agriculture: functionally diverse forests, cultivars for future climates, novel crops and sustainable nutrient cycles.

For research in the Centre of Excellence during 7 years (March 1, 2016 – March 1, 2023) is allocated 4 436 585,27 €, of which 4 214756 €  (95%) is supported by European Regional Development Fund. The EcolChange is leaded by Professor Ülo Niinemets and the leading University is Estonian University of Life Sciences. The EcolChange is one of the nine Centres of Excellenece in Science in Estonia.

Contact: tiia.kurvits@emu.ee; +372 5590 8819