COST ACTION FP-1203 “EUROPEAN NONWOOD FOREST PRODUCTS NETWORK”
Deadline for applications: 14th August

Objective
Training Schools are an important part of COST Actions and are intended to share knowledge and support collaboration. Within the scope of COST Action FP-1203 a Training School offering a general overview on methodological aspects related with non-wood forest product modelling has been prepared by Task Force 2 (Modelling).

Topics to be covered include forest modelling strategies, NWFP production, data collection and processing, statistical methods, forest simulators and optimization. The course will combine theoretical lessons, field practicals, case studies and practical computer sessions where attendees will use different statistical packages (R, SAS®) in order to solve real modelling exercises. Discussions on real data provided by the participants will be also carried out.

The course will be taught by leading scientists (listed below) on the topic. Attendees are asked to contribute to the training school and are invited to make short presentations on their own experience/research related to NFWP production or modelling.

Early Stage Researchers (ESR, for more details http://www.cost.eu/service/glossary/ESR) are particularly encouraged to attend to this Training School. Attendance certificates will be issued to the participants.

The training School objectives will be rounded out by a field trip to Valladolid province where we will visit Pinus pinea and Pinus pinaster forests devoted to pine nut and resin production.


Training School Location
The Training School will be held at University Residence Maria Cristina in El Escorial, an ancient village 50 km far from Madrid (easily accessible by train and bus), located within the foothills of the Central Range, and surrounded by Pinus and Quercus forests. The village is largely known for the famous XVIth century Monastery de El Escorial (see more information about the monastery on http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monasterio_de_San_Lorenzo_de_El_Escorial).
Accommodation will be in the University Residence Maria Cristina, where single rooms for trainers and trainees, as well as meal services, have been reserved: see http://www.rcumariacristina.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/folleto_congresos.pdf
Trainers
• Dr Jari Miina: METLA – Finnish Forest Research Institute, Joensuu, Finland
• Dr Mathieu Fortin: AgroParisTech – LERFOB, Nancy, France
• Dr Mariola Sánchez-González: INIA-CIFOR, Madrid, Spain
• Dr Fouad Mounir: ENFI, Salé, Morocco
• Dr Rafael Calama: INIA-CIFOR, Madrid, Spain (Coordinator)

Trainees requisites
MSc or PhD Students belonging to any COST countries, approved NNC institutions and approved European RTD Organizations (see COST Vademecum at www.cost.eu/participate/networking) are welcome to apply. A maximum number of 20 trainees will be selected by the Steering Committee among applicants. Criteria for selection will include: previous working experience on modelling and/or NWFP, research interest in the topic, background in statistics and forest modelling. Gender and country balance will be also taken into account. Furthermore, in accordance with COST Strategy ESR applicants will be favoured (COST doc 259/09). Trainees are asked to bring their own laptop.

Financial Support
Trainees attending the Training School will be provided a travel and subsistence grant following COST rules. The grant is intended to cover travel expenses and subsistence. Grant for cover travel expenses of the trainees can vary depending on the country of origin (e.g. domestic, near or far countries). Trainees eligible for reimbursement are those from COST countries, approved Near Neighbour Countries Institutions and approved European RTD Organisations. Please visit www.cost.eu and www.nwfps.eu to check if you are eligible.

Host Institution
Centro de Investigación Forestal - CIFOR.
Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)
Ctra. A Coruña km 7.5. 28040 Madrid, Spain
Tlf. 91 3476868 ; contact e-mail: rcalama(at)inia.es How to apply
Persons interested in apply as potential trainees should send an e-mail to rcalama(at)inia.es (with copy to luisfontes@isa.ulisboa.pt) including:
• Motivation letter
• Brief CV
• Identify your research interests in relation with the topics of the training school

Deadline
The deadline for applications is August 14th. Selected trainees will be informed no later than 21st of August.

Further information: http://www.nwfps.eu/


28.07.2014