Preliminary programme for the Workshops (IDS Berlin 2018), ECR election and more

Silly doodle

Workshops

As you know, if you follow this blog, we have been preparing 4 workshops for the International Diatom Symposium in Berlin. On Saturday 30th of June we will have the following workshop programmes available for you:

Young Diatomists Workshops Berlin IDS 2018

30^th June (Saturday, 9-17h)

DNA and taxonomy (9-12 h): Edward Theriot & David Mann (27 students inscriptions on May 16th)

Lectures (2 hours)

1.      Taxon selection, alignment, phylogenetic analysis and hypothesis testing – theoretical, conceptual part (E. Theriot)

·         Case studies

2.      Validation and vouchering (metadata) of sequences, and the limitations of GenBank (D. Mann)

·         Case studies

Open discussion and questions (1 hour)

Based on student´s expectations, we would like to have an open discussion about opportunities and challenges of DNA and taxonomy on diatom studies. We are thinking in asking attendants to present themselves in a couple of sentences to get an essence of their research. Also, they can think of 1-2 questions in advance for being discussed during the workshop.

---

Ecology and Bioindication (14-17h): Maria Kahlert & Rosa Trobajo (30 student inscriptions on May 16th) COMPLETE!

Presentations (30 min)

1.        Brief presentation of M. Kahlert & R. Trobajo about their field of research (10 min)

2.        Students presentation (max 20 min)

·         participants are asked to prepare a very brief presentation of a couple of sentences (such as where are they working and their research topic or interest)  

Lectures (1 hour 15 min)

1.      Present and future (M. Kahlert & R. Trobajo):

·         Classical biomonitoring: brief introduction, freshwater vs. brackish habitats, gaps in understanding (eg. species ecology is not always certain; taxonomists and ecologists often seen each other as adversaries; species identification often shoe-horned by the few floristic books available; species biogeography poorly tested; ecological traits, etc)

·         Metabarcoding: Brief introduction; brief presentation of the main developments; challenges and opportunities

2.      Past and present (X. Benito-Granell):

·         Time as a continuum in ecological indication

·          Qualitative and quantitative approaches

Open discussion (45 min)

---

How to publish and review a paper (9-12 h): Eileen J. Cox (26 student inscriptions on May 16th)

Introduction (30 min)

1.      History of the Diatom Research journal

Lectures (2 hours)

1. Writing a paper and making it publishable (1h)
2. Review a paper (1h)

Round table discussion and participants experiences (30 min)

Based on student's expectations, the main focus will be on how to review a paper, main length characteristics for articles and amount of information needed per publication

---

Palaeoecology + statistics (14-17h): Suzanne McGowan (23 student inscriptions on May 16th)

Content

This workshop will discuss how diatoms in lake sediment cores can be used for the reconstruction of past environments. The focus will be on freshwater environments, but we will also consider how changes in marine and terrestrial environments can be inferred using diatom assemblages. We will explore how lake sediments are deposited, considering processes of taphonomy and chronological control to provide a critical overview of the interpretation of sedimentary records. The workshop will highlight key palaeolimnological literature, which has been pivotal in the development of the research area. There will be an introduction to the different approaches for interpreting environmental change using diatom records, including multivariate analyses, transfer functions, multi-proxy studies, benthic: pelagic comparisons, functional attributes/ traits and sedDNA. Availability of data sources to access diatom ecological information will be discussed. The focus of the workshop will be on problem solving for participants, who will be invited to discuss their research challenges, ending with a round table discussion.  

Lectures

1. The principles of palaeoecology (30 min)

·         Including taphonomy, chronology

2.      Diatoms in environmental reconstruction  (30 min)

·         Case studies from freshwater, marine and terrestrial environments

Contributions from participants: flash presentations (15 minutes)

3.      Approaches to environmental reconstruction (45 minutes)

·         Multivariate analysis, transfer functions, multi-proxy studies, benthic: pelagic comparisons, functional attributes/ traits and sedDNA

Contributions from participants: flash presentations (30 minutes)

Round table discussion (30 minutes)

If we have whetted your appetite and you are not yet listed, please consider enrolling via this link. The deadline has been extended until June 15th 2018. But, the maximum occupation is of 30 students per class, so hurry up if you want to participate at the Ecology/Bioindication workshop.

ECR election: Remember, that on Thursday 28th we will have an election on the Early Carrer Representative (ECR) of Young ISDR.

An early career researcher (ECR) representative should be someone who is a member of ISDR and also has no more than 4 years since completing his/her PhD (means student or Postdoc). An ECR would be elected for a period of 2 years and should be working with diatoms in any related topic. From now on, elections of the ECR will take place every two years during the YSM at the following symposium.

A potential ECR candidate does not have to participate in the symposium to be elected. If you would like to become an ECR representative for ISDR Council but you are not be able to attend the 2018 symposium in Berlin, we will be very happy to receive your applications and present them during the IDS on your behalf. Emails with a short personal introduction (also with relation to diatoms) and your intentions/ideas should be sent until the 31st May 2018 to: youngdiatomists@gmail.com. If you participate in the IDS, you can spontaneously apply then and there, but ideas would be welcome 😉.

Speedtalks:

You still have time to apply to make a 2-3 minute Speedtalk (or song, rap, painting, etc.) until June 15th 2018. 11 applicants so far.