Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin

Panel Discussion: New Bridges between Ecology and Society – Japanese and European Experiences at the Science-Policy Interface

Starts at 7 pm at Potsdam University, Campus Griebnitzsee, Haus 6, August-Bebel-Str. 89, 14482 Potsdam
(Entrance to Haus 6 via Prof.-Dr.-Helmert-Straße)

Language: English

Welcome: Dr. Friederike BOSSE (Japanese-German Center Berlin)

Introduction: Dr. Stefan HOTES (Philipps-University Marburg)

Speakers:
Prof. Dr. MATSUDA Hiroyuki  (Yokohama National University)
          Bottom-up Approach in Local Management of Biosphere Reserves
Prof. Dr. Volkmar WOLTERS (Justus-Liebig-University Giessen)
Prof. Anantha Kumar DURAIAPPAH (United Nations University Bonn)
          Strengthening the Science-Policy Interface - Beyond Rhetoric

Chair: Prof. Dr. Jasmin JOSHI (Potsdam University)

The relationship between science and politics is not an easy one, some may even deny that the two spheres have common interests. While research is concentrated on generating knowledge, an endeavour that may take time, politics has to solve - often complex – problems, in as little time as possible. In order to find suitable solutions, knowledge is indispensable. Probably everybody will agree that decisions should be based on solid facts that have been tested using transparent methods rather than on gut feelings. The discussion will focus on the question in what fields, to what extent and through which mechanisms, ecological research can contribute to finding solutions for complex problems like biodiversity loss and climate change that are linked in many ways to social and economic problems like poverty and unequal access to resources. In order to achieve comprehensive solutions, ecologists have to work with colleagues from different disciplines as well as with diverse stakeholders from non-academic backgrounds. The fundamental question that arises from this is how the necessary bridges can be built, and this will be discussed with a special focus on Japan and European countries.

MATSUDA Hiroyuki is Professor at the Faculty of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University. His research encompasses studies of adaptive management and co-management of marine protected areas, risk analysis and game theory. He is President of the Ecological Society of Japan, the East Asian Federation of Ecological Societies, and the Society for Conservation of Fisheries Resources and Marine Environment and member in several other organizations.

Volkmar WOLTERS is Professor of Animal Ecology and Systematic Zoology at Giessen University. The research of Prof. Wolters and his team focuses on soil ecology, animal diversity, landscape ecology and molecular ecology. He is President of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GfÖ) and vice-dean of the Faculty of Biology and Chemistry.

Prof. Anantha DURAIAPPAH is Executive Director of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change, a joint programme of the International Council for Science, the International Social Science Council and the United Nations University. He is an experienced environmental-development economist whose work largely focuses on the equity of access and use of ecosystem services. In his previous post as Chief of the Ecosystem Services and Economics Unit of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Prof. DURAIAPPAH helped to initiate the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and has since then played a pivotal role in its recent approval.

The panel discussion is organized by the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB) and the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GfÖ) and will take place in the framework of the Annual Meeting 2013 of the GfÖ at  Potsdam University.

Participation at the panel discussion is free if you send your registration (Name, Institution, Position) to the Japanese-German Center Berlin, att. Tatjana Wonneberg twonneberg@jdzb.de before August 31, 2013.

Downloads

 echo104e-interview-hotes.pdf (51 K)

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