Catchment management positions at the Macaulay Institute closing date 27th November 2009

Senior catchment modeller, environmental biogeochemist, environmental ecological economist, hydrologist, environmental scientist and environmental data coordinator.

CatSci final conference 2nd December 2009

Final reminder for conference to be held on 2 December at The Showroom in Sheffield, entitled "Contribution of research to Catchment Management". Find out how our Marie Curie Fellows have increased the understanding of the connections and interactions between the different catchment components, and spend a pleasant day with other people who are involved with catchment management.

I am happy to answer any questions you might have. Jenny Chambers PA to Prof D N Lerner Kroto Research Institute North Campus Broad Lane Sheffield S3 7HQ Tel 0114 222 5725Fax 0114 222 5701.

Nature paper: A safe operating space for humanity

A recent feature in the journal Nature (Rockstrom et al. 24th Sept 2009) has highlighted critical biophysical thresholds that could have disastrous consequences for humanity. Disturbance of the global nitrogen and phosphorus cycles aretwo key aspects.

IWAM policy driven focus-group learning session on Buffer strips

We recently held a policy driven focus-group learning session in support of a Defra consultation on agricultural buffer strips. The aim of the session was oo provide Defra staff with expert and practical advice on the science of buffer strip design, performance (for diffuse substances e.g. nutrients, particles and PPP) and management.

NeWater Curriculum

Useful series of online courses on Adaptive River basin Management.

The NeWater Project Announces:
*Teaching Adaptive Water Management
A Training Course for Instructors*

12-14 May 2009
UN Campus, Bonn, Germany

Hosted by the UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security

The two-day training course is intended to familiarize university instructors with the teaching material provided in the Online Curriculum - Adaptive River Basin Management.

The course will focus on both content of the modules, as well as the use of the materials in designing new programmes or incorporating these into the teaching curricula of the instructors who participate in the course. In addition, participants will learn about approaches to and methods for teaching Adaptive Water Management.

Prof Beddington presentation at SDUK09

Prof Beddington (UK Government Chief Scientific Advisor) presented his take on the challenges we face nationally and globally at the Sustainable Development UK Conference,his presentation is now available.

" I will leave you with some key questions. Can nine billion people be fed? Can we cope with the demands in the future on water? Can we provide enough energy? Can we do it, all that, while mitigating and adapting to climate change? And can we do all that in 21 years time? That's when these things are going to start hitting in a really big way. We need to act now. We need investment in science and technology, and all the other ways of treating very seriously these major problems. 2030 is not very far away. "

Video interview with Robert Chambers from IDS on Learning

Robert Chambers from the Institute of Development Studies (University of Sussex) is one of the pioneers of participatory approaches for sustainable agriculture and development. Interview done in Cali in April 2008, during the Learning Laboratory Meeting. Produced by Cristina Douthwaite.