Public lecture on "Research efforts to narrow the gap between scientific knowledge and policy making in ecosystems"
February 19, 2015 | 10:00 h - 11:00 h
We cordially invite you to our next Public Lecture with the following speaker:
Prof. Yowhan Son, Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul
on “Research efforts to narrow the gap between scientific knowledge and policy making in ecosystems - an introduction to research activities of Ecosystem Ecology Lab, Korea University”
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2015, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Venue: Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung / Center for Development Research (ZEF), Walter-Flex-Straße 3, 53113 Bonn (see <link>map). Room 2.056.
Abstract:
Ecosystem Ecology Lab at Korea University conducts various ecosystem-related research projects ranging from basic researches, such as long-term ecological data collection, to applied researches for up-to-date knowledge to meet the societal needs. Research topics include the following: forest carbon distribution and cycling in temperate and tropical forests, coarse woody debris (CWD) dynamics, effects of open-field artificial warming and precipitation manipulation on seed germination and seedling growth, forest soil carbon modeling, thinning effects on belowground carbon storage, soil amendments for arid and semi-arid regions, basic research for Aral Sea area forestry cooperation, afforestation/reforestation clean development mechanism (A/R CDM), and public private partnership (PPP). Major research objectives/goals for the above topics are: 1) quantifying and predicting carbon distribution and cycling for various forest ecosystems, 2) identifying eco-physiological responses of seeds and seedlings under warming condition and precipitation manipulation and suggesting implications for selecting plantation tree species and nursery management to future climate change, 3) simulating forest carbon change to climate change and management practices, 4) reporting changes in carbon storage in forest floor, soils and CWD after thinning and suggesting a proper thinning intensity to increase belowground carbon storage, 5) recommending appropriate soil treatments for artificial plantations in arid and semi-arid regions, 6) suggesting an ecosystem management plan for the dry Aral Seabed in Kazakhstan, 7) preparing A/R CDM project design document (PDD) and registering PDD to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and 8) proposing feasible approaches for international forestry PPP to relevant Korean government agencies. Although these findings and implications contribute to expand scientific knowledge and provide basic information and practical guidelines for policy making in forestry, further field application-oriented research in conjugation with pure-science-oriented research would be needed to narrow the gap between scientific knowledge and policy making. In addition, efforts are needed to develop a close partnership between scientists and policy makers to reshape research/policy objectives and long-term goals and to redefine them in response to changing socioeconomic and environmental conditions.
Speaker:
Prof. Yowhan Son is the Professor of Ecosystem Ecology at Korea University in Seoul, Korea. He holds the Ph.D. degree in forest ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. Prof. Son has been the policy advisor to Korea Forest Service, Ministry of Environment and the Fellow of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology. Since 2010 Prof. Son has served as the Director of Global Carbon Project-Korea Office. He published more than 200 peer-reviewed journal papers (>80 SCI listed journals) and 10 books on various aspects of forest ecology, including carbon and nitrogen cycling, and impacts of climate change and desertification.
Entrance to the lecture is free, no registration is required. We are looking forward to seeing you at ZEF on February 19!
