Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center
PhD Program in Plant Sciences: Alpine Ecology - International Summer
School on Alpine Plant Life
Lecturers: Prof. Christian Körner, Prof. Jürg Stöcklin, Dr. Erika Hiltbrunner (all UniBas), Prof.
Markus Fischer (UniBern)
Location: LPFOR research station, Furka Pass 2440 m asl
http://www.alpfor.ch/general.shtml)
Dates: July 17 to 23, 2016
Credit Points: 3 ECTS
Course objectives and program
For the 10th time we offer a comprehensive graduate course on alpine plant life in the Swiss
central Alps. It is jointly organized by the Universities of Basel and Bern, and the Zurich-Basel
Plant Science Center (PSC) for graduate students with basic plant science training. The course
covers microclimatology, vegetation ecology, reproduction biology, aspects of biodiversity,
soil science, ecophysiology and ecosystem ecology. Morning and evening lectures, field
excursions and team-work on small projects will make this week, in a truly alpine
environment, a life time experience. The ALPFOR research station is surrounded by a great
variety of typical alpine vegetation, including glacier forfields.
Prior knowledge/reading
Participants need to bring basic training in plant science. It is strongly recommended that
participants who had no previous training in functional ecology, work through the (free)
electronic course ALPANDINO -> http://www.alpandino.org and literature: Ch. Körner
(2003) Alpine Plant Life (2nd ed.) Springer, Berlin
Number of Participants
Participation is limited to 24 students
Registration
To secure your place early on, please make a pre-registration with franziska.grob@unibas.ch
or PSC any time prior to and until 1. March 2016. Additionally, University of Basel and Bern
graduates enroll regularly through their spring term enlisting procedure. All other graduates
(international) register with franziska.grob@unibas.ch
Costs
Participants travel on their own means to the Furka Pass. The full board costs for the 6-day
course are CHF 350 all inclusive. For PhD students enrolled with the PSC PhD Program in
'Plant Sciences' or ‘Plant Sciences and Policy’ the course costs will largely be paid by the PSC
on a first come first serve basis (up to 6 graduates). Once accepted for the course, fees are due
by 1. June 2016. Once paid, participation is confirmed.
Individual performance and assessment
Credits will be given on a pass/fail basis (active participation, design and presentation of
mini-poster).
Logistics
Participants will stay at the research station at the Furka Pass at 2440 m. Participants will
arrive Sunday afternoon (latest for dinner and welcome at 19:00) and depart Saturday
afternoon (c. 14:00). Accommodation and full board meals will be in youth hostel style. Please
make your own travel arrangement. The post bus station is called 'Furkablick'. Buses start
from either Andermatt or Oberwald. There is good mobile phone connection, but limited
WLAN.
What to bring
You will need your laptop, notebook for field notes and lecture notes, water proof mountain
boots (NO sportshoes please), slippers for indoor, sun hat, sun cream, good weather proof
cloth, towel. Small bag (rucksack) for outdoor activities. There are wool-blankets, duvets, bed
linen and pillow covers. Sleeping bags are welcome. Rooms are equipped with 3, 4 (mostly)
and 5 beds. Self-organized group arrangements for room sharing are welcome. We commonly
use the 4-bed rooms for 3 people as long as space permits.
https://botanik.unibas.ch/studium/feldkurse/