1st Mid-European Summer School on Geomorphology: Complex Response of Earth Surface Processes to Environmental Change

Funded by VolkswagenStiftung (Az.: I/85 241)

Date and duration: 2010, 6 days, September 26 to October 2, 2010
Venue: Kernsmühle, historical mill (1560 AD) with conference facilities
City: Heimbuchenthal (70 km from Frankfurt International Airport)

Impressions:

30 participants from UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, China and Germany attended the Summer School

13 lecturers from UK, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Germany gave key note talks and guided through the turorials and field courses

"Hands on" field courses in small groups introduced the participants to different geophysical, stratigraphical, dating and  laserscanning techniques.

"Hands on" modelling and geostatistics courses introduced the participants into spatial data analysis and spatial modelling in complex geomorphological systems.

Small working groups had to prepare and outline their approaches to key questions on the geomorphological system understanding with respect to 8000 years of enhanced erosion and sedimentation at the study site.

All modules were evaluated in detail by the applicants (Here overall appreciation of the SSOG).

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Team:

Applicants and Organisation:

Dr. M. Krautblatter, Geomorphology and Environmental Systems, Geography, University of Bonn, D.
Dr. W. Schwanghart, Physical Geography and Environmental Change, Geography, University of Basel, CH.
Dr. T. Heckmann, Physical Geography, Geography, University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, D.
Dipl.Geogr. A. Kranz, Institute for Ecosystem Research, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, D.

Organisation assistance:

P. Oberender and C. Halla, Geomorphology and Environmental Systems, Geography, University of Bonn, D.

Short description:
Geomorphological research plays a key role in a rapidly evolving field of research that focuses on Earth surface dynamics. In times of global change, geomorphology can act to improve the understanding of physical, biological, chemical and anthropogenic processes and their interactions which form and transform the earth surface. Reductionist concepts that help to model particular phenomena and processes have evolved fast over the last decade. We outline that complexity research shows a way to coalesce reductionist concepts into a more general understanding of earth surface dynamics.

The 1st Mid-European Summer School on Geomorphology (SSOG) brings together a team of young aspiring scientists and renowned complexity researchers from different scientific disciplines and backgrounds. The SSOG will address theory building, the derivation of hypotheses, data gathering and analysis as well as upscaling and modeling strategies in the context of complexity research. In a “hands on” approach at the research supersite “Kirschgraben”, the participants are introduced to novel methodological approaches such as OSL-dating, anthracology, laserscanning, 3D near surface geophysics, data processing and landscape evolution modeling (using CAESAR).

Next to the excellent learning environment, members of the SSOG will be given the opportunity to establish contacts with key players in international complexity research. We expect that the SSOG will be a stepping stone for young scientists into this rapidly evolving field of research and will help to boost the scientific career of the participants. The SSOG will initialize a series of SSOGs that will particularly focus on specific interactions of complex geomorphological systems with particular poles of interaction, such as the human-environment interaction.

All elected 30 participants will be fully funded during the venue  in terms of accommodation and breakfast/dinner in the Hotel zur Linde and conference facilities including lunch package and coffee in the historical Kernsmühle.

Preparing material will be sent to the participants one month in advance to the beginning of summer school. The material consists of a more detailed outline of the summer school programme, a number of research questions addressed during the summer school, and key papers (made available as pdf files) to be read by all participants. The preparing material also includes a distribution of the SAGA GIS package including software documentation and a short introductory tutorial (with an example) on the statistics software R.

The summer school aims at beginning and advanced PhD-students and Post-Docs (including habilitation candidates). The applicants are required to send their curriculum vitae together with a letter of motivation referring also to their current scientific work.

The election committee will rank applications with respect to the following criteria:

(i) The research interests and/or the subject of their scientific work should suggest that the successful applicant will benefit from participating in the summer school. Conversely, the group will also benefit from the specific contributions of the participants. Hence, the group of participants should include scholars with different methodological background (e.g. analysis of sedimentary archives, geoarchaeology, chronometry, process geomorphology, geophysics, geostatistics, numerical modeling).

(ii) The committee aims at an appropriate ratio of advanced scientists (Post-Docs, Habilitation candidates) and PhD-students at different stage of their career as well as a balanced gender ratio.

(iii) Participants must intend an academic career.

A restricted number of applicants from neighbouring countries is highly welcome.

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