Call for proposals for a training course in taxonomy and systematics of African pollinating flies'

Source	Africa museum
Release date	20/05/2019
Geographical coverage	Sub-Saharan Africa
Keywords	taxonomy, systematics, pollinating flies

Context

Agroecology aims at strongly reducing the impact of control methods on the ecosystem while having a positive effect on beneficial organisms such as pollinators. Plant-pollinator networks describe the complex interactions between pollinators and flowering plant, and among plants and pollinators.
Several fly families (Diptera) belong to the most important pollinators of a variety of plant species, including agricultural crops; and thus are an important aspect of plant-pollinator networks. Their significance may even be increasing due to a worldwide decline in other pollinator groups such as bees and butterflies.
However, the identification of these dipteran groups is not easy and requires a specific training. In addition, some ground level knowledge on how to assemble data of use for studying basic ecological aspects of agroecology and plant-pollinator networks, is a prerequisite in any applied program.
By means of this basic training, local specialists will be less dependent on exterior expertise in this respect and will be able to carry out independent research.
This training is organized by two institutions: the Invertebrates Section of the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Belgium, and the Sokoine Pest Management Centre, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Tanzania.
Teachers are Dr. Ashley H. Kirk-Spriggs (Natural History Museum, London, UK), Dr. John M. Midgley (Kwa-Zulu Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) and Dr. Kurt Jordaens (Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium).

Profile of participants

The training can receive 12 participants, among whom researchers and employees who are confronted with pollinating flies on a professional level.
They may be employees from agricultural institutes, professors of agricultural faculties, researchers from national institutions, PhD students, post docs, etc.
Participants must have a minimum level of knowledge in basic Diptera ecology (to be detailed in the motivation letter).
The candidates’ maximum age at the moment of the training is not to exceed 45 years and special attention is given to the participation of women.

Admission requierements

Only applications from people with residence in Sub-Saharan Africa and working for an institution, NGO, ministry, research institute or university can be taken into consideration. Applications from consultants or individuals cannot be accepted.
Candidates must be citizens of one of the following countries: Benin, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. 

Scientists with a diploma other than MSc or PhD. should demonstrate a record of substantial work related to the subject that is presented (Diptera of the target families; plant-pollinator networks, etc.).
All applications will be subject to an evaluation by internal experts.
The training staff may formulate specific conditions for sharing existing data with successful applicants.

See documents for application.

Please note that this information has expired.