Summer School: Blue-green biodiversity. Research and practice at the interface of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

The WSL Biodiversity Center is pleased to announce the third edition of the summer school "Blue-Green Biodiversity. Research and Practice and the Interface of Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems”, which will take place in August 2025 in Davos, Switzerland. The summer school is a collaboration between WSL and Eawag.

Freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems are closely interconnected, but they are often studied in isolation from each other. In the context of global change, it is urgent to understand how blue (water) and green (land) ecosystems are similar or different in terms of biodiversity patterns, ecological and evolutionary processes, and their responses to global drivers. Evidence-based understanding of blue-green biodiversity is necessary to inform policies and action to halt and reverse nature loss that threatens human well-being.

In response to this challenge, WSL and Eawag are collaborating to offer the "Summer School: Blue-Green Biodiversity – Research and Practice at the Interface of Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems" for the third time. Organized by the WSL Biodiversity Center, the summer school aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the linkages between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as the interdependencies between ecological and social systems. While focusing on Swiss habitats, the summer school will highlight how an integrated approach —incorporating the ecological, evolutionary, and social dimensions of blue and green ecosystems—benefits the conservation, maintenance, and restoration of biodiversity.

Program ¶

The program consists of lectures, field excursions, and group work led by WSL and Eawag researchers and invited speakers. State-of-the-art knowledge and approaches will be presented and discussed considering the expectations of current and future blue and green ecosystems from scientific, nature conservation, management, and socio-economic perspectives. The participants will reflect on their own scientific work with respect to other disciplinary methods and discuss the possible benefits of interdisciplinary approaches in their field.

The preliminary program is available here.

You can also read a summary from the 2024 edition and two participants' testimonials here.

ECTS ¶

After successfully participating in the summer school, Ph.D. students enrolled at ETH can obtain 2 ECTS points (see ETH catalog here). Students enrolled at other institutions will receive a confirmation of successful participation. However, the crediting of ECTS is subject to the home university (ECTS: European Credit Transfer System; 1 ECTS credit equals approximately 25-30 hours of work).

Target audience ¶

The Summer School is open to PhD students and postdoctoral researchers working on biodiversity and related disciplines. We also welcome applications from Master students (in their last year) if their background and motivation letter show a strong commitment to blue and/or green biodiversity research.

Participants from the summer school in 2024.

Participants from the summer school in 2023.

Application ¶

This year, we are offering two application options to accommodate different needs: 1) early application for students requiring a visa to Switzerland or external funding, and 2) regular application for all other applicants.
To apply to the summer school, please submit your CV, a motivation letter (maximum one A4 page), and your Ph.D. thesis abstract.
- Early and regular applications: please send your complete application dossier as a single PDF file to events-biodiversity(at)wsl.ch. Please specify whether it is an early or regular application in the email subject line,
Application deadline:
- Early Application: 15 March 2025
- Regular Application: 1 May 2025
All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their applications by early April 2025 (early application) or the end of May 2025 (regular application).
Before applying to the summer school, please obtain information on travel requirements and insurance. Switzerland is part of the Schengen area, and you can check the requirements in terms of identification documents and visas here. Students coming from non-EU/EFTA countries should contact the Swiss consulate or embassy in their home country to find out whether entry permits and visas are required as well as visa processing times.

Costs ¶

Fees: 700 Swiss Francs (exclusive of VAT). This includes accommodation (in shared rooms) at the Hotel Shima, meals during the Summer School, course materials, and excursions. Accepted participants are expected to bear travel costs to Davos.
Reduced fees: 175 Swiss Francs. This reduction is available for qualified participants affiliated to/working for an institution located in a Low- Income (LIC), Lower-Middle Income (LMIC) or Upper-Middle Income Country (UMIC) as per the current World Bank Country Classification. The financial support does not cover travel or visa costs. Funds are limited, so please only request a fee reduction if you don't have funding from your institution.
If you have serious and genuine difficulties paying the regular fees, please contact us. Each request will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Diversity, equity and inclusion ¶

We encourage and welcome the participation of applicants from different backgrounds in terms of gender, origin, religion and values, gender identity or sexual orientation, age, or impairment. We aim to promote a culture of respect and inclusion among all participants in our Summer School.
Students are expected to stay in shared rooms. However, if you have a need for specific hotel accommodations (due to health reasons), please contact us. Each request will be evaluated on case-by-case basis.