Forests as complex systems field course – Draft Itinerary
General issues;
Course Date and Venue
September 24 – 29, 2017 at the Vallembrosa Forest, Tuscani, Italy
Notes regarding logistics
The course is held at the Forest of Vallembrosa in Tuscani, Italy. Students are responsible for their own travel to the Florence airport. Transportation from Florence or the airport are organized by the University of Florence. We will be staying in rooms at the Abbey, which have been reserved for course participants from Sunday night to Friday morning. Meals are included and are prepared by a cook onside.
Transportation during the week will be provided in passenger vans reserved for the course participants.
Itinerary
For preparation, at home institution:
Monday September 4 – Readings available on web, assignments and discussion groups open, assignments due on Sept, 6, 8, 13, and 15. Discussion group participation continuously throughout the two weeks. Review paper due on Sept. 15.
Field class in Italy:
Sunday September 24 – Participant arrival and settling into rooms
Monday September 25 – Main activity: Visit the Vallembrosa Forest
8:00-10:00 – Introductions and description of the week’s activities; distribution of group assignments
10:00 – 10:30 – Break; gather up personal items in preparation for field excursion
10:30 – 17:00 – Tour of managed forests in the surrounding region led by a local forester; picnic lunch
17:30 – return to Vallembrosa Abbey
18:00 – 19:30 – Supper
19:30 – 21:00 – Informal research presentations, beginning with Christian Messier; students are welcome to volunteer to present their research projects for input and feedback from the group
Tuesday September 26 – Main activity: Exercises #1 & 2, Location: Research station Vallembrosa Abbey
8:00 - 8:15 – Announcements and presentation of the day’s activities
8:15 – 10:30 – Groups work on Exercises #1 & 2
10:30 – 11:00 – Break
11:00 – 12:00 – Groups reconvene and share ideas with other groups; discuss challenges encountered
12:00 – 14:00 – Lunch & free time
14:00 – 15:30 – Groups work on completing Exercises #1 & 2 and preparing presentations
15:30 -15:45 – Break
15:45 – 17:00 – Presentations of Exercises #1 & 2
17:00 – 19:30 – Supper and free time
19:30 – 21:00 – Informal research presentations beginning with Lael Parrott; students are welcome to volunteer to present their research projects for input and feedback from the group
Wednesday September 27 – Main activity: Exercise #3, Location: Vallembrosa Abbey
8:00 - 8:15 – Announcements and presentation of the day’s activities
8:15 – 10:30 – Groups work on Exercise #3
10:30 – 11:00 – Break
11:00 – 12:00 – Groups reconvene and share ideas with other groups; discuss challenges encountered
12:00 – 14:00 – Lunch & free time
14:00 – 15:30 – Groups work on completing Exercise #3 and preparing presentations
15:30 -15:45 – Break
15:45 – 17:00 – Presentations of Exercise #3
17:00 – 19:30 – Supper and free time
19:30 – 21:00 – Informal research presentations beginning with Klaus Puettmann; students are welcome to volunteer to present their research projects for input and feedback from the group
Thursday September 28 – Main activity: Exercise #4, Location: Vallembrosa Abbey
8:00 - 8:15 – Announcements and presentation of the day’s activities
8:15 – 10:30 – Groups work on Exercise #4
10:30 – 11:00 – Break
11:00 – 15:30 – Optional activity: forest hike, continued discussion of exercise #4; picnic lunch
15:30 -15:45 – Break
15:45 – 17:00 – Groups work on completing Exercise #4 and preparing presentations
17:00 – 19:30 – Supper and free time
19:30 – 21:00 – Informal research presentations beginning with Susanna Nocentini; students are welcome to volunteer to present their research projects for input and feedback from the group
Friday September 29 – Main activity: Exercise #4 completion and end of course, Location: Vallembrosa Abbey
8:00 - 8:15 – Announcements and presentation of the day’s activities
8:15 – 10:30 – Groups prepare presentations of Exercise #4
10:30 – 10:45 – Break
10:45 – 12:00 – Groups reconvene, present Exercise #4; general discussion & course summary
12:00 – 14:00 – Lunch & pack up personal belongings; tidy rooms
14:00 – 16:00 - Course critique and overview
16:00 - Departure