Courses with reduced fee for PE&RC PhDs

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the broad ranges of approaches to the practice and policy of biodiversity conservation present in different chair groups across the university. While many of us are centrally concerned to research and support conservation, we do so from quite diverse perspectives, and currently there is very little dialogue or direct cooperation across the different silos.

During the course the participants build on their own experiences in individual preparation and in group exercises and exchange. The lecturers will give input through supportive reading and instructional materials and in short lecturing blocks in class. They will build on examples of approaches as developed in support of Inclusive leadership, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI), Decolonizing efforts, Intercultural communication, Social Safety, Crossing Boundaries, Inclusive language and imaginary and Transdisciplinary and Transformative Methods. Throughout the course the participants learn to assess and build upon relevant approaches to develop their own leadership style and profile.

As a future scientist in the life sciences, it is important that PhD students have an insight into the debates around the relationship between human beings, animals, and nature, to understand their meaning and to learn to participate in these debates. This course will provide students with a systematic overview of the key topics of animal and environmental ethics. Specific attention is given to the ethical assessment of animal experiments and the tension between individualist animal ethics and collectivist environmental ethics. Attention is also given to the cultural background of normativity and the ethical aspects of the PhD students’ own research projects.

Effective behaviour means getting the best out of yourself. This is achieved by understanding your own strengths and weaknesses and continually striving to improve and grow, both professionally and personally. In this interactive course you develop personal and professional leadership skills to successfully work on your PhD project and beyond.