„Molecular Ecosystem Sciences“ joins molecular biology and ecosystem research

“Molecular Ecosystem Sciences” is the first Bachelor programme of the University of Göttingen, taught entirely in English. The programme is provided by the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology and leads after six full-time semesters to the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.). The 3-year programme starts in the winter semester 2011/2012 and aims at students from the EU and overseas.



“The complex nature of ecosystems is a main challenge for researchers worldwide”, says the coordinator of the Programme, Prof. Fr. Reiner Finkeldey, Head of the Department of Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding. “This complexity promotes thinking in broad contexts, research networks and interdisciplinary subject areas”. The programme is taught completely in English, and we aim for a very international group of highly motivated and qualified students, including students from Germany, other European countries and abroad”, says Prof. Finkeldey. A full semester has been reserved for elective modules, and students are encouraged to spend this semester at partner universities abroad to further strengthen their international profile. “Our students will be exposed in a very early stage of their studies to an international academic environment and the most recent developments of the fields Ecology and molecular bio-sciences”.
Students of molecular ecosystem sciences will gain diverse and advanced knowledge in natural sciences and related disciplines; they will learn molecular methods and get practical experience in the laboratories and on field trips. “If we want to understand what ecosystems are and how they operate, we have to dig deep, and if we dig very deep, we will find molecules with particular functions. These molecules interact with each other, and they are eventually responsible for the reactions of a cell, a tissue, an organism or even an ecosystem ultimately leading to environmental change”, explains Prof. Finkeldey. “This understanding is urgently needed to cope with human induced global change and to keep ecosystems, their functions and their services intact”.


Contact:
Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey
Abteilung Forstgenetik und Forstpflanzenzüchtung
Büsgenweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen
Phone +49 / 551 / 39-3532, Fax +49 / 551 / 39-8367
E-Mail: mes@gwdg.de