Mukhlish Jamal, a lecturer at the Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, was recently chosen to represent his institution at an international event. He participated in a week-long summer school organized by the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), a leading institution in Leipzig, Germany, from September 4th to 8th, 2023.
This iDiv summer school was attended by seven selected participants from various parts of the world, including countries like Mexico, Brazil, Ukraine, the Republic of Congo, India, Germany, and of course, Indonesia. These participants came from different stages in their academic and professional careers, ranging from advanced doctoral students to assistant professors. This diversity added a unique value to the learning environment, encouraging cultural exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration. The main focus of this intensive summer school was to equip participants with advanced strategies in modeling complex ecological networks and provide a profound understanding of the economic dimensions in natural resource management. Through intensive sessions, participants delved into the intricacies of modeling how human behavior influences resource extraction. These models were designed to synthesize data, yielding a comprehensive understanding of the integrated dynamics between ecological stability (including factors such as species sustainability, community biomass, and ecosystem functions) and sustainable economic outcomes (such as biomass harvest yields, generated income, and employment opportunities).
The curriculum of this course consisted of a combination of lectures, seminars, and collaborative group work, ensuring a holistic learning experience. Leading this academic journey were two renowned professors in their respective fields: Prof. Ulrich Brose, Head of the iDiv Research Group, Theory in Biodiversity Science, bringing his extensive expertise in ecological network modeling, and Prof. Martin Quaas, Head of the iDiv Research Group Biodiversity Economics, sharing valuable insights on the economic aspects of biodiversity. Guided by these leading professors, Mukhlish Jamal and fellow participants also had the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from their respective research groups, providing a practical dimension to their theoretical knowledge.
Through initiatives like the iDiv summer school, institutions such as Universitas Gadjah Mada and researchers like Mukhlish Jamal continue to contribute to the global effort to address crucial issues related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management.