Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território da Universidade de Lisboa
After the recent reorganization of the University of Lisbon, the newly created Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT) has integrated the Centre of Geographical Studies (CEG). The CEG, founded in 1943, is the largest R&D unit for geographical research in the Portugal. It comprises over 150 researchers, including 56 researchers holding a PhD, who, through their high quality research and their participation in national and international scientific cooperation networks, have turned CEG-UL into a research unit of excellence in several domains of theoretical and applied Geography. The recognition of the R&D activity is also perceptible by the innumerous consultancy contracts, studies in spatial and land use planning in Portugal and abroad, including international projects and networks of excellence and partnerships with public entities. Without disregard for integrated or interdisciplinary research, which is of crucial importance for spatial and land use planning, the research activity of CEG is carried out by the following research groups:
Environmental Hazard and Risk Assessment and Management
Climate and Environmental Changes
Antarctic Environments and Climate Change
History and Teaching of Geography and Cartography
Migration, Spaces and Societies
Modeling, Urban and Regional Planning
Territorial Strategies and Policies Research Cluster
Urban Studies
Coastal and Fluvial Systems: Dynamics, Environmental Changes and Management
Tourism, Culture and Space
After the recent reorganization of the University of Lisbon, the newly created Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT) has integrated the Centre of Geographical Studies (CEG). The CEG, founded in 1943, is the largest R&D unit for geographical research in the Portugal. It comprises over 150 researchers, including 56 researchers holding a PhD, who, through their high quality research and their participation in national and international scientific cooperation networks, have turned CEG-UL into a research unit of excellence in several domains of theoretical and applied Geography. The recognition of the R&D activity is also perceptible by the innumerous consultancy contracts, studies in spatial and land use planning in Portugal and abroad, including international projects and networks of excellence and partnerships with public entities. Without disregard for integrated or interdisciplinary research, which is of crucial importance for spatial and land use planning, the research activity of CEG is carried out by the following research groups:
Environmental Hazard and Risk Assessment and Management
Climate and Environmental Changes
Antarctic Environments and Climate Change
History and Teaching of Geography and Cartography
Migration, Spaces and Societies
Modeling, Urban and Regional Planning
Territorial Strategies and Policies Research Cluster
Urban Studies
Coastal and Fluvial Systems: Dynamics, Environmental Changes and Management
Tourism, Culture and Space
Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV)
Since its creation in 1969, the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) has gathered wide experience and tradition in teaching and research, which are the foundation of its work philosophy. UFV has always been concerned about the promotion of vertical teaching integration and works effectively to achieve it.
Traditionally, the UFV is known and respected in Brazil and abroad especially for the Agrarian Sciences, which is the most developed area in the UFV. In spite of the emphasis on agriculture and livestock, UFV has expanded into other areas of knowledge: Biological and Health Sciences, Exact and Technological Sciences, Human Sciences, Languages and Arts. This position is in line with the concept of modern university, which considers that the interaction of several areas optimizes results.
Among the UFV faculty members, we find foreign researchers who are renowned in the scientific community. At the same time, the UFV carries out a training program that maintains several professionals studying in Brazil and abroad. In this particular aspect, the UFV is among the Brazilian institutions that present the highest indices of faculty members with graduate qualifications.
The University has countless reasons to be proud of its work, struggle and success from the past and the present. Thus, it is really strong and prepared for the future, ready to offer solutions that effectively help Brazil endure, with confidence and dignity, all adverse conditions foreseen in the worldwide scenery.
Since its creation in 1969, the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) has gathered wide experience and tradition in teaching and research, which are the foundation of its work philosophy. UFV has always been concerned about the promotion of vertical teaching integration and works effectively to achieve it.
Traditionally, the UFV is known and respected in Brazil and abroad especially for the Agrarian Sciences, which is the most developed area in the UFV. In spite of the emphasis on agriculture and livestock, UFV has expanded into other areas of knowledge: Biological and Health Sciences, Exact and Technological Sciences, Human Sciences, Languages and Arts. This position is in line with the concept of modern university, which considers that the interaction of several areas optimizes results.
Among the UFV faculty members, we find foreign researchers who are renowned in the scientific community. At the same time, the UFV carries out a training program that maintains several professionals studying in Brazil and abroad. In this particular aspect, the UFV is among the Brazilian institutions that present the highest indices of faculty members with graduate qualifications.
The University has countless reasons to be proud of its work, struggle and success from the past and the present. Thus, it is really strong and prepared for the future, ready to offer solutions that effectively help Brazil endure, with confidence and dignity, all adverse conditions foreseen in the worldwide scenery.
University of Alcalá de Henares
The University of Alcalá is one of the oldest in Europe dating back to the time of Cardinal Cisneros in the XV Century. It has been designated World Heritage by UNESCO in 2000 and hosts the Cervantes Institute, as well as the prize with the same name, delivered by the Spanish Kings, each year to the best writers in Spanish language.
This modern university belongs to the Comunidad de Madrid and is located 35km from the capital. It hosts 14,000 students with Science, Letters and Engineering faculties. Amongst its activities, the Faculty of Environmental Sciences show an high standard of excellence, rate as one of the 5 best in Spain.
Polar research in the University of Alcalá started in the Department of Physics 22 years ago, before the Spanish signature of the Antarctic Treaty. The most important topics in polar research are micrometeorology, climatology and permafrost-atmosphere coupling processes.
The University of Alcalá is divided in 3 sections: one in the historical quarters of the town centre, a modern campus in the outskirts of town and another one in Guadalajara.
The University of Alcalá is one of the oldest in Europe dating back to the time of Cardinal Cisneros in the XV Century. It has been designated World Heritage by UNESCO in 2000 and hosts the Cervantes Institute, as well as the prize with the same name, delivered by the Spanish Kings, each year to the best writers in Spanish language.
This modern university belongs to the Comunidad de Madrid and is located 35km from the capital. It hosts 14,000 students with Science, Letters and Engineering faculties. Amongst its activities, the Faculty of Environmental Sciences show an high standard of excellence, rate as one of the 5 best in Spain.
Polar research in the University of Alcalá started in the Department of Physics 22 years ago, before the Spanish signature of the Antarctic Treaty. The most important topics in polar research are micrometeorology, climatology and permafrost-atmosphere coupling processes.
The University of Alcalá is divided in 3 sections: one in the historical quarters of the town centre, a modern campus in the outskirts of town and another one in Guadalajara.
Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera (ICTJA)
The Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera (ICTJA) belongs to the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). It was set up in 1965 and is located at the University Campus of Pedralbes in Barcelona. Research activity is developed through the execution of contracts with public and private companies, and competitive research projects funded by the Catalan and Spanish governments and the EU.
Among the research lines of the ICTJA, there is a strong team working on Environmental Changes in the Geological Record. This line is addressed towards the progress of science with a keen interest to develop new scientific concepts and methodologies in the field of paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstructions of the Earth System History. This line interprets ancient records and explains the implied processes allowing to reconstruct the past climate and environmental changes defining the actual temporal dimension of such phenomena.
The research is characterized by a close coupling of data acquisition, advanced laboratory techniques, and state-of-the-art numerical modelling targeted on the understanding of process-oriented aspects of the planet Earth’s surface and its impact on society. This multidisciplinary research is focused on the understanding of the evolution of Earth's Surface environment (physical, geochemical and biological signatures of past climates and environments on the geological record; causes and expressions; Global Change dynamics).
The Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera (ICTJA) belongs to the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). It was set up in 1965 and is located at the University Campus of Pedralbes in Barcelona. Research activity is developed through the execution of contracts with public and private companies, and competitive research projects funded by the Catalan and Spanish governments and the EU.
Among the research lines of the ICTJA, there is a strong team working on Environmental Changes in the Geological Record. This line is addressed towards the progress of science with a keen interest to develop new scientific concepts and methodologies in the field of paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstructions of the Earth System History. This line interprets ancient records and explains the implied processes allowing to reconstruct the past climate and environmental changes defining the actual temporal dimension of such phenomena.
The research is characterized by a close coupling of data acquisition, advanced laboratory techniques, and state-of-the-art numerical modelling targeted on the understanding of process-oriented aspects of the planet Earth’s surface and its impact on society. This multidisciplinary research is focused on the understanding of the evolution of Earth's Surface environment (physical, geochemical and biological signatures of past climates and environments on the geological record; causes and expressions; Global Change dynamics).
Research Group: Landscape Research and Mediterranean Mountain Palaeoenvironments
The “Landscape Research and Mediterranean Mountain Palaeoenvironments” research group was constituted in 2003 under the direction of Dr Antonio Gómez Ortiz, professor at the University of Barcelona (UB). Since then, the research group is hosted at the Department for Physical and Regional Geography of the UB, although several members are enrolled at other national and international institutions. Up to 18 researchers (15 of which are PhD holders) coming from a wide range of disciplines (geomorphology, climatology, remote sensing, landscape studies, etc.) are now integrated in the group.
The main objective of this multidisciplinary group is the understanding of past and modern natural variability in landscape evolution and, particularly, in high mountain environments. The interdisciplinary research projects cover different time scales from past environmental conditions to modern processes and focus mainly on high Mediterranean and mid-latitude mountains (Sierra Nevada, Pyrenees, Alps) and basins (Vera, Sorbas, Penedès), but include also other areas such as glaciated tropical volcanoes in the Central Andes (Peru, Mexico). The program for the next years is to continue working in these areas but also to expand these studies on cold-climate geomorphological processes to polar regions.
The reconstruction of palaeoenvironments as the base for palaeoclimatic interpretations is necessary for better framing the present climate trends. For reconstructing past environments, the team focuses on natural archives as glacial, periglacial, fluvial, lacustrine deposits, palaeosols and pollen records, as well as on historical sources. From these multi-proxy data, the group tries to improve our knowledge on landscape evolution, climate changes and possible human influence. The knowledge of Quaternary environmental dynamics is crucial to achieve a better understanding and appropriate management of many present environmental problems. However, it is important to relate the past dynamics of cold-climate geomorphic processes with the contemporary activity of geomorphological processes prevailing now, which is also one of the tasks in which members of the group are involved. The study areas of the group are particularly sensitive to climate warming since they are affected by the post-Little Ice Age degeneration of local permafrost and seasonally frozen ground. Therefore, geomorphodynamics and thermal monitoring of periglacial features is basic to detect changes in ground temperatures and associated morphological dynamics..
The main objective of this multidisciplinary group is the understanding of past and modern natural variability in landscape evolution and, particularly, in high mountain environments. The interdisciplinary research projects cover different time scales from past environmental conditions to modern processes and focus mainly on high Mediterranean and mid-latitude mountains (Sierra Nevada, Pyrenees, Alps) and basins (Vera, Sorbas, Penedès), but include also other areas such as glaciated tropical volcanoes in the Central Andes (Peru, Mexico). The program for the next years is to continue working in these areas but also to expand these studies on cold-climate geomorphological processes to polar regions.
The reconstruction of palaeoenvironments as the base for palaeoclimatic interpretations is necessary for better framing the present climate trends. For reconstructing past environments, the team focuses on natural archives as glacial, periglacial, fluvial, lacustrine deposits, palaeosols and pollen records, as well as on historical sources. From these multi-proxy data, the group tries to improve our knowledge on landscape evolution, climate changes and possible human influence. The knowledge of Quaternary environmental dynamics is crucial to achieve a better understanding and appropriate management of many present environmental problems. However, it is important to relate the past dynamics of cold-climate geomorphic processes with the contemporary activity of geomorphological processes prevailing now, which is also one of the tasks in which members of the group are involved. The study areas of the group are particularly sensitive to climate warming since they are affected by the post-Little Ice Age degeneration of local permafrost and seasonally frozen ground. Therefore, geomorphodynamics and thermal monitoring of periglacial features is basic to detect changes in ground temperatures and associated morphological dynamics..