Training Sessions

 

On Monday, 10 October 2022, the following trainings were provided:

• Accounting for Ecosystem Services: theoretical basis and practical applications using the QGIS plug-in INCA tools
• The editor’s guide on successful publishing

 

Accounting for Ecosystem Services: theoretical basis and practical applications using the QGIS plug-in INCA tools

Organised by: Joint Research Centre of the European Commission

Full day training (10:00 - 17:30 EEST)

Format: Takes place onsite only 

Room: Hermes

What are “integrated accounting systems”? Do they differ from “the reporting of indicators” over time? To answer these questions is important for ecosystem services practitioners when they have to choose tools and techniques, and analyse results for different ranges of policy uses. The purpose of this training is to set the basics of accounting frameworks integrating ecosystem services, and to explain their applications through a series of practical examples. 
Specifically, the United Nations System of integrated Environmental and Economic Accounts (SEEA) is the starting point reference in terms of accounting system, and the Integrated system for Natural Capital Accounts (INCA) in Europe is the reference in terms of applications to show how to build Supply and Use tables for ecosystem services in physical and monetary terms.
There are two components for this training:
•    a theoretical explanation of how the ecosystem accounting mechanism works, by using the INCA operational procedure;
•    a hands-on exercise to compile in practice ecosystem services accounts, using the INCA GIS-tools.
For the theoretical part, the training introduces the conceptual workflow of the accounts. Specifically, the training will show the methodological steps for performing the biophysical model, the input data that are required and finally the steps for ‘translating’ the physical part of the accounts in to monetary. 
There are different approaches to compute ecosystem services accounts: a fast track approach and a modelling approach. In the hands-on exercise, two ecosystem services will be used as case studies:
1.    timber provision as an example for the fast track approach;
2.    on site soil retention as an example for the modelling approach.
During the hands-on exercise, trainers use open-source software, for calculating the ecosystem service accounts. The QGIS software is required in the version 3.14 (tbc) and to have administrative permissions in the computer to be used.
The first Part of the training will work as frontal lecture, with power point presentations and course material provided to attendants.
For the second part of the training (the hands-on exercise) the following schedule will apply:
•    installation of the plugin: participants should download the plugin from a URL to be provided on the day of the training or through physical means (USB). For the installation of the plugin a guide will accompany participants throughout the installation. It is recommended that OSGEO4W be installed (tbc);
•    timber provision and soil retention accounting: participants will download the input data necessary to compute the models and produce the accounts. The data may be provided in physical means for faster distribution;
•    The outputs will be in the form of tables and maps. Participants will explore the maps with QGIS adjusting the visualization of the data and the print layout tool to produce ready to print maps. The tables in physical and monetary terms will be analysed having the maps as reference.

The editor’s guide on successful publishing

Organised by: PD Dr. Luis Inostroza – Associate Editor - Ecosystem Services

Duration: 2h30 from 10:00 - 12:30

Format: Hybrid

Room: Phaedra II (online participants will receive a zoom link)

How can you increase your chances to get your manuscript published? Writing a scientific article is complex and demanding. It can be also frustrating. Many times is difficult to find a successful path toward publication. Indeed, the scientific publishing ecosystem is complex and can be overwhelming when you are starting your academic career. The aim of this workshop is to discuss with young scholars about key publishing aspects from the editorial point of view, to help a successful publication process. The workshop will be interactive. Using Mentimeter (www.mentimeter.com) we will induce a structured discussion along the reviewer’s and the editor’s points of view. These two different angles may help to better understand and manage a manuscript to pass the screening of experts. The workshop is designed to be practical, providing guidelines for good practices and effective recommendations, as well as highlighting common errors and misunderstandings in the publishing process to be avoided.

Goals and objectives:

• The editorial process: getting along with the gatekeeper

1. What’s the role of the editor?
2. The editor’s understanding of a manuscript
3. The cover letter, does it matter?
4. Avoiding common mistakes

• Academic publishing: Actors and Roles
• Desk Rejection? - most common reasons
• The gold conditions to make an editor happy

1. A strong manuscript – 6 golden points
2. An easy-to-handle submission
3. Handling revisions - How to revise your paper

Planned output / Deliverables:

The workshop will provide guidelines to help in a successful publication process in scientific journals.