Scientific forum on global ecology with Josep Peñuelas, Ramon Margalef Prize on Ecology 2016
“From fertilization to warming. Global ecology inspired on Margalefʼs legacy” is the title of the scientific forum that will take place on Monday, November 7, at 10 h, in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Biology, to celebrate the awarding of the Ramon Margalef International Prize on Ecology to the ecologist Josep Peñuelas. This award, driven by the Generalitat de Catalunya, honors people from around the world who have stood out exceptionally in the world of ecology, and gives homage to Ramon Margalef (1919-2004), emeritus professor of the University of Barcelona and one of the most productive and cited scientists in the world and the field of ecology.
“From fertilization to warming. Global ecology inspired on Margalefʼs legacy” is the title of the scientific forum that will take place on Monday, November 7, at 10 h, in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Biology, to celebrate the awarding of the Ramon Margalef International Prize on Ecology to the ecologist Josep Peñuelas. This award, driven by the Generalitat de Catalunya, honors people from around the world who have stood out exceptionally in the world of ecology, and gives homage to Ramon Margalef (1919-2004), emeritus professor of the University of Barcelona and one of the most productive and cited scientists in the world and the field of ecology.
Josep Peñuelas, the first Catalan awarded with the Ramon Margalef Prize on Ecology
The forum will be chaired by Conxita Àvila, Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation and Transfer of the University of Barcelona, the Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Gustavo A. Llorente, and Professor Santiago Sabaté, secretary at the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences of the University of Barcelona. During this event, Professor Carles Gràcia, from the same department, will bring attendants closer to Josep Peñuelas, the first Catalan awarded with the Ramon Margalef Prize on Ecology.
Josep Peñuelas is a research lecturer at the Ecological and Forestry Applications Research Centre (CREAF-CSIC), and works in fields related to plant ecophysiology, climate change, air pollution, emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds and the structure and functioning of terrestrial plant ecosystems. Peñuelas, who was tenured university lecturer of Ecology at the University of Barcelona until 1990, is considered to be one of the best researchers in the world -and one of the most cited ones- in the fields of ecology and environment.
In the scientific forum, Peñuelas will present some of his recent studies in the field of global terrestrial ecology and some inspired in the naturalist, biogeochemical, thermodynamic and evolutionary ideas and advices from professor Margalef, a referent for generations of ecologists worldwide. The event also includes a roundtable with an open debate, which will be chaired by the ecologist Narcís Prat, professor at the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences of the UB, with the participation of the awardee and researchers Jaume Terradas (CREAF, UAB); Jordi Catalan (CREAF, CSIC) and Cèlia Marrasé (ICM, CSIC).
Also, in the hall of Ramon Margalef Building there will be an exhibition with information about the publications and scientific projects by Josep Peñuelas. At Espai Margalef, located at the ground floor of the Faculty of Biology, there will be an exhibition entitled “Margalef en colors” (Margalef in colors), which shows how the themes treated by this yearʼs awarded ecologist are cited in professor Margalefʼs scientific or disseminating projects.
Josep Peñuelas will be awarded the 2016 Ramon Margalef Prize on Ecology in the ceremony which will take place in the Palau de la Generalitat on November 8, in a ceremony chaired by the President of Generalitat, Carles Puigdemont. In previous editions, the awardees were the scientists Paul Dayton, John Lawton, Harold Mooney, Daniel Pauly, Paul Ehrlich, Simon Levin, Juan Carlos Castilla, Daniel Simberloff, Sallie Chisholm, David Tilman, and Robert E. Ricklefs last year.