2009 Watson International Scholars of the Environment

Opportunity for African Environmental Leaders to Examine Land-Use History, Science, and Policy
2009 Watson International Scholars of the Environment
1 September - 18 December 2009
The Watson International Scholars of the Environment program brings mid-career environmental leaders from universities, governments, and nongovernmental organizations throughout Africa to Brown University for advanced training in land-change history, sciences, and policies, providing them with the context to enhance the sustainable development capacity in their countries. The opportunity offers an intensive program in sustainable land-use studies to provide mastery of critical concepts, relevant tools, and transferable processes necessary for managing land and ecosystems.

Supported by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation and endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the program offers scholars time away from their daily responsibilities to learn new skills with a community of scholars applying both theoretical and practice approaches to real world environmental issues.

Full time for three and a half months, participants are involved in courses, workshops, field trips, symposia, mentorship, professional networking, and research projects. The Watson International Scholars of the Environment are active participants, not passive students. All participants will take part in a foundational seminar on African environmental history. Module units focus on land-use science and policy. Drawing on the resources of Brown University, participants will prepare a study on land-use change and policy responses. Participants will integrate data from across disciplines and discuss how their research can inform sound decision-making.

Investment in these leaders is strategic: participants are men and women capable of creating lasting and immediately favorable impacts on the sustainable development of their home institutions, eco-regions, and nations. Accordingly, participants are expected to be at a mid-point within their careers in environmental management, science, and policy fields. The program seeks individuals who want to forge new linkages among ideas and issues, to develop networks among leaders facing similar land-use issues, and to explore alliances with relevant colleagues and institutions for improved personal and institutional effectiveness.

For more information, please visit the official announcement:
http://www.watsoninstitute.org/ge/watson_scholars/