1. Göttingen Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology GCBE
Georg-August-University Göttingen
Contact: PD Dr. Dirk Gansert

3. Göttingen Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology GCBE
GCBE Goals
Research into the evolution, functions and management of biodiversity in ecosystems
Education in Bachelor, Master, and PhD programmes
Science & Technology transfer into practice
Transfer of ecological knowledge to the public
GCBE Research
Biodiversity analysis, evolution, systematics and taxonomy
Global distribution of biodiversity and investigation of biodiversity hotspots
Temporal dynamics of biodiversity at historical and geological time scales
Ecological functions of biodiversity
Development of strategies for the conservation of biodiversity

4. Göttingen Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology GCBE
GCBE Structure
29 Institutes out of 4 Faculties: Biology, Agricultural Sciences, Forest Sciences & Forest Ecology, Geosciences & Geography
Leading Faculty: Faculty of Biology
Steering Committee, Speaker: Prof. Dr. S. Scheu, Dept. of Animal Ecology
3 Examination boards for: Bachelor, Master and PhD study programmes
Coordinator and students advisor: PD Dr. D. Gansert, Dept. of Ecology and Ecosystem Research
Present student capacity: B.Sc. (rise to 30) 40 M.Sc. > 60 Ph.D.
Journals: Biodiversity and Ecology Series, GCBE Bulletin

5. GCBE 29 participating institutes
Biology
Animal Ecology
Anthropology & Human Ecology
Didactics of Biology
Environmental history
Ethology
Ecosystem Modelling
Nature Conservation
Palynology
Phycology
Plant Ecology
Sociobiology / Anthropology
Systematic Botany & Evolution
Vegetation Analysis & Phytodiversity
Zoology, Morphology & Evolution 14
Agricultural Sciences
Agricultural Ecology
Agricultural Entomology
Biodiversity Economy 3
Forest Sciences & Forest Ecology
Bioclimatology
Ecological informatics
Forest ecology
Nature Conservation & Environmental policy
Soil Sciences
Stress Physiology of Woody Plants
Wood Biology 7
Geosciences & Geography
Biogeochemistry
Landscape Ecology
Marine Biodiversity
Palaeoecology 4
German Primate Center
Primate Ecology 1

6. Göttingen Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology GCBE
Major Teaching and Research Fields:
1. Assessment and analysis of biodiversity
Systematic Botany and Zoology, Morphology, Taxonomy, Evolution, Phylogeny etc...

7. Biological Diversity and Ecology – Major Teaching and Research Fields
2. Spatial distribution of biodiversity (e.g.: „hotspots“)
Systematic Botany and Zoology, Marine Biodiversity, Primate Ecology, Phytodiversity, Landscape Ecology, Palaeoecology...

8. Biological Diversity and Ecology – Major Teaching and Research Fields
3. Significance of biodiversity for ecosystems
Plant and Animal Ecology, Agroecology, Forest Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Agricultural Entomology...

9. Biological Diversity and Ecology – Major Teaching and Research Fields
4. Change of biodiversity over time
Palaeoecology, Palynology, Environmental history ...
(Kirleis 2004)

10. Biological Diversity and Ecology – Major Teaching and Research Fields
5. Maintenance of biodiversity
Biological nature conservation, Sustainable management, Didactics of biology

11. Investigation of ecosystems around the globe
Current focus: Research in the functions of biodiversity:
What are the multiple effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning and ecosystem change over time?
Field research
in a mixed deciduous broad-leaved forest

12. Investigation of belowground biodiversity Food webs: organismic interactions between roots, microbes, fungi, soil animals Nutrient and organic matter cycling Coupling between above- and belowground biodiversity Significance of belowground biodiversity on climate change

13. Investigation of biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide
Research in tropical rain forests
Stability of Tropical Rainforest Margins
(Indonesia)
Sustainable Management
Ecological gradients in Tropical Mountain Forests (Ecuador)
Species inventaries
Structure and Functioning
along climatic and edaphic gradients

14. Georg-August University School of Natural Sciences GAUSS
3 - 4 years
2 years
years
3 years

15. Study programmes in Biological Diversity and Ecology
Bachelor‘s Programme (3 Years = 6 Semester) 
Academic Qualification: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
Master‘s Programme (2 Years = 4 Semester)

16. Masterprogramme Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution (M.Sc.)
Biodiversity: obligatory covering module
12 ECTS
18 ECTS
Plant Ecology: Ecophysiology, Phytodiversity, Ecosystem Research
Animal Ecology: Food webs, Interactions, Communication, Genetics
Plant Systematics, Phylogeny, Evolution
Year 1
Major studies
Animal Systematics, Phylogeny, Evolution, Behaviour
Evolution: Botany; Zoology, Anthropology, Primatology; Geobiology
Nature Conservation: conservation policy, biology, education
Forensic Biology
Complementary studies across faculties pool of 20 modules of different categories: exploration, functions, dynamics, and maintenance of biodiversity
30 ECTS
12 ECTS
Key competences: scientific English, self organisation etc.
12 ECTS
Year 2
Project management & Research methods
6 ECTS
Master's thesis
30 ECTS

17. Study programmes in Biological Diversity and Ecology
Bachelor‘s Programme (3 Years = 6 Semester) 
Academic Qualification: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
Master‘s Programme (2 Years = 4 Semester) 
Academic Qualification: Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Doctor‘s Programme (3 Years = 6 Semester)

18. Study programmes in Biological Diversity and Ecology
Doctor‘s Programme (3 - 4 years = semester)
• open for students with a Master‘s degree or equivalency in biology or environmental sciences related to ecology, biodiversity, evolution, nature conservation, etc.
• Third-Party-Funding of the PhD project is required: salary, fellowships or governmental fundings of the native or the guest country, e.g. DAAD or others.
• Proof of Scientific English language skills.
• 20 ECTS points required during the study period.
• PhD thesis: cumulative, written in ENGLISH.
• Thesis Committee: 3 professors as supporting group.
• Doctor's degree: Dr. rer. nat. or PhD

19. Study programmes in Biological Diversity and Ecology
Fast Track Option from Master to PhD
• for excellent students, who will continue their M.Sc. research towards the PhD degree.
• The M.Sc. thesis is done during the PhD study.
• The M.Sc. thesis must be accepted before delivery of the dissertation. Major advantage: continuity of research from Master to PhD without loss of time.
Prerequisite: third-party-funding for PhD must be acquired.

20. Study programmes in Biological Diversity and Ecology
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