A "Green Talents" in the Moveclim Team

Lova Marline, our PhD student (University of Cape Town) has become a 2014 Green Talents awardee from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Among 800 candidates from over 100 countries, she was one of the 25 selected for the Green Talents 2014 by a high ranking jury of experts selected 25 up-and-coming scientists and is the only biologist among the awardees.

Webpage:
http://www.greentalents.de/awardees_awardees2014_lova-marline.php


What is Green Talents?

With a two-week journey across Germany, taking place in the fall of each year, the winners of the Green Talents Competition are invited to an exclusive insight into the country's diverse research landscape. In order to provide the best possible overview, the forum's destinations are changing every year. Hence, a broad spectrum of excellent institutions and companies has already been part of the Green Talents programme. Touring Germany from one station to the next, the Green Talents learn about the research that is being conducted and gain an exclusive look behind the scenes while visiting labs or production sites. Here, they also get the chance to discuss their projects with other scientists and hear about the research and working conditions in Germany.

Besides these visits, the Green Talents moreover meet experts of their choice in their facilities. They are invited to individual appointmentsthat serve the purpose of specifically talking about projects, research collaborations or the possibility of a BMBF-funded stay in Germanythe year after the forum. To not only support the networking with German experts but to furthermore encourage new networks among the group itself, the project gives them the chance to present themselves to their peers during the tour.       

On top of that, the Green Talents programme also strives to give the winners a deeper understanding of our research landscape by providing detailed information on funding opportunities in Germany during the forum. Therefore, a workshop on this topic is held to which all major research and funding organisations in Germany are invited. Representatives from DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), Helmholtz Association, Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer Society, Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation and Leibniz Association present their programmes.

As part of the science forum, the Green Talents moreover get the unique chance to visit German sustainability experts of their choice and discuss their current research with them. To nominate these experts is already an essential part of the application to the programme. The selected interlocutors are contacted by the organisers of the forum, who provide information about the young researchers, make appointments and plan accommodation and transport for the participants. Travelling on their own during those 2-3 days, the Green Talents are equipped with detailed descriptions of how to find their way around, using public transportation.

Having spent impressive two-weeks in Germany, the Green Talents are invited to return the year after the science forum. The research stay can be up to three months long and can be conducted at a research institute, university or company of the participant’s own choice. Lova will be returning to Germany, in 2015, to spend three months in Dietmar Quandt 's lab in Bonn to work on a revision of the genus Breutelia in Africa and be trained in phylogeny and systematics of bryophytes.

Congratulations to Lova and all the best wishes for your journey in Germany!