Residency Period: From March, 04 to Deceomber, 31, 2024
Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution – Institute of Biological Sciences at UFMG
Geraldo Wilson Fernandes is a professor at the Institute of Biological Sciences at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). He holds a degree in Biology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1983), a master’s degree (1987) and a doctorate (1992) in Ecology from Northern Arizona University, post-doctorate at Stanford University (2015/2016), where he was a Tinker professor. Full member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Researcher 1A at CNPq, visiting professor at the University of Alberta (2011), Stanford University (2016), Universidad de Sevilla (2020). Linked to the Postgraduate Programs in Ecology, Conservation and Wildlife Management at UFMG, Biodiversity and Use of Natural Resources (UNIMONTES) and Recovery of Degraded Areas (UFV), with guidance from INECOL and UNAM (Mexico), Univ. Seville (Spain), UNAM (Namibia). He is coordinator of the Biodiversity Research Program (PPBio/MCTI), CRSC Long-Term Research Site (CNPq/Fapemig), Biodiversity Knowledge Center (INCT/CNPq). More than 600 publications on biodiversity, environmental monitoring, climate change, ecosystem services, ecological interactions, environmental restoration and bioprospecting.
NEXUS BIODIVERSITY, SOCIETY AND DECISION MAKING
The objective is the implementation of the Biodiversity Knowledge Center (National Institutes of Science and Technology Program – INCT, CNPq/MCTI), whose main objective is to translate and inform citizens and decision makers about the most recent discoveries in biodiversity science. biodiversity. The Center’s initial projects are: i) identify gaps in biodiversity monitoring; ii) Assess soil health in different Brazilian biomes; iii) evaluate the use of wild species consumed by human populations, particularly in the context of food security; iv) establish reference ecosystems for Brazilian biomes; v) determine attributes that summarize the invasive potential of exotic species in Brazilian biomes; vi) identify native vegetation coverage thresholds in the occurrence of zoonoses and establish knowledge gaps on monitoring emerging and re-emerging zoonoses. The residency also aims to integrate UFMG institutes and departments in the search for greater sustainability and compliance with the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). The transdisciplinary theme of the proposal will allow you to coordinate with other residents a transdisciplinary course and an international workshop “Biodiversity Nexus, Climate Change and Socio-Economic Growth” with the participation of the main researchers in the environmental, social and economic areas of Brazil, Europe, the Americas, Europe and Africa .