SAEON GSN student wins top prize in France

Dirk Snyman in action during his award-winning presentation.

Dirk Snyman, a Master’s student in Conservation Ecology from Stellenbosch University has won the prize for Best Presentation at the 5^th ALTER-Net Summer School in Peyresq, France. Dirk is a member of the SAEON Graduate Student Network and was co-sponsored by SAEON to attend the Summer School.   

ALTER-Net (A Long-Term Biodiversity, Ecosystem and Awareness Research Network) is a partnership between 22 European research organisations. It is aimed at contributing towards management and conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.

The annual Summer School promotes interdisciplinary approaches among graduate students. Of the 30 students selected to attend the School, most were from the European network partners, while Dirk was one of two students selected from developing countries each year. Last year Musa Mlambo of SAEON’s Graduate Student Network attended the Summer School courtesy of SAEON.

This year’s Summer School focused on “Biodiversity and ecosystem services” and consisted of three components - expert lectures, working groups and student presentations. Lectures delivered by experts covered a range of themes relating to ecosystem management and conservation. Students formed working groups and each group analysed a local ecosystem to design a management plan under various scenarios. The students presented the results of their own research during plenary sessions.

The importance of long-term monitoring in socio-ecological landscapes

Dirk’s presentation, entitled “The importance of long-term monitoring in socio-ecological landscapes”, comprised research from his MSc study in Conservation Ecology. A vegetation survey and stakeholder interviews were compared to provide insight on assumptions regarding grazing management in the Namaqualand commons.

This work provides the basis for reviewed guidelines for grazing in this ecologically sensitive area. In this way it is hoped to achieve a more sustainable management approach that integrates biodiversity conservation with human livelihoods.

The student presentations were assessed by a panel that included internationally renowned scientists, research administrators from the European Union’s directorate general, and science advisors for various governments around the world.

At the conclusion of the Summer School, Dirk was adjudicated as winner of the prize for the best presentation – proving that his research is on a par with international standards.