Thanks to Yuwan Wang and team for this analysis of multiple paleofire records across tropical peatlands! The analysis builds included data generated during the EU funded REAL project from study sites in Kenya and Tanzania (Githumbi et al., 2018a and 2018b; Courtney Mustaphi et al., 2021a and 2021b; Wang et al., 2026). ABSTRACT Tropical peatland […]
Where is Colin now?
Colin Courtney-Mustaphi analyses data sets on how vegetation and wildfires have varied through time in response to societal land use changes, climate and other environmental changes. He completed his role as a Marie Curie Experienced Researcher at the University of York, UK, in November 2026 and has since conducted postdoctoral research at Uppsala University, Sweden, […]
Call for abstracts!
IPC7 Session 26 on “Vegetation Change and Plant–Insect Interactions from the Palaeozoic to Modern Times” Dear PAGES ECR Community,We are excited to invite you to submit abstracts for Session 26: Vegetation Change and Plant–Insect Interactions from the Palaeozoic to Modern Times – Case Studies from Africa and Beyond at the IPC7 in Cape Town, 30 November – 3 December […]
PaperStories: Something Chitinous?
Pubs@ThePub What will we find under the microscope in the next sample? Some plant remains? charcoal? animal fossils? You never fully know until you have a look through the microscope. After preparing the samples and having a look, one item really stood out. Was it a fossil plant seed? or something chitinous, from an invertebrate […]
News from the Marie Curie Alumni Association – The art of personal branding workshop
In the academic bubble, we are automatically self-branded through the accumulation of citations and references. Yet very few of us apply models from the established world of marketing to intentionally build and communicate our personal brand. The Elevate Your Identity workshop was created to address exactly this gap, offering researchers the space and tools to […]
New publication comparing ecological similarities and differences amongst African savannas
ABSTRACT Aim Despite their extent (40° of latitude and 50° of longitude), research in African savannas is dominated by a few heavily studied areas. We gathered data from African savanna protected areas to (i) evaluate their contributions to the primary literature, (ii) identify environmental groupings with respect to climate, soils, and landscape variables, and (iii) […]
Achievements at the Innovation Basel autumn start-up company pitch competition
Originally posted https://www.innovationbasel.ch/2025 [PDF copy] Jubiläumsfinale von INNOVATION BASEL: Peva Project gewinnt Haupt- und Publikumspeis Sieben mutige, kreative und visionäre Projektinitiant:innen standen auf der Bühne und machten das Finale zu einem lebendigen Schaufenster des regionalen Erfinder:innen- und Unternehmer:innengeists. Jede Präsentation zeigte aufs Neue: Basel hat eine Innovationskraft, die nicht nur inspiriert, sondern bewegt. Was für […]
How to collect a gravity core of surface sediments from a small mountain lake
Courtney C, Bailey-Neale K, Damber M, Lapellegerie P, et al. 2025. “How do scientists research surface sediments from Alpine lakes?” at Lake Muragl (2713 m), GR, Switzerland. 2m:02s. [MP4 video format] Location: Lej Muragl (2713 m asl), GR, Switzerland 11.09.2023 Screenshots: Putting the sample collection into the context of Environmental Change research projects Courtney-Mustaphi CJ, […]
ArcGIS and GeoSpatial Conference Day at University of Basel CH
The ArcGIS Mini Conference at the University of Basel 14.11.2025 brought together researchers from DUW University of Basel, Swiss TPH, University of Cape Town, and ESRI Zurich to highlight recent developments in geographic research focused on environmental changes. The day-long meeting was lively with the inputs and discussions on research topics in Europe and Africa […]
New publication analyses similarities and differences across African savannas to guide research efforts and information sharing
Abstract Aim Despite their extent (40° of latitude and 50° of longitude), research in African savannas is dominated by a few heavily studied areas. We gathered data from African savanna protected areas to (i) evaluate their contributions to the primary literature, (ii) identify environmental groupings with respect to climate, soils, and landscape variables, and (iii) […]
Self-Branding and Self-Promotion in Academia
A career-skill course led by Dr Petra Wüst from Wüst Consulting GmbH, Basel, an industry expert of self-branding and self-promotion funded by the Marie Curie Alumni Association and in-kind by the University of Basel. The workshop was funded by the MCAA Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy Chapters. The course consists of two parts: Part 1: […]
Introducing the new MCAA brand and website
We are proud to share with you our new brand identity and website. This comprehensive update, effective immediately, improves our alignment with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme and enhances compliance with accessibility requirements, ensuring a more inclusive experience for our diverse, global network. The brand is a visual evolution that reflects our new motto, […]