The Quantitative Biodiversity (QuBiD) project, carried out by a consortium led by the University of Warsaw, has received €4.6 million in funding under the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Programme. The programme is the result of collaboration between five universities in the 4EU+ Alliance and the University of Tartu.

This is now the fourth joint degree programme under 4EU+ (an alliance of which the University of Warsaw is a member).

 

QuBiD will combine expertise in ecology and evolutionary biology with advanced digital tools, bioinformatics, modelling, big data analysis and applications of artificial intelligence. The programme will be developed by an international consortium led by the UW. The team comprises five 4EU+ universities (apart from the University of Warsaw, these are: the University of Milan, Charles University in Prague, the University of Copenhagen and Sorbonne University) as well as the University of Tartu.

 

Biodiversity and data analysis

Through this programme, students will learn to analyse extensive datasets relating to biodiversity. They will also gain practical experience during laboratory and fieldwork sessions. QuBiD will also take into account European and global environmental protection contexts, including the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Graduates will be equipped to tackle the challenges of nature conservation, support evidence-based environmental policies, and monitor and report on the state of biodiversity.

“The launch of the QuBiD programme is a success for cooperation within the 4EU+ Alliance, demonstrating that partnerships between European universities enable the effective transfer of knowledge, experience and good practice in the development of innovative degree programmes. This is a unique opportunity to develop a new field of study in the area of quantitative biodiversity research – a programme with a unique profile that currently has no equivalent in Europe,” emphasises Dr Sergi López-Torres, programme coordinator at the UW’s Faculty of Biology.

Each participant in the programme will attend classes at various universities. The first semester will take place at the UW, and the second at the University of Milan. In the second year, specialised modules are planned in one of four tracks:

  • Biodiversity & Evolution at Charles University;
  • Biodiversity, Ecosystem Dynamics & Global Change at the University of Sorbonne;
  • Community Ecology & Conservation at the University of Copenhagen;
  • Biodiversity Informatics & Taxonomy at the University of Tartu.

The QuBiD programme is scheduled to commence in the 2027/2028 academic year (with an intake limit of 40 students per year).

The project has received support from eight associated partners and 29 institutions and organisations from Europe and other parts of the world. These include, amongst others, the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the Natural History Museum of the University of Oslo, the American Museum of Natural History, WWF Poland and the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Two universities belonging to the 4EU+ Alliance also supported the development of the programme: the University of Geneva (as an associated partner) and the University of Heidelberg (as a supporting organisation).

 

Further information can be found on the 4EU+ Alliance website: 4euplus.eu >>