URJC launches the Global Change Research Institute

Raul Garcia Hemonnet

Climate change is a proven fact that is changing the reality that humanity lives every day. Global Change Research Institute was created with the aim of researching different fields related to the study of the Environment and the loss of biodiversity.

As Adrián Escudero, professor of Ecology and director of the Global Change Research Institute, points out, the mission of the IICG “is to produce quality research in these areas and in some way be able to influence decision-making with the goal of mitigating and reducing the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss.” The group from which this Institute was born already had very relevant research activity, placing the URJC among the best indicators related to ecology and biodiversity, according to prestigious rankings such as the Shanghai one. “We are a great talent attractor. There are many researchers interested in working with us,” adds Escudero.

This coming Friday, the IICG, which has been in operation for a few weeks, will be officially presented. The rector, Javier Ramos, will preside over the event (San Carlos Hospital, Aranjuez Campus) in which a large part of the Governing Council will participate, as well as those responsible for the Institute. The journalist and comedian Juan Luis Cano, (50% of the duo Gomaespuma), will act as master of ceremonies. “This event is an opportunity to give visibility to the Institute and we want it to serve as a starting point,” says Escudero.

More than 50 researchers

The IICG has between 50 and 60 scientists working on various topics: Marine Ecology, Freshwater Ecology and Water Resources, Agroecology and Biodiversity associated with agricultural topics, Forest Ecology and Restoration or Species Conservation Biology, among others.

In addition, and in collaboration with companies and institutions, lines of work are being developed such as the valorisation of natural capital or the restoration and construction of green infrastructures.

A new model of research support

The IICG will operate under the framework of a new modality of support for research: The Institute will have part (between 30 and 50%) of the funds obtained by the projects (of the IICG) that are submitted to calls and that correspond to the university to finance everything that makes it possible for these initiatives to be carried out. “This will allow us to work in a stable manner. The financing framework is very novel and different from that of other universities. It is a model that hopefully can be extended. With this system the university takes a leap forward,” explains Adrián Escudero.

Training for Change

Among the most notable milestones of the nascent IICG is the creation of the 'Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Global Change Ecology and Biodiversity Management', an interuniversity and international programme that is being developed by the URJC, the University of Bangor (Wales, United Kingdom), the University of Tlaxcala (Mexico) and the University of Lisbon. This Master is funded by the European Commission, which provides full scholarships to the selected students after a very demanding process. This is the first programme of its kind at the Rey Juan Carlos University.

The IICG has an interdisciplinary and translational objective, since, in the words of Adrián Escudero, “Global Change has to be addressed from many fields.” “We believe that problems arising from climate change can be solved and well-being can be maintained. There is no point in being a denier. Change is there, just look at storms like the one that recently hit the United States. We think that decision-making should be done with all possible information.”

This is precisely the direction in which the IICG wants to work: to produce the best possible science in order to arrive at the best solutions to address the greatest challenge of today.