Manuel Serra, new director of the Institut Cavanilles

Manuel Serra.

Professor and researcher Manuel Serra has been appointed by the principal Esteban Morcillo, Director of the Institut Cavanilles of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (ICBiBE) of the PCB, the University of Valencia.According to Serra, the Institut Cavanilles has as a main challenge for the next three years greater interaction among its members as a means to increase the level of excellence of its fundamental and applied research.

"Biology has progressed tremendously in the last decade and the biological knowledge social demand also has. Just think on issues such as sustainability or ecological conservation, "argues Serra. The ICBiBE, according to Manuel Serra, "must respond to these challenges by addressing problems whose complexity, can be solved only by intensifying the interaction between specialists.You should also emphasize your breast attraction of young talent and research partnerships, in order to complement and reinforce the capacities of the Institute ".

In recent years, evolutionary studies and biodiversity have received new momentum associated with the development of molecular methods, genetic analysis, complex systems analysis, bioinformatics, etc.. The creation of extensive databases on living things-about their genetics, morphology, ecology, etc. - Today allows more general studies and effective. "Maintain a level of scientific activity impact on the international scientific community and, in turn, continue as a social reference in Valencia, is a challenge that constantly reborn" as stated Serra. "These are difficult times for research, partly because of the crisis and partly because the scientific tradition in our country is relatively recent and perhaps, therefore, not fully understood that science is a distance race. We in the ICBiBE, confident that together, with the heads of the University of Valencia, find the way to make this unstable environment does not affect our trajectory of scientific progress, "says the scientist.

EVOLUTION OF CAVANILLES
In 1998, genetic, ecologists, botanists, zoologists, etc.. left their departments to undertake a joint project with the creation of ICBiBE. This multidisciplinary approach has been one of the keys to success of this institute. "For more than a decade, the Rector hoped that in the University of Valencia was possible edge multidisciplinary research in evolution and biodiversity.This confidence was not disappointed and this is due to an essential part that meets ICBiBE competent specialists in many different fields, "said Serra.

"So far, the result can be more satisfying," said the new director. The research in genetics and evolutionary ecology, community ecology and aquatic systems in animal behavior in evolution, diversity and ecology of plants, marine biology, etc.. The ICBiBE, with an annual budget of more than five million euros per year, fueled primarily from sources outside the University-funded projects and management agreements with public and private-is among the three institutes and departments with more research , according to the annual scales Universitat internal.The Cavanilles also been heavily involved in the training of researchers, promoting master studies of scientific research orientation and training within doctoral programs with honors.

A SPECIALIST DIRECTOR IN ECOLOGIES AND DEVELOPMENT
Manuel Serra ICBiBE joined at the time of its founding in 1998.He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Valencia and Professor of Ecology.Maintains international collaborations, mainly American and British universities. Researches on population ecology and evolutionary ecology using microscopic aquatic animals as a model. He is known especially for his research on the effect of environmental fluctuations on the coexistence of species and adaptations that they have. Her teaching degree in biology and graduate focuses on ecology, population biology and evolution.
 

 

Last update: 15 de may de 2013 12:21.

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