The project brings together researchers, students, and partner institutions to advance integrative conservation science through interdisciplinary research, field-based training, mobility, stakeholder engagement, and open science approaches.
COGENT combines ecology, biodiversity informatics, genetics, remote sensing, geospatial analysis, species distribution modelling, environmental DNA (eDNA), and biodiversity data science to address contemporary biodiversity and sustainability challenges.
The initiative is coordinated by the University of Oslo in collaboration with African partner institutions and regional stakeholders.
COGENT JOINT RESEARCH-INTENSIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
The COGENT Joint Research-Intensive Internship Programme offers four-month, full-time research internships for MSc and PhD students and relevant staff at African partner institutions (Addis Ababa University, Makerere University, University of Rwanda, Eduardo Mondlane University), in collaboration with the University of Oslo.
Applications are submitted by 24 September 2026.
More information and contact here
COGENT FIELD COURSE 2026
The COGENT project (Excellence in Conservation Biology through Accelerated Research and Training) is pleased to announce a field-based training course in conservation biology and biodiversity research, to be held in Uganda from 14–24 October 2026 (tentative dates).
Applications are submitted by 10 September 2026.
More information and contact here
About the Project
Biodiversity loss, climate change, habitat fragmentation, and unsustainable land-use practices are major global environmental challenges. COGENT contributes to addressing these challenges by strengthening long-term Africa–Europe collaboration in conservation biology research, education, and scientific capacity building.
The project supports interdisciplinary approaches to biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning while promoting research-based education, international mobility, open science, and stakeholder engagement.
Research and training activities focus particularly on:
- biodiversity monitoring and ecological change
- conservation technology and biodiversity data science
- remote sensing and geospatial analysis
- environmental DNA (eDNA) and conservation genetics
- sustainable landscapes and climate resilience
- biodiversity informatics and FAIR biodiversity data principles
The project also supports collaborative research and training related to coffee biodiversity systems, climate-smart agroforestry, ecosystem restoration, and land-use monitoring across African landscapes.
Education, Training and Mobility
COGENT supports undergraduate, MSc, and PhD training through:
- joint postgraduate supervision
- annual field-based conservation biology courses
- research-intensive internships
- collaborative workshops and seminars
- student and staff mobility between partner institutions
- stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue activities
Participating students gain practical and analytical skills in biodiversity monitoring, ecological modelling, conservation planning, geospatial analysis, molecular biodiversity assessment, and biodiversity data mobilization.
Annual field courses and workshops will be hosted rotationally across partner institutions in Africa and combined with collaborative research and postgraduate training activities.
Vision
COGENT aims to strengthen Africa–Europe collaboration in integrative conservation biology research and training while supporting biodiversity science, evidence-based conservation, open science, and future scientific leadership.
