“Young Italian scholars travelling between East and West”: A lecture by Paolo Becciu, University of Rome La Sapienza and University of Turin, presently PhD student at the Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology at the University of Haifa.
Bird migration is a fascinating and a mysterious phenomenon that has intrigued human beings since ancient times. From the earliest writings of Aristotle, through Cajus Plinius Secundus, until the second half of 18th century, natural historians have pondered the enigmatic disappearance of birds in the waning summer and their dramatic re-appearance with the first stirring of spring. Where did they fly to? Nowadays, we know that most of migratory birds periodically move from temperate latitudes, where they breed in summer, to the wintering areas around the tropics. Migration travel entails an impressive trip thousands of kilometers long, across deserts, oceans and mountains. Migration knows no borders: for example, the arctic stern has the longest trip, around 70,000 kilometers per year, traveling between the Arctic and the Antarctica. Not to mention the bar-headed goose that crosses the towering Himalayan peaks, or the bar-tailed godwit that flies nonstop over the Pacific Ocean. Israel is the best place to study bird migration: millions of birds fly every year – in spring and fall – over this country which connects Africa with Europe and Asia as a natural bridge.
Bird migration is an active field of research, and many questions have found an answer in numerous scientific studies, often with the help of the most advanced technologies. The study of migration dynamics is paramount, as it allows us to understand how to conserve endangered species and save their habitats. Furthermore, the study of this fascinating behavior helps us to understand, prevent and improve the relationship between human beings and nature in fields such as agriculture and medicines.
Paolo Becciu: PhD student at the Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology at the University of Haifa. His current research concentrates on environmental effects on flight dynamics and migratory movements using radars in Israel, Spain and Italy.
He was born in Rome on November 14th, 1989, where he graduated in Natural Sciences at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. He then studied Animal Behavior at the University of Turin. Since 2010 he has been involved in several research activities concerning foraging ecology of seabirds in Italy, in collaboration of the University of Palermo, and in Perù with a research team from the University of Nagoya (Japan). In addition to being a scientist, he is a passionate of wildlife, artistic and reportage photography.
Event in Italian.
Tuesday, June 28th, 2016, at 19:00
Italian Cultural Institute
rehov Meir Rutberg 12 – Haifa
FREE ADMISSION
Reservation no longer available