The Blended Intensive Program (BIP) TRANSMOUNT – Transitions in mountain environments aims to provide the students conceptual and methodological tools to address the current environmental, social and economic issues, in the context of climate change, specific natural resource management, guiding the searching for sustainable solutions, between environmental protection/conservation, management and local to regional scale integrated development.

It follows three thematic axes and one methodological objective:

• Axis 1: Hydro geomorphological processes and risks
• Axis 2: Landscape changes in agro-sylvo-pastoral mountain systems
• Axis 3: Mountain heritage and tourism economy

The physical mobility section of the course will be running from 4 to 8 November 2024 in Bucharest (Sinaia Research Resort, University of Bucharest, Romanian Carpathians, Upper Prahova Valley). 

The activity schedule tries to adapt to the topics presented above, following the three main axes of the CIVIS BIP TRANSMOUNT program. This formula is organized between the five days eight hour time slot, with short field trips and field work in the morning and workshop activities at the research facility in the afternoon. As the autumn weather could change we are aware that the activities could be adapted but fulfilled according to the CIVIS BIP initial plan.

AXIS 1

• Day 1 (4 November 2024). Geomorphology and risks. Lecture - theoretical aspects and examples (4 hours); fieldwork on Bucegi Mts. plateau (2000-2300 m) at Babele geosite, - land degradation, tourism impact - photogrammetric survey, soil sampling and erosion intensity assessment (4 hours).
• Day 2 (5 November 2024). Hydrology, water resources and risks. Lecture on theoretical issues (4 hours), fieldwork on Prahova River floodplain (4 hours, focusing on confluence areas, selected hydrometric point data processing and prognosis, anthropogenic changes and power station impact.

AXIS 2

• Day 3 (6 November 2024). Biodiversity, forestry and sustainability. Lecture on theoretical aspects and examples (4 hours); fieldwork (4 hours) in Valea Rea, Baiu Mts. - biogeography observations on zonation and canopies, including fauna, logging effects and deforestation etc.; land cover remote sensing mapping and GNSS survey + a possible meeting with one Bucegi Natural Park representative or a forestry inspector.
• Day 4 (7 November 2024) Mountain agriculture, from tradition to the latest challenges. Theoretical issues lecture, examples (4 hours); fieldwork on a mountain pasture in Baiu Mts. above 1400 m, near Sinaia or Azuga (4 hours), with observations on impact and sustainability + mapping.

AXIS 3

• Day 5. (8 November 2024). Mountain heritage and tourism. Lecture (4 hours) on geosites and tourism, fieldtrip on urban planning with Sinaia town urban authorities (4 hours). Development of sustainable urban planning scenarios for local issues mitigation in GIS environments.

Additional information on the physical component:

Sinaia Ecological Research Resort facility of the University of Bucharest offers accommodation for participants in double bed rooms in modernized rooms. It is situated at walking distance from Sinaia railway station on Bucharest to Brașov mainline and town center (30-40 minutes) in a quiet urban area close to Prahova River bank, to the foot of Baiu Mountains (Cumpătu area).

There is an amphitheater space with all conditions, including Wi-fi and a dining room (meals to be ordered before for the group with options). Participants need to bring if possible their laptop for classes, if possible, as we have not a computer network at the facility.

We strongly recommend to all students and participants to bring basic mountain equipment for field trips and especially mountain boots, hot clothes, caps, a light bag pack etc., as we can expect for changing weather conditions and especially for wind, rain or light and humid snow, humidity on pastures and mud etc. We recommend as well to bring a camera for digital photos to comment later on arrival to our research facility. Students with medical problems must warn us to adapt their program during a part of the fieldtrips.

Sinaia town can be reached from Bucharest by train on mainline to Brașov and Transylvania. For participants arriving by plane to Bucharest International Airport Henri Coanda (OTP) it is strongly recommended to use the CFR national railway company services (https://mersultrenurilor.infofer.ro/en-GB/Itineraries), from Henri Coandă airport – see https://www.bucharestairports.ro/en/access/train (railway is up in the front of main terminal building) to Bucharest Gara de Nord/Bucuresti Nord main station (travel time 25-30 min.). Here departs the train to Brașov with stop in Sinaia (Inter Regio Trains are the fastest connection, travel time one hour and a half). Train tickets for both trains can be purchased online (https://bilete.cfrcalatori.ro/en-GB/Itineraries) as well on railway station desks by searching train itineraries Aeroport Henri Coanda to Bucuresti Nord (from airport to main station) and Bucuresti Nord to Sinaia for the IR train.

There is a town bus (T2) from Sinaia downtown (central park) to Cumpatu district (end station close to our research resort) where is the research resort but with a limited connection time ( https://sinaiago.ro/transport-urban/tarife-program/), with tickets available online on website, as well. Bus stop is called Policlinica Gara and can be reached by walking, after crossing the main street where the railway station is to the Town Park Corner (to the right). There are also taxis in the front of the Sinaia railway station but sometimes expensive (destination Cumpatu Statiunea Zoologica). Walking is another possibility (take care on traffic when crossing main road on special crossing places) – 30 to 40 minutes.

Sinaia town is a famous mountain resort for skiing during winter and for mountain trips and relax in summer and a site of historical and cultural significance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinaia). We recommend visits after work sessions to differerent sights like Sinaia Monastery (1690), Peleș Castle – former residence of the Kings of Romania (1881), Sinaia town historical museum or the George Enescu composer house close to the research facility.

NOTE:
If the weather conditions are not suitable for fieldwork activities in the selected sites, the home organizer reserves the right to adapt the schedule in order to reach our objectives for the physical part of the CIVIS BIP course TRANSMOUNT.

The virtual part will be running from 1 October 2024 to 28 February 2025.

The virtual component of the course follows three thematic axes and one methodological objective: 

Axis 1: Hydrogeomorphological processes and risks.

Axis 2: Landscape changes in agro-sylvo-pastoral mountain systems.

Axis 3: Mountain heritage and tourism economy.

Methodological objective - combining remote sensing and field research in mountain areas.

Virtual courses are organized between the three axis mentioned, being combined with virtual workshops/webinars in order to enhance the transfer of knowledge for students in an interactive formula (depending on themes). Our goal is to search for an optimum balance between classical lectures (interdisciplinary approach of theoretical background for all students) and practical workshops, where trainers intention is to integrate notions/terminology/classification/models etc. with the presentation of an author research paper(s) as a mean to explain the already presented aspects. Students interact by questions and finding complementary examples regarding the use of methodologies/techniques etc. in mountain research subject with a potential to apply in the physical part of the CIVIS BIP course. Virtual meeting will focus on practical significance subjects for searching feasible solutions in mountain environmental and even social-economical specific issues in the context of local and regional sustainable decision making process for planning and management.

Planning of Virtual Component activities

TRANSMOUNT CIVIS BIP – Trainers and Schedule Proposal by Week

• Week 1 – B. Mihai (UB) and the CIVIS BIP team. Date 01-04 October 2024. Introductory lecture. Environmental and territorial issues in mountain areas. Specific issues in the Alps, Carpathians and Mediterranean mountains. Presentation of the BIP. N. Evelpidou (NKUA)- Geomorphological risks in mountains. Processes.
• Week 2 – L. Zaharia and G.I. Toroimac (UB).  Date 07-11 October 2024. Hydrological processes, risks and river management in mountains. Processes.
• Week 3 – C. Randin (UNIL). Date 14-18 October 2024. Climate change impacts on mountain ecology.
• Week 4 – M. Hirczak (AMU). Date 21-25 October 2024.Territorial dynamics in mountain areas.
• Week 5 – E. Vassilakis (NKUA). Date 28 October – 01 November 2024. Field techniques and photogrammetry to study mountain processes.
• Week 6 – Date 04-08 November 2024. Field workshop in Sinaia, Romanian Carpathians, Upper Prahova Valley.
• Week 7 – B. Mihai and M. Vîrghileanu (UB). Date 11-15 November 2024. Remote sensing and GIS to cope with mountain territorial issues.
• Week 8 - A. Arnaud (AMU). Date 18-22 November 2024. Mountain risks: management and perception.
• Week 9 – C. Georgiadis (NKUA). Date 25-29 November 2024. Mountain ecology: fauna.
• Week 10 – B. Talon (AMU). Date 02-06 December 2024. Mountain pastoralism.
• Week 11 – E. Reynard (UNIL). Date 09-13 December 2024. Mountain geoheritage and tourism.

Week 12 – M. Clivaz (UNIL). Date 16-20 December 2024. Mountain landscapes: trajectories and perception.

Last week in February 2025 (all CIVIS BIP team UB-UNIL-AMU-NKUA). Online workshop – project presentation by participants.