Around thirty researchers and PhD candidates are taking part in the 7th JRU Research School to address the challenges facing forests and wildfire risk management.
The meeting, organised by the CTFC-Agrotecnio-CERCA Joint Research Unit, combined scientific presentations, discussion of research career pathways and a field session on the socio-environmental dimension of forest fires.
The Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC) hosted the seventh edition of the JRU Research School on 22 and 23 October. The initiative, run by the CTFC–Agrotecnio–CERCA Joint Research Unit, aims to strengthen PhD candidates’ science communication skills, foster knowledge exchange and promote collaboration between the different research groups.
The event brought together predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers and research staff for two days focused on presenting and discussing scientific results, as well as reflecting on the professional and social challenges linked to forest research.
During the first day, PhD candidates presented the progress of their theses in three main areas: forest health and dynamics; forest management and planning; and fungi and non-timber forest products. The sessions provided an opportunity to share findings on forest diseases, the effects of climate change, satellite monitoring of large wildfires, biodiversity, bioeconomy, truffle tourism and innovation in forest ecosystem management.
The day also included a round table on career opportunities after a doctorate, entitled Beyond the PhD: What’s next? Different paths, unexpected turns and career choices, as well as the participatory workshop Embracing creativity, which encouraged reflection on creativity, productivity and wellbeing in research careers.
The second day took the form of a field visit under the theme The socio-environmental dimension of wildfire risk management. Participants visited an area of Solsonès affected by a large forest fire to examine, on the ground, how such events transform the Mediterranean landscape, land uses and people’s perception of the territory. The activity deepened understanding of the ecological and social factors involved in wildfire prevention and risk management.
Once again, the 7th edition of the JRU Research School highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary training and debate spaces for addressing today’s major environmental challenges, strengthening the network of collaboration between early-career researchers and experts in forestry and sustainability.
The Joint Research Unit between CTFC and Agrotecnio was established in 2019 with the aim of carrying out joint projects on the management of Mediterranean forests and the environmental threats affecting them.
CTFC and Agrotecnio are two CERCA centres of the Government of Catalonia.
Text: CTFC / Agrotecnio