Around thirty researchers and PhD candidates take part in the 7th JRU Research School to address forest challenges and wildfire risk management.
The event, organised by the CTFC-Agrotecnio-CERCA Joint Research Unit, combined scientific presentations, discussions on career opportunities in research, and a field session focused on the socio-environmental dimension of wildfires.
Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC) hosted the seventh edition of the JRU Research School on 22 and 23 October. This initiative of the CTFC-Agrotecnio-CERCA Joint Research Unit aims to strengthen PhD candidates’ scientific communication skills, foster knowledge exchange, and promote collaboration among different research groups.
The event brought together predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers, as well as senior scientists, for two days focused on presenting and discussing scientific results and reflecting on the professional and societal challenges linked to forest research.
During the first day, PhD candidates presented progress on their research projects in three main areas: forest health and dynamics, forest management and planning, and fungi and non-timber forest products. The sessions enabled participants to share findings on forest diseases, climate change impacts, satellite-based monitoring of large wildfires, biodiversity, bioeconomy, truffle tourism, and innovative approaches to forest ecosystem management.
The programme also included a roundtable discussion on career opportunities after completing a PhD, 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 place as a field excursion under the theme The Socio-environmental Dimension of Wildfire Risk Management. Participants visited an area of the Solsonès region affected by a large wildfire to analyse firsthand how such events transform Mediterranean landscapes, land-use patterns, and public perceptions of the territory. The activity provided a deeper 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 discussion spaces in addressing today’s major environmental challenges, while strengthening collaboration networks among early-career researchers and experts in forestry and sustainability.
The Joint Research Unit (JRU) between CTFC and Agrotecnio has been in place since 2019, with the aim of developing joint projects on Mediterranean forest management and the environmental threats affecting these ecosystems.
CTFC and Agrotecnio are two CERCA research centres of the Government of Catalonia.
Last modified: 23 October 2026
