Jillian

The recent MARGISTAR Extended Core Group meeting in Sofia gathered leaders from the project’s working groups to assess progress, address ongoing challenges, and outline plans for the next phase of the COST Action. Participants engaged in productive discussions, generating fresh ideas for enhancing community engagement and improving dissemination efforts. Among the key topics was the presentation of case studies and the launch of new tools to support sustainable development. A field visit to Gabrene showcased how local communities are successfully integrating cultural heritage with environmental sustainability to revitalise the region.

The 12th Annual International Conference on Ecology, Ecosystems, and Climate Change, held in Athens, Greece, on July 15-18, 2024, gave MARGISTAR’s Yaşar Selman Gültekin a special opportunity to disseminate preliminary results from case studies conducted on the Western Black Sea Region of Türkiye. Read on for more about this important opportunity to present MARGISTAR and some of its case studies to researchers, scientists, and students from around the world.

Earlier this year, Sérgio Barbosa from the University of Coimbra participated in a Short-Term Scientific Mission at the University of Graz's Department of Sociology. The mission aimed to develop pedagogical tools to engage young people in marginalised mountain areas and to address digital technology imbalances between urban and rural regions. Sérgio's research focused on fostering lifelong engagement with digital technologies through participatory pedagogy. He also presented his findings at a seminar hosted by the HFDT research network. This mission marked a significant step towards creating educational frameworks for digital participation among young people in rural areas.

At the end of June, it was time to explore. Plans: ready, materials: prepared, suitcase: packed, so off we went. Elena Todorova was warmly welcomed by her host, Antonio Monteiro from the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning at the University of Lisbon. Together, with Ana Margarida Silva from the Centre for Intercultural Studies (CEI, ISCAP-P. PORTO), they headed to the Serra da Estrella Mountain for a MARGISTAR Short-Term Scientific Mission to uncover the delicate socio-ecological interactions that shape this unique mountainous region. They used Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping to explore how local communities and the natural environment influence and sustain each other. The next 12 days were full of meetings, festivals, cultural events, and adventures in nature. Read on for more about this journey.

From the 23rd to 29th of June 2024, Stockholm hosted the prestigious 26th IUFRO World Congress under the theme “Forests and Society Towards 2050.” MARGISTAR’s Dr Oksana Pelyukh, an assistant at the Department of Ecological Economics and Business at the Ukrainian National Forestry University (Ukraine), attended this global gathering supported by the ITC Conference Grant provided by MARGISTAR. This blog reflects on her experience and insights gained during this transformative event.

In June, MARGISTAR member Goda Lukoseviciute attended the Tourism Hospitality & Events International Conference (THE INC) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The conference focused on professional collaboration to understand and develop scientific ideas in tourism. Hosted by Hotelschool the Hague, THE INC 2024 provided Goda the opportunity to present her research, interact with professionals, and discuss future opportunities in her research interests. Continue reading to learn how the conference impacted Goda and the insights she took from her experience.