MARGISTAR on the Road
Exploring Harmony: A Short-Term Scientific Mission into the Balance of Humans and Nature in Serra da Estrela, Portugal
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.
Navigating Towards Sustainable Forest Futures: Reflections from the 26th IUFRO World Congress
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.
Advancing Tourism Research: Goda Lukoseviciute’s Experience at THE INC 2024
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.
Vladimir’s STSM Experience in Sofia: Insights & Reflections
Recently, MARGISTAR’s Vladimir Stojanovski had the opportunity to participate in a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) at the Bulgarian Academy of Science’s Forest Research Institute in Sofia, Bulgaria. This STSM was linked to MARGISTAR’s tasks in that it aimed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange on sustainable forestry and rural development. As a researcher focused on the socio-economic aspects of forestry in marginalised regions, particularly in North Macedonia and South-West Bulgaria, this mission was a pivotal experience in his academic and professional journey.
Reflections from the Futures of Natural Resources Conference and Researcher Practices
In this blog, I report my personal experience at the Futures of Natural Resources Conference and reflect on the transformative ways researchers can participate in conferences to achieve the biggest possible positive research and outreach benefits and the least possible negative social-ecological impact.
MARGISTAR at the 21st Rural Entrepreneurship Conference: Empowering Rural Futures through Entrepreneurial Potential in a Net-Zero Era
From June 5 to 7, MARGISTAR’s Anita Busljeta Tonkovic for the fourth time visited the Rural Entrepreneurship Conference at the University of Leeds, England. Although the conference location changes annually, it is host to a regular group of academics who Anita has been meeting and maintaining international scientific collaborations with for years. Read about Anita’s experiences and how these have changed since her first visit as a postdoctoral researcher in 2016.
