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II.3.3. Development of an expert-research centre in UW Białowieża Geobotanical Station

IDUB Programme Objective(s)

  • I. Increasing the impact of the scientific activity of the University on the development of world science
  • II. Strengthening research cooperation with internationally renowned scientific institutions
  • III. Improving the quality of education of students and doctoral candidates
  • IV. Preparing and implementing comprehensive solutions for the professional development of University employees

Name of POB/activity group

Description

Objectives

  1. Establishing a unique European centre of research on forest ecosystems, the risks associated with global changes, and the importance of forests to the well-being of mankind;
  2. Development of innovative tools for monitoring the Białowieża Forest and its heritage;
  3. Creating accommodations for visiting scientists;
  4. Renovating and augmenting research infrastructure;
  5. Increasing the number of BSG UW employees (currently, there are only 2);
  6. Promoting and propagating the research conducted at BSG UW.

Justification

This activity will bring BSG UW into the 21st century, as an active centre for experts and researchers from all over the world. BSG UW will become a place for the free exchange of scientific ideas, which will contribute to the creation of international research networks, joint projects, and publications. The creation of a research network, involving scientists from other countries who are studying forest ecosystems, will allow for advanced research in the fields of functional ecology, medical ecology, and the impact of global changes on biodiversity and functions of the ecosystem. Visiting scientists and employees of BSG UW will carry out potentially ground-breaking scientific research, which will raise UW’s international recognition and lead to more prestigious publications. In order to carry out interdisciplinary research on forest ecosystems, the emerging centre will establish cooperation with leading foreign research institutions in the field, e.g., the University of Ghent and the University of Lemberg (Belgium), the University of Freiburg and the University of Marburg (Germany), and INRAE (France).

Coordinating unit

  • Faculty of Biology

Entities involved in implementation

  • The leader of the activity is the Białowieża Geobotanical Station of the Faculty of Biology at the University of Warsaw, 19 Sportowa Street, 17-230 Białowieża.
  • The established research unit and its infrastructure will serve the entire UW community, including teams carrying out research and activities in the following fields: (i) ecology and nature protection (e.g., various Institutes of the Faculty of Biology), (ii) climate change (e.g., Institute of Geophysics, Advisory Team on Climate and Ecological Crises – “Warsaw University for the Climate”), (iii) human interaction with biodiversity (e.g., the Faculty of Microeconomics, the Faculty of Economic Sciences), and (iv) the Centre for Cooperation and Dialogue (CWiD) at University of Warsaw.