Scientists from UkrNDILGA participated in an online working meeting of the scientific group for the implementation of the "Ukraine Natural Science Talent Empowerment" project (#UNSTE) ("Development of Talents in Natural Sciences of Ukraine"), which is being carried out in Ukraine with the support of the Swedish Institute (Swedish Institute) (Stockholm, Sweden). The main organizers from the Swedish side are Luleå University of Technology (Luleå University of Technology) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences). Representatives from Luleå University of Technology included Professor Dick Sandberg, Dr. Olena Myronycheva, and Dr. Olov Karlsson, while the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences was represented by Professor Ola Eriksson and Dr. Kateryna Davydenko.
From the Ukrainian side, the project involved Nina Bisko - Doctor of Biological Sciences, Senior Researcher (Institute of Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), Ihor Neyko - Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Senior Researcher (Vinnytsia Forest Research Station #UkrNDILGA), Iryna Bandura - Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor (Tavria State Agrotechnological University), and Tetiana Konovalenko - Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor (Melitopol State Pedagogical University).
The project started in March 2024 and will be implemented over the next two years. According to the presented program, support will be provided to postgraduate students for conducting scientific research in Ukraine and Sweden. At the first stage of the project implementation, a course of lectures on the main forestry disciplines will be provided. In particular, disciplines in phytopathology, forest protection, mycology, wood science, organic chemistry, basics of statistics, etc. are planned. The training will be conducted in the "Canvas LMS" (Canvas Learning Management System) environment. Upon completion of the training, Luleå University of Technology will issue certificates for completing the corresponding theoretical part of the courses.
The next stage involves methodological support for postgraduate students regarding the organization and direct conduct of field research, collection of relevant field material, wood samples and other components of forest stands, and subsequent laboratory research. The laboratory research itself can be carried out both in Ukraine and in Sweden in the appropriately equipped laboratories of Luleå University of Technology and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. In Swedish universities, the collected materials will be processed and data analyzed using appropriate licensed software products. Project participants will be provided with access to the information resources of Swedish universities. Based on the results of the research, it is planned to publish articles in the most prestigious international publications. The prospect of preparing subsequent project applications to international funds is also being considered.
Deputy Director of Vinnytsia Forest Research Station Ihor Neyko
For readers:
State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine