Global Expertise Meets Local Innovation at the IMPACT Open-Air Lab

Following the launch of the IMPACT OAL (Intensive Monitoring of Planted and Competing Trees Open-Air Laboratory) by the Hans Merensky Chair in Advanced Modelling of Eucalypt Wood Formation (EucXylo), led by Prof David M. Drew, this flagship research plantation has become a regular hub for visits from stakeholders, collaborators, and other interested parties. Recently two international guests were welcomed to the IMPACT OAL: Dr Sam van Holsbeeck from the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, and Prof Ben Spong from West Virginia University, USA. Accompanying Prof Spong were three enthusiastic undergraduate students – Maddy, Jimmy, and JJ – who had the opportunity to experience forestry innovation in action. 

Dr van Holsbeeck, a specialist in integrated pest, disease, and weed management in forestry, and Prof Spong, an expert in forest operations, engaged with researchers and students at the IMPACT OAL to explore cutting-edge technologies used for intensive tree monitoring and data collection. 

Their visit provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and sparked insightful discussions around the current challenges and innovations shaping forestry science. It also underscored the importance of global collaboration in advancing sustainable forest management practices. 

The EucXylo team expressed excitement about the prospects of continued collaboration with both Dr van Holsbeeck and Prof Spong, with hopes to build on this momentum and deepen international research ties in the years to come.