Federal Research Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW- Vienna, Austria)
Web: www.bfw.ac.at

Organisation and Competences: The Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape is a multidisciplinary research and training institution of the Federal Government of Austria. BFW supports the sustainable development of society through the preparation of scientific guidelines and through dissemination of knowledge on the multifunctional use of natural resources.

The team at BFW will consist of members of the Genomics Research Unit, supported by administration, training and dissemination, and public relations specialists. The Genomics Research Unit is active in the areas of forest genetics and genomics, conservation, and knowledge transfer for practical forestry. The molecular genetics laboratory of BFW is equipped with instruments for conducting high-quality research on population genetics and genomics of forest trees, including the capability for working with large sample numbers. Staff expertise extends to interaction with the forestry-wood chain at the national and international levels (e.g. in EUFORGEN). Two training centres run by BFW specifically host national and international courses and workshops for translating research results into the applied sector. BFW staff has been involved in international Capacity Building Training in alliance with IPGRI/Bioversity, over the last years. A specific platform for publicizing scientific research results for the general public is run by BFW staff (Christian Lackner); www.waldwissen.net, and dedicated publications (BFW Praxisinfo) and events (BFW Praxistag) aim at disseminating up-to-date research. BFW constantly interacts with forest sector stakeholders nationally and internationally (e.g. IUFRO whose headquarters are housed in the same building in Vienna, EFI, Bioversity, FTP, etc.) in these dissemination activities. The Research Centre has particularly close ties with institutes in Central and Eastern Europe, welcoming scientific visitors from these countries on a regular basis, and collaborating in common projects.

Role: BFW will coordinate Work Package 6 regarding the dissemination, training and interaction with the scientific community at large, and participate in WP5 by contributing sub-task 5.4.2.

Staff members' profiles:
Dr. Berthold Heinze- more than 15 years of research experience in forest tree genetics, biotechnology, molecular biology; participant (work-package coordinator e.g in TREEBREEDEX) in several EC-funded research projects, principal investigator in nationally funded research projects; many scientific and lay-language publications; Vice-Chair and Chair in past EUFORGEN Networks; reviewer for many high-ranking journals in the field, and for national and international funding agencies.
Dr. Vedhu Krystufek- PhD (genetics) as a part of the EC-funded EUROPOP project. Certificate course in Management and two years of working experience as a scientific adviser and marketing assistant in a private firm.
Dipl.-Ing. Christian Lackner- Master in Forestry, University Diploma in Science Communication, responsible for public relations at BFW since 2005, work experience in forestry and scientific journalism.