This year’s General Assembly in Tulln was not only special for InnovaWood’s 25th anniversary, but also for opening its doors to young researchers free of charge for the first time. The event was co-hosted at WoodKplus and BOKU, giving participants access to research facilities and topics that span the wide breadth of what wood science looks like today.
In this episode, Florence Kuijl and Eva Ceh asked our newest and returning participants what the one skill is that every young researcher should learn. The answers held a few recurring themes, and more than one surprise.
Soft skills and personal traits came out on top. Technical expertise matters, of course, but the skills researchers kept returning to were ones that go beyond the lab or the desk: the ability to communicate across disciplines, to collaborate across borders, and to take the long view when results do not come quickly.
This is precisely why we believe in bringing young researchers into spaces like the General Assembly early. Being in the room, meeting peers and senior researchers from across Europe, and engaging with questions that sit at the edge of the field is a form of learning that no curriculum fully replicates.
As a network and community, we recognise the importance of nurturing young talent and including the next generation of researchers in shaping wood research, innovation and education across Europe.
Now it’s your turn: What is the most important skill a young researcher should master? answer the question on our Linkedin post.
More Episodes
[Open Mic: 4 questions to the InnovaWood community] Episode IV : If you had unlimited funding, what would you study?
[Open Mic: 4 questions to the InnovaWood community] Episode II : What is your favourite wood species and why?
