The support was central to the success of this STSM. It enabled in-person collaboration and exchange that would otherwise not have been possible. In times when online meetings are common, the depth and quality of direct communication cannot be overstated – clear and fruitful exchange is essential for scientific excellence.

The funding was crucial for the success of our project. It enabled our international team to access state-of-the-art digital forestry tools, conduct an intensive field campaign in Oklahoma, and develop innovative research approaches. This allowed us to address urgent questions on wildfire resilience in the Cross Timbers and strengthen scientific collaboration across continents.

The funding was essential to implement this project and establish formal collaborations. It supported travel and research stays, enabled fieldwork in a remote region, and made it possible to collect fundamental baseline data – while strengthening international collaboration, capacity building, and long-term research partnerships.

Traditional scientific funding often overlooks outreach activities and science communication. The funding enabled us to bring together a team of experts, think ambitiously, and implement creative approaches that strengthen our societal impact as researchers.

Funding through the Innovation Pool made it possible to organise two events of the lecture series in a deliberately interdisciplinary format – at the interface of science, literature, and music. This unusual combination opened up new perspectives and brought different audiences into dialogue. Particularly valuable was the opportunity not only to communicate scientific content but also to frame it culturally – thereby making visible the role of the forest as both an ecological and societal reference point.