Background and Research Approach

Forests play a vital role in regulating the climate, providing ecosystem services, and supporting biodiversity. However, they are increasingly threatened by climate change, leading to forest dieback and loss of ecosystem function.

To develop effective strategies for enhancing forest resilience, it is essential to understand the complex interactions between trees, climate, and environment. Measurements in the field, particularly in the canopy, are crucial for gathering data on tree water relations, a critical factor in determining forest resilience. Collecting leaf and branch samples from the canopy allows researchers to assess tree health and water status.

Based in the collected data, recommendations about adaptive forest management can be made. The project aimed to produce a documentary showcasing the importance of forest resilience and the innovative methods used to study it, focusing on tree climbing and drone technology.

Methods

Our team included two teams of scientists from the University of Göttingen and the Technical University of Braunschweig who brought the necessary expertise and sampling skills for the film, as well as a professional science communication agency (Zum Staunen* - Kreativstudio für Wissenschaftskommunikation), who was responsible for filming organization, film production and postproduction. The content and the storyline of the film were developed jointly through repeated online and in-person meetings. Using the filming equipment of the agency (cameras, microphones, filming drone etc.), and the technical equipment of the scientific teams (climbing equipment, drone equipment) we met for in total two condensed days of filming at a selected site near Apelern, Lower Saxony.

The agency team then proceeded with the post-production, while staying in close contact with us as scientific experts to make sure the messages conveyed in the film were as intended. Eventually, we are proud to have produced a documentary of ca. 20 minutes, combining personal storytelling, informative explanations, and stunning visuals to engage the audience. The final product is to be published on YouTube and disseminated and advertised through short teasers on various channels, including Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky by the participants and their home institutions. The main target group includes a young, non-expert audience.

Achievements and Challenges

The project was set up as a collaboration of scientific experts with science communication experts in order to enable a professional, engaging and scientifically sound outreach project. This partnership enabled the creation of a professional, engaging, and scientifically sound outreach project, and allowed us to learn from each other's expertise. The additional collaboration with social media responsibles from the institutions was also a valuable experience, and we appreciated the opportunity to work together. Overall, the project was a great experience, and we are pleased with the final outcome. However, we did encounter a limitation when the person responsible for social media content creation fell ill, which caused a delay in the distribution of the documentary and required some time to resolve. Despite this setback, we were able to adapt and still achieve the project's goals. In fact, we reconsidered the release timing following the expertise of other social media experts that we approached instead.

Outputs and Outlook

The final documentary, "Per Seil oder Drohne zur Krone? – Das Forschungsduell im Blätterdach," is a high-quality, engaging film that meets the project's goals. It is soon to be available on YouTube and advertised through various institutional channels, promoting internal and external exchange and enhancing the visibility of the Competence Centre for Landscape Resilience. Despite minor delays, the project was successfully completed, and the output is expected to inspire the audience to engage with forest resilience and STEM studies.

• Working together with science communication experts and learning from their expertise
• Reflecting on our own work: what makes our research relevant and interesting for society?
• Developing a scientific output that can make an impact beyond academia