In a productive and inspiring atmosphere, our BetaFor DFG project recently welcomed a panel of internationally renowned scientists for its official evaluation. The visit combined the traditional presentation format with a hands-on excursion into the project’s core study area — the University of Würzburg’s research forest — offering our guests a direct look into the environmental context that drives our work.

During the presentation sessions, the team introduced the latest progress in forest ecology, biology, environmental as well as Earth Observation research, highlighting how satellite- and ground-based data support our understanding of forest dynamics. A special focus was placed on the plans for the upcoming project phase, which will expand our observational capabilities through extended UAS-based (drone) sensors. These future activities were presented by Prof. Tobias Ullmann, with support of Dr.. Mirjana Bevanda, who leads our UAS research, we outlined how drone-mounted sensors will enable new levels of spatial detail and temporal flexibility in our monitoring efforts.

The field visit offered an opportunity to demonstrate ongoing measurements and to discuss methodological approaches directly where the data originate. This combination of indoor and outdoor exchange sparked lively discussions, with reviewers posing thoughtful questions that helped refine our research direction and highlighted the scientific relevance of our work.

We are grateful for the evaluators’ time, expertise, and constructive feedback. Their perspectives not only help validate the project’s progress but also motivate us to advance our research even further as we prepare for a potential next phase of BetaFor.