A two-day Autumn School will bring together thinkers, innovators and leaders in Forestry to share experiences in a unique learning ecosystem.

About this event

GoGreenRoutes, a Horizon 2020 project is coordinated by Maynooth University and is based at the All Institute and Dept. of Psychology. As part of our innovations to promote nature and health we are hosting an Autumn School event in collaboration with the Embassy of Finland, in Dublin, the Environmental Protection Agency, Maynooth University All Institute and Dept. of Psychology, with contributions from aligned research projects Clearing House and ContinuFor.

We hope to create a learning ecosystem to develop a policy brief which can inform best practice in the future in Nordic-Irish approaches to Forestry. We have invited experts from over 14 organisations to participate in think-in's on novel approaches to promoting sustainable forestry including forests for health.

This year marks 60 years since diplomatic relations were established between Ireland and Finland in 1962. This collaboration has been marked by celebratory events in February this year with Prof. Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University, among the invited guests.

Provosional Schedule

Monday October 10th

12:00 hrs. Walk N' Talk Tour of Award Winning Maynooth Green Campus with Stephen, Seaman, Maynooth Green Campus Committee and researcher Rachel Freeman (TU Dublin)

13:00 hrs. Lunch at Glenroyal Hotel

14:00 hrs. Introductions by Prof. Tadhg MacIntyre (Dept. of Psychology)

Welcome Address by Prof. Eeva Leinonen (President of Maynooth University)

Opening Address by H.E. Ambassador Raili Lahnalampi (Embassy of Finland)


Ministerial Address by TD Pippa Hackett (Minister of DAFM)

14:45 - 15:30 hrs Research Showcase:

Dr. John Devaney (Dept. of Biology, NUIM) 'ContinuFor' project sustainable forestry management in Ireland,

Prof. Tadhg MacIntyre (Dept. of Psychology) GroGreenRoutes and GETinNature projects,

Dr Rik de Vreeese, ClearingHouse Project.

15:30 - 15:50 hrs Tea/Coffee Break

15:50 - 17:20 hrs Finnish and Irish Perspectives: Showcase of Best Practice in Forestry Management and Opportunities to Support Recreation and Health (Speakers TBC)

17:20 - 17:30 hrs Summary and Reflections

18:00-19:00 hrs Walk and Cycle on the Royal Canal Greenway

19:30-21:00 hrs Dinner at Glenroyal Hotel

Day 2: Tuesday 11th October

0845 hrs. Breakfast at Donadea Forest Park (then return to Glenroyal Hotel)

10:30-11:15 hrs. Optimising Opportunities for Ownership in Forestry

11:15-12:30 hrs. Future of Forestry for Health and Well-Being

12:30-1300 hrs Digital Narratives: Apps and VR demonstration

13:00 - 14:00 hrs Lunch at Glenroyal Hotel

14:00 - 14:30 hrs Policy Framework Overview

14:30 - 15:30 hrs Policy Possibilities in Finland and Ireland

15:30 - 15:50 hrs Coffee/Tea Break

15:50-17:00 hrs Policy Roundtable Discussions

17:00-17:30 hrs Final Thoughts: Seeing the Woods for the Trees

18:00-20:00 hrs Dinner at Glenroyal Hotel

(If you wish to participate or send representatives to Day 3 Training Day for Early Career Researchers and Entrepreneurs please email info@gogreenroutes.eu )

Day 3 Wednesday 12th October

09:00 - 09:30 Welcome coffee

09:30 - 10:30 Seeing the forest, not the trees: Leveraging Open Science to Improve Research (Dr Dermot Lynott)

10:30 - 11:00 Participatory Methods and Inclusion

11:00 - 11:30 Novel Methods for Citizens

11:30 - 13:00 Field Trip (Maynooth Campus and Environs)

13:00 - 14:00 Lunch

15:00 - 16:30 Presentations on Well-Being Campus

For more informative visit the full event listing here.