“I was there when the first three forest sector COST Actions (E1, E2 and E3) were selected. Must have been back in 1997, and I think the meeting was led by Mr Ignacio Seoane, who later became a colleague while I worked for the European Commission (EC) DG RTD 2000-2004. At that time COST was hosted by the EC, so we worked in the same building in Square de Meeus. But it was not before 2006,after a reorganisation of COST, that I came into the picture. I was elected chair of the Domain Committee on Forests, their Products and Services (DC FPS) in the very first meeting, re-elected in 2009(?)and I stepped down in 2014.”
Former COST President Fedi used to quote Voltaire with his own little twist: “If COST did not exist, it would be necessary to invent it”. It felt true. COST is based on excellent ideals like openness, knowledge creation and sharing, international cooperation, added value and inclusion. Therefore, it felt very right to me to spend quite some time working for COST, and I did it with pleasure and energy. Remember that COST was an early enabler for research collaboration between researchers from both sides of the iron curtain (after it fell), and thus opened new possibilities to many researchers. And during my time as leader of DC FPS we organised several special initiatives, e.g. directed towards young researchers, and towards cross-disciplinary issues like in arts and science, and in ICT and forestry. This said, the main impact comes of course from all the COST Actions. The networking of “nearly all” forest researchers all over Europe has had an enormous impact on the sector. And yes, also on me as a person and scientist, and on my own career and development as leader. I try my best to bring further the excellent ideals learned into my daily work. “
Prof Sjur Baardsen
Rector-Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway