The first Staff-Exchange Twinning visit (SET-1) took place from February 23 to 25, 2023, marking a significant collaboration between the European University of Cyprus (EUC) and Imperial College London (IMPERIAL). The visit involved Dr. Klelia Petrou from EUC – CERIDES and included meetings, presentations, and discussions aimed at defining the next steps and work required for completing the objectives of Work Package 3 (WP3) as outlined in their agreement. This initial visit was crucial for both teams to establish a mutual understanding and plan future collaborative efforts.
The schedule for SET-1 began with a welcome session and a lab tour at IMPERIAL’s Hazelab on the first day. The tour provided Dr. Petrou with an overview of Hazelab’s research facilities and demonstrations of fire behavior, which are part of the lab’s science communication and outreach initiatives. The second day featured presentations from both EUC and IMPERIAL, showcasing the organiations’ respective research capabilities and projects, particularly focusing on wildfire research and management. Discussions highlighted the importance of developing a Fire Management Suite for Cyprus and evaluating the applicability of FARSITE, a wildfire modeling software, for use in Cyprus.
On the final day, Dr. Petrou, Professor Guillermo Rein, and Dr. Carlos Walker-Ravena met to summarize the visit and plan subsequent actions, including the next staff exchange (SET-2) scheduled for May 2023. The meeting underscored the collaborative efforts in wildfire research, with Dr. Walker-Ravena presenting his work on the heat transfer, pyrolysis, and ignition of wildland fuels.
This visit laid the groundwork for ongoing cooperation and set the stage for future exchanges and training sessions between the two institutions.
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