Guanchao Cheng (Northeast Forestry University) utilized the IRISCC Open Calls to access the FO3X manipulative research facility at the CNR-IRET Institute in Italy.
—— By: Guanchao Cheng, IRISCC
I am Guanchao Cheng, from China, currently on a one-year visiting exchange at the CNR-IRET Institute in Florence. Our project studies how different tree types respond to ozone pollution, a still-important air pollutant.
Nearly all plants form symbioses with soil fungi that help them take up nutrients. We compare two types of associations – arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) trees – to see whether they respond differently to ozone.
The project relies on CNR’s FO3X facility, a Free-Air Ozone Concentration Enrichment (FACE) system that exposes trees growing outdoors to different ozone levels across a full growing season – controlled conditions, but as close to nature as possible. Since my project depends on this facility, applying for transnational access through IRISCC was a natural choice. The application process was clear, well organised and efficient.
The IRISCC-funded access made the fieldwork possible, and working closely with the CNR-IRET team has been just as valuable – especially when planning measurements and interpreting results. Access also allowed us to study a broad range of plant and soil responses, improving both the depth and quality of the study.
I would recommend IRISCC access to any researcher, especially those from outside Europe looking for a practical, welcoming route to specialised research infrastructure for climate change research.
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More successful IRISCC projects: Explore the IRISCC projects dashboard on their projects page
