‘I started my fieldwork in the Netherlands, but after coming across a study done in Bulgaria, I decided to go there. This enabled me to expand and improve my research. Also, Bulgaria always has severe winters and that is important for my research question: is there any photosynthesis activity in Pinus sylvestris in the winter?
I spent four weeks in total at the University of Forestry in Sophia. I measured photosynthesis levels using a system that regulates leaf temperature and adds varying concentrations of CO2 to the leaf. You can then make a curve and eventually calculate the photosynthesis capacity. Since little research has been done at low leaf temperatures, I worked in the winter. The winter fieldwork was lovely; sometimes there was a lot of snow lying but I never got too cold through my think winter clothes. I spent about two weeks doing fieldwork, taking measurements of a tree by day, and I spent the other two weeks organizing and analysing the data.
The researchers at the university in Bulgaria were very friendly and helpful and helped me a lot. They were very interested, too, as they are doing research on this species of pine as well. I really enjoyed my time there. The supervisors at the university took me out to local restaurants a lot and my supervisor even invited me home to dinner with his family. It was a good experience to work with other researchers. I stayed in a hostel so I met a lot of travellers from other countries. That meant there was always something nice to do after work, like eating together and having a chat, or exploring the city. So I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Bulgaria. I would do it again without hesitation, and I didn’t for one moment regret it or have any doubts.’