Picture source: UBC Forestry
To engage the AP-FECM Steering Committee in advancing innovation in forestry education in the AP-FECM region and keep our communication regular, the AP-FECM Executive Office (EO) has proposed and coordinated the AP-FECM Online Seminar with the confirmation from the AP-FECM Steering Committee.
This seminar will be organized by each AP-FECM Steering Committee on a rotational basis. The on-duty steering committee is responsible for contacting the speaker and promoting the event within their universities and regions. The invited steering committee can give the talk or recommend one expert to give the talk. EO can help promote the seminars to all AP-FECM members and post them on the AP-FECM website. The seminar will be recorded and posted online.
Seminar time: The first Thursday of each month, can be adjusted to another day if necessary.
Seminar frequency and duration: Once per month, 1 hour each time. 45 min presentation+15 min Q&A is recommended.
Seminar topics: In 2025, our webinar focuses on the theme of innovation and new trends in forestry and forestry education. As a result of rapid climate change, biodiversity loss and new technological advances, the continued importance of forests to humans, and the threats that forests face, the careers of forestry professionals are evolving rapidly, especially in the Asia Pacific region. Higher forestry education in the Asia Pacific region has been evolving rapidly over the past few years to keep up with the evolving trends in the forestry sector and to accommodate the needs of students and society.
Innovation and new trends in forestry or forestry education can be shared in the webinars, for example, new trends in technology in forestry, teaching pedagogy, conceptual developments, paradigm shifts and program and curriculum innovation are all suitable topics for webinars.
Our Next Webinar:
AP-FECM webinar
Title: Teaching in an age of climate anxiety: Pedagogies of care, hope, and agency in the classroom
Speaker: Dr. Fernanda Tomaselli
Assistant Professor of Teaching and Director Land One Program
University of British Columbia
Time: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 6-7 PM PT (Vancouver)
Zoom Link: https://ubc.zoom.us/j/63044091956?pwd=QQENfnAnCRHZgvegckBMog1bmm2e4q.1
Meeting ID: 630 4409 1956
Passcode: 195425
Abstract:
Climate change poses unprecedented challenges, not only to ecosystems and societies but also to the mental health and wellbeing of today’s youth. Global surveys reveal rising levels of climate anxiety, often linked to feelings of powerlessness. This talk explores how educators can both acknowledge the severity of climate change and create supportive learning environments that cultivate hope and agency. Drawing on research and classroom practice, I will highlight strategies—such as collaborative learning, experiential activities, and action-oriented frameworks—that can help students transform anxiety into constructive engagement and resilience.
Profile:
Dr. Fernanda Tomaselli is an Assistant Professor of Teaching at the Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia (UBC), and Coordinator of the Land One program. With over five years of experience teaching higher education courses related to forestry, climate change, and sustainability, she is known for her interdisciplinary expertise in environmental communication, ecological economics, and conservation. Dr. Tomaselli’s teaching philosophy focuses on inspiring students to actively engage with sustainability challenges and empowering them to seek solutions to pressing environmental issues through interactive and experiential learning. In recognition of her commitment to innovative education, she received the 2023–2024 Killam Teaching Prize in Forestry and the 2024 D2L (Desire2Learn) Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning from the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
2025 Tentative Schedule
| Seminar time (Vancouver time) | On-duty Steering Committee (Host) | Invited Steering Committee | Speaker | Title |
| 6 PM, February 27, 2025, | AP-FECM Executive Office | Dr. John Innes, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Canada | Dr. Orlando Rojas University of British Columbia | Bioinnovation Accelerates Through a Cross-Disciplinary Framework |
| 6 PM, March 06, 2025 | Dr. John Innes | Dr. Antanas Spokevicius, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia | Dr. Christopher Weston Associate Professor (Forest Eco, Fire & Soils), University of Melbourne | Forestry Education in Australia – Engaging the Forest Sector |
| 7 PM, April 22, 2025 | Dr. Antanas Spokevicius | Dr. Mohammed Al-Amin, Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University, Bangladesh | Dr. Guangyu Wang Associate Dean and Associate Professor, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia | Forest Therapy: Healing Power from Forests — Origin, Theories, Challenges, and Opportunities |
| 7 PM, May 08, 2025 | Dr. Mohammed Al-Amin | Dr. Cristián Bonacić, Department of Ecosystems & The Environment, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | Prof. Pablo I. Becerra Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | Forestry Education and Professional Practice in Chile |
| 6 PM, June 26, 2025 | Dr. Cristián Bonacić | Dr. Xiong Li, Beijing Forestry University, China | Dr. Juan Shi Beijing Forestry University | The Application of Virtual Simulation and Large Model in Forestry Education in China |
| 6 PM July 29, 2025 | Dr. Juan Shi | Dr. Hao Ren, College of International Education, Nanjing Forestry University, China | Dr. Lin Cao Nanjing Forestry University | Smart Teaching for Forestry Education and Practices in China |
| 6 PM August 28, 2025 | Dr. Lin Cao | Dr. Weibin Wang, Southwest Forestry University, China | Dr. Xuedong Xi Southwest Forestry University | Brief introduction on the production of wood-based panels in China and the discussion on the cultivation of talents in the Wood Science and Technology major |
| TBA in September, 2025 | Dr. Weibin Wang | Dr. Baatarbileg Nachin, National University of Mongolia | Dr. Fernanda Tomaselli University of British Columbia | Teaching in an age of climate anxiety: Pedagogies of care, hope, and agency in the classroom |
| TBA in October, 2025 | Dr. Baatarbileg Nachin | Dr. Jorge Mario Chavez, Faculty of Forestry Sciences, La Molina National Agrarian University, Peru | ||
| TBA in November, 2025 | Dr. Jorge Mario Chavez | Dr. Juan M. Pulhin, Department of Social Forestry and Forest Governance, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Philippines Los Baños, Philippines | ||
| TBA in December, 2025 | Dr. Juan M. Pulhin | Dr. DKNG Pushpakumara, Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka | ||
| TBA in January, 2026 | Dr. DKNG Pushpakumara | Dr. Rachanee Pothitan, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Thailand | ||
| TBA in February, 2026 | Dr. Rachanee Pothitan | Dr. Hoang Van Sam, Director of International Cooperation Division, Vietnam National University of Forestry | ||