Michael Grabner

Michael Grabner is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Resources, part of the Department of Natural Sciences and Sustainable Resources at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). He specializes in dendrochronology, wood technology, and historical wood utilization, with research addressing climate impacts on forests and sustainable resource management.

Education:

• Doctorate (Dr.nat.techn.), Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (2005)
• Diplom-Ingenieur (Dipl.-Ing.), Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (2002)

Research Focus: His work bridges wood science, climate adaptation, and cultural heritage. Key areas include dendroecological responses to environmental stress, historical wood utilization patterns, and innovative applications of hardwood resources. Recent projects explore tree-ring based climate reconstructions, wood mechanics under changing conditions, and sustainable transformation of forest biomass.

Publication Trends: Grabner's recent articles (2024-2025) demonstrate a strong emphasis on climate-wood interactions, with themes spanning drought resilience in European forests, mechanical properties of hardwood, dendroarchaeology, and sustainable construction. Methodologically, they integrate field data, material testing, and spatial modeling to address forestry challenges in changing environments.

Awards:

• Congress Award der Stadt Graz (2020)
• World Wood Day Grants (2017-2021)
• Josef Umdasch Forschungspreis (2008)
• Theodor Körner Preis (2006)
• Preis der Stiftung „120 Jahre Universität für Bodenkultur“ (2003)
• Klaus Fischer Innovationspreis (2002)

Projects & Collaboration: He leads 41 projects including climate-adaptive forestry studies (e.g., Klimafitte Wälder), historical wood analysis (Holzhandwerk revisited), and wood quality assessments (Schadholz-Qualität). Collaborates across BOKU departments and international institutions on dendrochronology applications. Manages laboratory facilities for wood anatomy and dendroecological analysis at BOKU's Tulln campus.