Synthesis Actions
Synthesis Actions
Synthesis Actions are spaces for collective thinking, expanding horizons, and imagining the future of scientific research in areas such as, for example, ecology, biodiversity, or climate change. This section gathers all the actions led by CREAF to foster high-level scientific debate with experts from around the world.
The Synthesis Actions are part of CREAF’s Severo Ochoa Strategic Plan, aimed at strengthening the centre’s scientific leadership, especially among early-career researchers. These actions are designed to promote debate on relevant scientific questions in areas such as, for example, ecology, biodiversity, forests, climate change, nutrient cycles, ecosystem restoration, or plant physiology, with an international and interdisciplinary approach.
Held in Barcelona, the Synthesis Actions are selected through an internal call open to all CREAF researchers. Proposals are evaluated by a scientific committee and must involve renowned international experts. These meetings offer a valuable opportunity for the next generation of CREAF scientists to lead initiatives with global impact and help shape the scientific agenda of the future.
Synthesis Action methane
Synthesis Action methane
Methane fluxes from tree stems: from chamber-based measurements to global estimates
Relevant documents
Relevant documents
FAQs
FAQs
Preparing your proposal
Preparing your proposal
Yes, rooms can be rented for the organisation of Synthesis Action meetings and workshops. In terms of financial justification, the invoice must be made out to CREAF. The UAB has a number of meeting rooms that can be used if UAB teaching staff are involved in the organising committee.
There are no restrictions on the advance arrival of participants in relation to the start of the Synthesis Actions or on their return once the meeting or workshop has ended.
However, there is a limitation on per day allowances, which can only be justified for the day before the start and up to the day after the end of the event. With regard to accommodation, the night before the event and the night of the day it ends will be accepted. The rest will be at the expense of the participant.
To request travel, you must complete the travel request form and send it to viatges@creaf.cat.
As of today (28/10/2025), the new economic justification rules of the Severo Ochoa programme make it difficult to justify catering services. A technical consultation has been made to the Ministry, but no response has yet been received. It is recommended that the daily maintenance budget per person be within the daily maintenance allowance limit for national territory (€37.40).
Implementation and justification
Implementation and justification
Synthesis Actions are justified with the information that will appear on the website to be created (see dissemination section), the lists of attendees (if there are different attendees each day, a list must be made for each day) and the photographs taken during the Synthesis Action.
INVOICES must be requested. As stipulated in CREAF regulations, in order for any expense to be approved, an INVOICE in the name of the centre is required (with the exception of taxis, if they do not issue an invoice, and single public transport tickets – multi-use tickets are not valid). Restaurant receipts are not valid under any circumstances.
If the attendees arrange any travel themselves, the invoice must always be in the name of CREAF, otherwise the money advanced cannot be recovered.
Due to uncertainties regarding the economic justification of maintenance expenses (see proposal preparation section), we still do not know how meals will be managed, whether each participant will have to pay individually and then request reimbursement through allowances (€37.40/day) or if catering or restaurant reservations can be made (with set menus and a list of people attending the meal), paying the bills directly from the centre. Before organising, consult with the Project Management Office (projectes@creaf.uab.cat), to see which of the two options we can apply.
Hotel invoices must include the names of the people who have stayed and the dates of their stay. Accommodation prices must be reasonable, equivalent to "tourist" or "mid-range" class (equivalent to a 3-star hotel). For more information, please consult viatges@creaf.cat.
Dissemination
Dissemination
All digital or paper material derived from any expenditure by Severo Ochoa must comply with publicity regulations. In order to justify the Synthesis Actions, the programmes and/or summaries produced must comply with these regulations. In the case of Synthesis Actions, with the support of the CREAF Communication Department, a section must be created on the CREAF website with the relevant information in order to justify it correctly (see next question).
The logos can be found at the following address, searching for Severo Ochoa:
A short text should be prepared with the title, a summary of the topic of the Synthesis Actions and their objectives. For reasons of economic justification of the action, it is also recommended to prepare an agenda for the event, even if it is preliminary. All this information must be sent to the Communications Department (comunicacio@creaf.uab.cat at least 15 days before the event takes place. With this information, the Communications Department will prepare the Synthesis Action section on the CREAF website.
We recommend preparing a short text summarising the main conclusions of the Synthesis Actions, together with some images of the event for the website. All this information should be sent to the Communications Department (comunicacio@creaf.uab.cat) no later than 15 days after the event.
Articles and other scientific results from Synthesis Actions must acknowledge the funding of Synthesis Actions in the acknowledgements section.
Grant CEX2023-001340-S funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033
