Verena Griess

Prof. Dr. Verena C. Griess is a Full Professor at ETH Zürich, Switzerland. Her research focuses on advancing decision-making in forestry by addressing the essential question: What should we do, where, and when?—to ensure a sustainable and resilient future for forests and society.

Her team develops next-generation decision support systems that leverage satellite imagery, drone-based LiDAR, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data to transform how forests are mapped, monitored, and managed. These innovations enhance forest inventories with greater speed, precision, and rich insights into tree height, biomass, forest health, and economic value.

Beyond data collection, Prof. Griess investigates how various management strategies and climate change scenarios affect forest landscapes, integrating complex dynamics such as wildfires, pests, and extreme weather events. She is also a pioneer in the use of immersive virtual reality to communicate research findings—enabling policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public to experience potential forest futures in an intuitive and impactful way.