• Project summary

Center for Meteorology and Environmental Predictions (CMEP) at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, represents qualified and very promising research capacity focused on environmental predictions with special emphases on numerical weather prediction, agricultural forecasts, UV index forecast and monitoring and prediction of air pollution. The programme planned to be realized through RRP-CMEP project forms coherent set of coordination, dissemination and education actions directly aimed to improve CMEP’s capacities on RTD in basic sciences and environmental predictions related to environmental protection aspects. The activities of CMEP are aimed to achieve sustainable development and consistent environmental policy in Serbia, already recognized and widely elaborated with EU and which has an ultimate character in WBC. Objectives of the proposed project are to use environmentally oriented numerical models, software and the modeling systems to predict basic tendencies in environment, to promote the collaboration with EU research institutions, to create opportunity for exchange of scientific personnel, and the training of young scientists, to hire new young researchers to reinforce the human potential, to upgrade and renew S&T equipment in order to reinforce internal scientific capacities and open possibility to form regional network and to integrate in the European research area (ERA). Improving and reinforcing of RTD capacities through this project enables the establishment of a strong, well-equipped and internationally recognized research center, an appropriate partner in ERA both in fundamental and applied researches and future activities within FP6 and FP7.

• Strategic objectives of the project

1. To contribute to strategic objective FP6, notably regarding the European Research Area (ERA) i.e. to improve co-ordination, public awareness and preparation of future Community initiatives in environment protection and related safety aspects.
2. To promote in Serbia and WBC region state of the art applications in environmental predictions established on the basis fundamental research in physics, meteorology, chemistry and biology following current social and economical needs of Serbia and making a productive intellectual atmosphere for young generation of researchers, thus avoiding “brain drain” phenomena.
3. To promote and facilitate the dissemination, transfer, exploitation, assessment of past and present research results obtained by the CMEP and its European partners by means of a project web site and specially developed information-computational system also providing useful information for professionals, decision makers and target groups dealing with environment from different point of view.
4. To prepare future WBC region RTD activities within FP6 via dedicated training program realised by means of e-learning and organisation of International Workshops.
   

• Specific objectives of the RRP-CMEP

1. To improve and reinforce research capacity in the field of the environmental predictions by means of highly sophisticated environmental models including: numerical weather prediction, agricultural forecasts, UV index forecast and monitoring and prediction of air pollution propagation from one point source, through lifting the computational and measuring equipment and software techniques on the higher level.
2. To make a bridge between basic science and achievements and their applications in this field, to hire new young researchers and exchange researchers between CMEP and highly ranking EU scientific institutions and universities.
3. To provide young researchers to visit EU scientific institutions and universities in order to direct their orientation towards applied environmental problems as well as to advance the state-of-the art by making EU diffusion of the first Serbia research results in environmental modelling.
4. To develop, launch and support in operation the Network site as an internet accessible information-computational system providing: different forms of environmental prediction outputs, communication, discussion, dissemination and education platform related to different environmental issues for network participants, professionals, decision makers and general public.
5. To use the web portal for offering the information about FP6 and FP7 INCO on relevant thematic, with special emphasis on WBC, giving WBC researchers a vision of their research as an opportunity for activity development within ERA.
6. To organise International Workshops for outstanding and prominent researchers, police and decision makers about current state in environmental and software modelling with emphases on environmental prediction.
   

• Workplan and deliverables

WP1: MOBILITY & TRAINING

·  Organisation of three month-scientific visits and stays in EU research institution for 3 (three) young researchers from CMEP.
·  Organisation of one week-visits to EU (WBC) research institution for 10 (ten) senior researchers from CMEP.
·  Organisation of hosting scientists from abroad for training and/or research activities for 5 (five) experts (up to one week each).

Deliverables
D.1.1.1-9 Summary reports on one month study visits
D.1.2.1-6 Summary reports on one week study visits
D.1.3.1-9 Summary reports on hosting experts for training

WP2: DISSEMINATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE

· The CMEP’s web portal will be developed as based on internet technologies and multimedia user interface distributed www-accessible information resources gathered by all RRP-CMEP members, with interactive analytical functions and computational modules allowing remote user to perform necessary calculations, and training modules providing an interactive access to relevant resources about state of art in environmental predictions and relevant legalisation both at national and international (EU) level.
· The task include: definition of the concept and design of the web portal; substantive (professional) and linguistic editing of the documents issued in process of the SSA performance and implementation of the CMEP web portal all relevant information as on-line, searchable set of electronic documents and links to similar web-sites elsewhere and setting up discussion forum. Second group of tasks is related to preparation and publishing leaflet about CMEP and RRP-CMEP.

Deliverables
D.2.1  Dissemination plan
D.2.2  Web portal concept and plan
D.2.3  Web portal project
D.2.4  Leaflet about CMEP and RRP-CMEP

WP3: ORGANIZATION OF WORKSHOPS

· To define the list of invited speakers ( from networking institution, and 2 speakers from other institutions )
· To define the overall structure of the Workshop
· To define and send out the Workshop Announcement (to about 100 addresses )
· To prepare Proceedings of the Workshop (on CD and web portal)
· The workshop is planned to be held at the beginning of the 3rd year of the project).

Deliverables
D.3.1 Proceedings of the Workshop “Introducing on Environmental Decision-Making Tools under Environment Change Conditions in West Balkan Countries by Connecting Potential Users and Tool-Designers” on CD and web portal

WP4: REINFORCEMENT OF CMEP (equipment and hiring)

· During the first year of the SSA, two young researchers and during the second year another two will be chosen among the best postgraduate students and hired to work on the activities of CMEP and to be trained for specific new methods. Towards the end of the SSA permanent position in CMEP and the Faculty of Sciences will be offered to the best two young researchers. For the other two, the CMEP will try to find appropriate position elsewhere (governmental environmental monitoring, industry, SME…). During their engagement in CMEP, young researchers will have to write three reports (during the project period) in details about their activities in CMEP, which has to be presented and accepted by MC.
· During the same time, the procedure for upgrade and renewal of equipment will take place. The agreed equipment, which will improve the use of existing models and contribute to development of new one, will be purchased trough the procedure of open tender for the best offer. The documentation with details about the equipment needed and specific requirements will be prepared by the experts and presented to companies that sell the equipment. According to rules for purchasing equipment, al least three valid offers are needed. A team of experts together with the coordinator of the SSA and the Head of CMEP will decide upon and select the offer that fulfils most of the requirements presented in the documentation).

Deliverables
D.4.1  Reports of activities of young researchers hired by CMEP (three reports during the project period)
D.4.2  Tender documentation for purchasing new equipment prepared by the experts
D.4.3  Criteria for selecting the best offer for buying new equipment
D.4.4  Report about the selection of the best offer for the equipment