New wave of Black Sea research partnerships
A few years ago, the EU established a Black Sea scientific network of leading environmental and socioeconomic research institutes, universities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), thus creating a climate for outstanding research collaboration. Building on the BLACKSEASCENE initiative, the more recent EU-funded project UP-GRADE BS-SCENE (Upgrade Black Sea scientific network) strengthened collaborating organisations and added more key institutes to the network. Specifically, the project brought on board 19 more environmental institutes and organisations from around the Black Sea to improve marine data management and foster the exchange of scientific knowledge. This was done to protect and rehabilitate the Black Sea ecosystem, a task facilitated by harmonised data processes, better databases and the development of common vocabularies. The project's principle achievement was the establishment of an online portal that offers access to in situ and remote sensing data, metadata and other services. Contents include marine environment datasets and research projects, as well as cruise research summary reports, scientist profiles, scientific publications and data visualisation tools. Now 38 data centres are connected to the portal with 158 000 datasets that can be downloaded by stakeholders, in addition to a catalogue of online mapping services for the Black Sea region. Project partners also developed quality assurance and quality control guidelines regarding physical oceanographic data, chemical oceanographic data, biological data and zooplankton. UP-GRADE BS-SCENE strengthened the European Research Area (ERA) by establishing a critical mass of environmental and governmental source holders of marine datasets, experts in data management and data services and marine environmental scientists. Together they developed a data service, which is of added-value to the research community and other groups such as engineers and coastal managers. Benefits include improved coordination in environmental and socioeconomic policy, management and administration to yield a high level of scientific knowledge and expertise. This in turn, will support the development of new environmental policies and strategies, as well as better decision making and administration of the Black Sea ecosystem.
Keywords
Black Sea, UP-GRADE BS-SCENE, network, databases, European Research Area
