New FP7 Environment research information service on CORDIS
CORDIS, the Community Research and Development Service has launched a new environment information service under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). This will provide a gateway to this high-level theme, including Climate Change, under the auspices of the Cooperation programme. The primary objective of research for the environment is to promote sustainable management of both man-made and natural environments and their resources. This means that the theme has, and will continue to have, a broad global and dynamic impact. Accordingly, the home page opens with 'Highlights' giving details of the most important topical news articles. There is also an outline of the wide focus of funding actions, from the prediction of climate and systems change to technologies for monitoring environmental change and pressures. Furthermore, there are links to the vast amount of background information through 'Previous relevant European research'. A 'Get Support' portal provides links to the network of National Contact Points (NCPs). These provide personalised, local support in the proposers' own languages. Other support includes the new 'Enquiry Service' that replaces the traditional Help Desk e-mail service, IGLO (Informal Group of RTD Liaison Offices), and the CORDIS Mini-Guide. Due to the global status of environmental issues, a page on international cooperation within environment research outlines how FP7 aims to open all the themes and projects to international collaboration. Specific International Cooperation Actions (SICA) is a new element that addresses research problems of mutual interest and benefits between the EU and international cooperation partner countries. An 'Events' link gives a full account of future information exchange venues as well as past symposia, conferences and other important events. Details of agenda and presentations from previous events can be accessed where available. For the wide range of actors wishing to research the correspondingly large amount of data on the topic, there is a 'Library' page where legislative documents, relevant work programmes, newsletters and miscellaneous documents under FP7 can be traced and accessed. Finally, a 'Useful Links' page leads to European and global addresses for activities, organisations and research. There is also a link to relevant projects under the previous programme on every page.