Start of ACCENT, The European Network of Excellence on the Atmospheric Composition Change
29 March 2004 - 30 March 2004
Italy
Changes in atmospheric composition directly affect many aspects of life, determining climate, air quality and atmospheric inputs to ecosystems. In turn, these changes affect the fundamental necessities for human existence: human health, food production, ecosystem health and water. In order to meet the complex research demand in this field, the Network of Excellence ACCENT (Atmospheric Composition Change: the European NeTwork) has been financed by the European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme under the coordination of the Institute for Atmospheric Science and Climate of the Italian National Research Council. The Network comprises most main European Institutions which are active in the field of atmospheric and climate science and several University Institutes from twenty one European countries, including some Accession Countries.
The primary mission of the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Union for Research and Development is to help realize the European Research Area (ERA) and develop synergies between existing national activities; enhance the complementarity between Community actions and those of other European scientific cooperation organizations in all fields of science. Networks of Excellence are key instruments for the implementation of the European Research Area and for strengthening the European research excellence, so reducing the fragmentation of the national projects. The Network of Excellence ACCENT has been financed with 11,2 millions Euro within the thematic priority of Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems. The Network ACCENT will last for five years and has two overall goals:
a) to promote a common European strategy for research on atmospheric composition change;,b) to optimize two-way interaction with policy makers and general public concerning the issue of air quality and global change.
The Sustainable Development is based on an active and widespread participation of the Society to the protection of the environment. For this reason, the Network is not only engaged in an ambitious research project, but has the specific mission of spreading the knowledge beyond the boundaries of its partnership to the whole society. Policy makers, schools and Universities, media and the general public will be directly involved by ACCENT, also through an intensive use of instruments and Internet-based technologies.
The primary mission of the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Union for Research and Development is to help realize the European Research Area (ERA) and develop synergies between existing national activities; enhance the complementarity between Community actions and those of other European scientific cooperation organizations in all fields of science. Networks of Excellence are key instruments for the implementation of the European Research Area and for strengthening the European research excellence, so reducing the fragmentation of the national projects. The Network of Excellence ACCENT has been financed with 11,2 millions Euro within the thematic priority of Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems. The Network ACCENT will last for five years and has two overall goals:
a) to promote a common European strategy for research on atmospheric composition change;,b) to optimize two-way interaction with policy makers and general public concerning the issue of air quality and global change.
The Sustainable Development is based on an active and widespread participation of the Society to the protection of the environment. For this reason, the Network is not only engaged in an ambitious research project, but has the specific mission of spreading the knowledge beyond the boundaries of its partnership to the whole society. Policy makers, schools and Universities, media and the general public will be directly involved by ACCENT, also through an intensive use of instruments and Internet-based technologies.
Keywords
Atmospheric Research