Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PFAStwin (Twinning to address the PFAS challenge in Serbia)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-09-01 bis 2023-11-30
To further enhance UBFC staff excellence through "train the trainer" programs, they received training in the latest PFAS methods at partner institutions, leading to the creation of Best Practice Manuals (BPMs). These documents will serve as essential references for collaborative research endeavours. The outcomes of these training sessions and the BPMs have been presented at UBFC to broaden their reach. The organization of summer schools, a second planned initiative, has already commenced, contributing to the expansion of UBFC's network and scientific capabilities.
As a vital step toward recognising UBFC in the PFAS research, LC-MS/MS at the UBFC set up for the PFAS analysis with strong support from colleagues from CSIC. To contribute to the monitoring and risk assessment of these compounds in Serbia, a sampling plan was devised in collaboration with governmental, industrial, and scientific stakeholders from Serbia, and it will be implemented in the following months. Additionally, after setting up the new state-of-the-art instrument – bioreactor, investigation of potential methods for combining abiotic and biotic remediation has started, with significant advances in isolating microbial strains capable of PFAS degradation. These steps mark the beginning of the journey toward acknowledgement for UBFC as a center of excellence in the PFAS field.
Simultaneously enhancing UBFC's scientific reputation, an action plan was formulated to improve the efficiency of the grant office, ensuring effective support for researchers in obtaining funding and executing projects. To facilitate staff development, short-term staff exchanges were organized with partner institutions, along with a series of lectures on proposal writing and project management for UBFC researchers. As a result, a significant increase in proposal submissions and successful funding was observed during this period. In response to the increased workload, an additional staff member was hired to the grant office.
Key impacts of the project include:
• Strengthening UBFC's research and innovation capabilities in PFAS research.
• Enhancing the attractiveness of UBFC for retaining research talents, reducing brain drain.
• Fostering connections between academia, government, and industry.
• Increasing success in mobilizing national and European resources for UBFC's strategic investments.
• Contributing to society and public health.
To date, these impacts have been achieved by outlining a development roadmap, organizing researcher training, establishing collaborations with governmental and industrial stakeholders, and engaging with PIs and researchers from other HE-funded projects in Serbia and the EU. Public awareness about PFAS pollution and preventive measures in Serbia has also increased.
UBFC will continue to organize impactful events like workshops, lectures, summer schools, and seminars to build capacity in PFAS research. The long-term impact of PFAStwin is expected to garner greater public support for scientists' efforts to mitigate PFAS's negative effects, engage policymakers, and encourage industry adoption of cutting-edge scientific solutions.