Education, Research, Innovation, Networking in the Edu4ClimAte Action Plan (D4.1) have been organized into 4 inter-linked Work Packages (1, 2, 3, 4). Belowwe provide a short summary of their progress and main achievements.
High Quality Education & Training (WP1).
The Edu4ClimAte “Training Hub” (Task 1.1) will frame various capacity building activities of/with local ecosystem and the long-term (Education & Training) collaboration between HEI partners. Its design has been achieved (Deliverable D1.1 -M6) and its implementation initiated by:
1) A total of 2 Autumn schools successfully achieved (Task 1.4
2) ; Successful recruitment of 4 PhD students engaged in joint PhDs between Widening and Advanced HEIs (Task 1.2).
3) Upgraded postgraduate Education Program co-designed by the academic partners and better aligned with ERA and UN SDGs (Task 1.3) by: 1) Re-accreditation and/or upgrade of the Environmental Sciences post-graduate / Master Program of the CyI and UoC with new features (e.g. UN SDGs content relevant to EMME)
Joint Research Strategy (WP2)
Built around the further (co-)development of existing Facilities (Atmospheric Monitoring) in Crete/Cyprus (UoC/CyI), the (co-)creation of new Facilities (EMME-DO, EMME-AMP), and their further utilization by the consortium to conduct joint research (PhD) projects. Progress and achievements are:
1) Two new co-operated Research Infrastructures (EMME-DO/AMP) established to better support local stakeholders. Development of EMME-DO (EMME Decarbonization Observatory) was successfully achieved (Task 2.1 D2.1). EMME-DO’s provision of high quality GHG observations will facilitate the integration of the Widening HEIs into ICOS. Its further scientific exploitation is ongoing with Edu4ClimAte Advanced HEIs through joint PhD projects. It will also contribute to the development of new services to the Cyprus Government (see Key Exploitable Results). The development of EMME-AMP (EMME Atmospheric Modeling Platform) (Task 2.2is progressing well and as expected. It has already led to tangible impacts on regional scale, supporting the Egyptian Government to mitigate Air pollution and better adapt to desert dust storms (see Key Exploitable Results).
2) New scientific (open access) publications and new datasets on air pollution & GHG in the EMME are now available from the results of the Joint PhD projects: (Task 2.3,2 publications accepted, 2 publications submitted).
3) One co-operated Atmospheric (Crete-Cyprus) Research Infrastructure to mutualize resources and increase visibility and competitiveness. See above Key Exploitable Results (joint participation of Widening HEIs to H.E. project and related European Networks)
Joint Innovation Strategy (WP3)
Flagship Innovation and Policy Support activities were initiated with local/surrounding ecosystems of the Widening countries to co-develop highly specialized environmental services and products. Four new environmental products/services are currently co-developed with Widening public/private partners (Tasks 2.1 2.2 2.3):
1) New environmental product/service on methane detection and sulfur emissions from ship stack
2) New environmental service on Air Quality Forecasting to the World Bank / Egypt (EMME-AMP)
3) New environmental service to the Cyprus Government (MRV of GHG with LULUCF sector)
4) Enhanced technological capacities of the CyI drone Facility (Task 3.2; Achieved 50%) to perform environmental observations.
Networks (WP4).
Local, regional, and international clusters led by the Edu4ClimAte consortium are strengthened by aligning them with the ambitions of the European Research and Education Areas with the following achievements:
1) Coordination of 2 Research & Innovation Networks (Europe, EMME) (2 on-line annual workshops) (Task 4.3).
2) Engagement of local surrounding ecosystem in mitigating/adapting to Air Pollution and Climate Change (1 annual “SCYence Fair”, 1 local network of low-cost air quality sensors, 1 digital platform for local air pollution/dust forecasting) (Task 4.3).
