Final Report Summary - CECRA (Reinforcement of the laboratory for environmental protection at the faculty of science of the University of Novi Sad as a centre of excellence ...)
The CECRA project aimed to improve the scientific, research, networking and dissemination capabilities of the laboratory for environmental protection at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Novi Sad, which was therefore reinforced into a 'Centre of Excellence for Environmental Chemistry and Risk Assessment' (CECRA). The project focused on the renewal of equipment and the transfer of knowledge via the training and education of young and senior researchers and increased the capacity of Serbia to harmonise its regulations in the domain of environmental protection with EU legislative.
CECRA strategic objectives were to:
1. improve responses to socioeconomic needs and provide an attractive research environment;
2. adequately train young researchers to participate to future international research and technology for development (RTD) activities;
3. create an environmental pollution database to accurately represent the existing problems;
4. elaborate risk assessment for existing emergencies;
5. increase the understanding of pollutants' behaviour in aquatic compartments;
6. characterise contaminated areas in the western Balkan countries (WBC);
7. develop a contaminated sediment treatment process.
The above mentioned goals were achieved via networking with some of the leading European institutions, whose participants transferred knowledge and innovations in Novi Sad as visiting fellows. Moreover, CECRA human potential was increased and public awareness on environmental issues was raised by the undertaken dissemination activities. A relevant web portal was also developed, addressed to researchers, students, policy makers and the general public. The principal project results were finally communicated through a series of actions, such as regional and international workshops, seminars, conferences, publications and press releases. Therefore, CECRA impacts were maximised and viability after its lifetime was ensured.
Firstly, the equipment for instrumental analysis of environmental samples was renovated and enriched, so as to upgrade and improve the applied techniques and broaden the laboratory analytical possibilities. Therefore, the research environment became more attractive and resulted in an augmentation of the employed personnel. The institution fields of expertise were related to drinking water and wastewater treatment, water and sediment quality monitoring and risk assessment and soil remediation practices.
The technology gaps and needs were evaluated in cooperation with European partners and several training activities of varying duration were organised. The increased competence of CECRA researchers was regionally and internationally recognised and enabled their increased participation in RTD efforts. As a result, the Serbian scientific potential was activated as a key component of regional development in environmental chemistry, risk assessment and environmental protection.
CECRA strategic objectives were to:
1. improve responses to socioeconomic needs and provide an attractive research environment;
2. adequately train young researchers to participate to future international research and technology for development (RTD) activities;
3. create an environmental pollution database to accurately represent the existing problems;
4. elaborate risk assessment for existing emergencies;
5. increase the understanding of pollutants' behaviour in aquatic compartments;
6. characterise contaminated areas in the western Balkan countries (WBC);
7. develop a contaminated sediment treatment process.
The above mentioned goals were achieved via networking with some of the leading European institutions, whose participants transferred knowledge and innovations in Novi Sad as visiting fellows. Moreover, CECRA human potential was increased and public awareness on environmental issues was raised by the undertaken dissemination activities. A relevant web portal was also developed, addressed to researchers, students, policy makers and the general public. The principal project results were finally communicated through a series of actions, such as regional and international workshops, seminars, conferences, publications and press releases. Therefore, CECRA impacts were maximised and viability after its lifetime was ensured.
Firstly, the equipment for instrumental analysis of environmental samples was renovated and enriched, so as to upgrade and improve the applied techniques and broaden the laboratory analytical possibilities. Therefore, the research environment became more attractive and resulted in an augmentation of the employed personnel. The institution fields of expertise were related to drinking water and wastewater treatment, water and sediment quality monitoring and risk assessment and soil remediation practices.
The technology gaps and needs were evaluated in cooperation with European partners and several training activities of varying duration were organised. The increased competence of CECRA researchers was regionally and internationally recognised and enabled their increased participation in RTD efforts. As a result, the Serbian scientific potential was activated as a key component of regional development in environmental chemistry, risk assessment and environmental protection.