Final Activity Report Summary - AXIOM (Assessment of in situ Transformation of Xenobiotic Organic Material)
AXIOM provided an early stage research forum for doctoral studies integrated into applied research projects dealing with transformation and fate of organic chemicals in the environment. Therefore, training in the application of novel stable isotope techniques to evaluate the fate of organic contaminants in the context of contaminated land rehabilitation and testing of the environmental behaviour of chemicals was provided. Interdisciplinary stable isotope approaches were developed for application in both applied science and academia. Four PhD studies were during this programme, and 10 additional PhD students were trained in isotope techniques in the field of environmental biogeochemistry.
The fellows applied:
1. stable isotope techniques to assess the in situ transformation of organic chemicals; and
2. microbiological techniques to elucidate factors controlling the in situ transformation in soils or aquifers.
Methods and concepts for the elucidation of degradation pathways, the assessment of environmental stress factors and the elucidation of microbial diversity were developed. The fellows gained technical expertise in co-operative research projects with partners from academia and Small and medium sized enterprises (SME). They worked in applied research projects in the context of the SAFIRA research platform and received training on the application of scientific results in the field of risk assessment, rehabilitation of contaminated soils, ground water and sediments, natural attenuation strategies and other remediation measures.
In addition, AXIOM provided a structured training programme within a research platform for 10 short term fellowships for European and international PhD students. They received training in interdisciplinary isotope, molecular biological and biogeochemical techniques and completed parts of their PhD programme related to isotope studies within AXIOM.
In summary, the AXIOM programme strongly contributed to facilitate scientific cooperation in Europe counteracting fragmentation in research and education.
The fellows applied:
1. stable isotope techniques to assess the in situ transformation of organic chemicals; and
2. microbiological techniques to elucidate factors controlling the in situ transformation in soils or aquifers.
Methods and concepts for the elucidation of degradation pathways, the assessment of environmental stress factors and the elucidation of microbial diversity were developed. The fellows gained technical expertise in co-operative research projects with partners from academia and Small and medium sized enterprises (SME). They worked in applied research projects in the context of the SAFIRA research platform and received training on the application of scientific results in the field of risk assessment, rehabilitation of contaminated soils, ground water and sediments, natural attenuation strategies and other remediation measures.
In addition, AXIOM provided a structured training programme within a research platform for 10 short term fellowships for European and international PhD students. They received training in interdisciplinary isotope, molecular biological and biogeochemical techniques and completed parts of their PhD programme related to isotope studies within AXIOM.
In summary, the AXIOM programme strongly contributed to facilitate scientific cooperation in Europe counteracting fragmentation in research and education.