Description du projet
Formation sur le cycle biogéochimique du mercure
La convention de Minamata de 2013, adoptée sous l’égide du programme des Nations unies pour l’environnement (PNUE), a défini le statut du mercure (Hg) en tant que métal toxique d’intérêt mondial. Polluant mondial largement utilisé au quotidien, le mercure est rejeté dans l’atmosphère, le sol et l’eau, ce qui entraîne des effets nocifs sur la santé des humains et des écosystèmes. Le cycle biogéochimique du Hg est toutefois complexe. Dans ce contexte, le projet GMOS-Train, financé par l’UE, dispensera une formation dans le domaine de la science du mercure conformément à la convention de Minamata du PNUE. En outre, le projet remédiera aux importantes lacunes au niveau des connaissances sur le cycle biogéochimique du mercure qui empêchent l’optimisation des politiques environnementales nationales relatives aux émissions de mercure. GMOS-Train dispensera une formation complémentaire en matière de diffusion en appliquant les principes de la science ouverte, de la communication, de l’exploitation et de la sensibilisation afin de traduire les réalisations scientifiques en politiques efficaces.
Objectif
With the signing of the UNEP Minamata Convention in 2013, governments have globally accepted that Hg is global relevance and toxic; scientific needs will therefore shift towards best implementation practices of the Convention. With most Hg emissions emanating from the energy-industrial sector this means that governments have to balance economic and environmental interests. How does one asses that balance? Biogeochemical Hg cycling is complex: superimposed on the strongly perturbed inorganic Hg cycle is the natural process of biomethylation that generates the bioaccumulating monomethyl-Hg form that we are all exposed to when we consume fish. Today, comprehensive multimedia models of the biogeochemical Hg cycle are being developed and capture this complexity to try and evaluate the effectiveness of environmental policy scenarios. For the models to work however, they must include realistic descriptions of fundamental Hg transformations and fluxes across Earth’s surface environments. Despite decades of Hg science, we still lack answers to some of the most basic questions on those fundamental Hg transformations and fluxes. The objectives of the GMOS-TRAIN network are (1) to provide urgently needed training in mercury science within the context of the UNEP Minamata convention, and (2) to bridge key knowledge gaps on biogeochemical mercury cycling that currently hamper the optimization of national environmental policy regarding mercury emissions. The process of training a pool of 15 Early Stage Researchers represents an excellent capacity building needed for the implementation of the Minamata Convention. Being trained in highly relevant research topic will enhance researchers career prospective and employability. Moreover, complimentary training in dissemination using Open science principles, communication, exploitation and outreach will enforce the transfer of science results to effective policy making.
Champ scientifique
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Régime de financement
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinateur
1000 Ljubljana
Slovénie