Descrizione del progetto
Formazione sul ciclo biogeochimico del mercurio
La convenzione di Minamata del 2013 del programma delle Nazioni Unite per l’ambiente (UNEP) ha definito il mercurio un metallo tossico e di interesse globale. Si tratta di un inquinante globale ampiamente utilizzato nella vita quotidiana e rilasciato nell’atmosfera, nel suolo e nell’acqua, con conseguenze sulla salute umana e dell’ecosistema. Tuttavia, il ciclo biogeochimico del mercurio è complesso. In questo contesto, il progetto GMOS-Train, finanziato dall’UE, si occuperà della formazione scientifica sul mercurio secondo la convenzione di Minamata dell’UNEP. Il progetto affronterà anche le significative lacune di conoscenza sul ciclo biogeochimico del mercurio che impediscono l’ottimizzazione delle politiche ambientali nazionali relative alle emissioni di mercurio. GMOS-Train offrirà una formazione complementare sulla divulgazione mediante i principi della scienza aperta, la comunicazione, la valorizzazione e la diffusione per trasformare i risultati della scienza in politiche efficaci.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinatore
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia