Objective Anthropogenic activities continue to impact the environment causing soil and ground water contamination in many regions and the effects are often persistent especially where heavy metals and radioactive substances have been released. Ecological problems can be particularly severe in the case of atomic power facilities and recent occurrences (Japan) indicate that the Chernobyl incident in 1986 was by no means unique. Moreover, such accidents hold a profound “dread” factor for the general population. Environmental pollution can be equally profound and even more persistent in the case of mining waste which contaminates large areas of Europe with diverse heavy metals. Plants adapt to chronic radiation and heavy metal contamination as demonstrated by re-colonization of polluted areas. This project aims to understand the basic principles of protective mechanisms and how such pollution affects the stability of the genome. We propose to establish a research network to evaluate and exploit unique resources in the Chernobyl zone and in mining sites (Wales, UK) as “open area” laboratories for studying how changes of DNA are coordinated with internal cellular networks during plant response to these pollutants. We use a combination of genetic, cell biological, molecular and evolutionary strategies. Part of the project is devoted to crop plants and their ability to grow in contaminated sites with the idea to increase productivity and safety. For the first time, eight research teams with complementary experience in radiation and other plant stresses will cooperate for solving the common for Europe problem of survival in contaminated nature. This will provide the insights on an increasingly detailed knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms for plant stress tolerance and gives an opportunity to see how the problems of Chernobyl and other contaminated places could be solved by scientists and what could be done in order to secure human life against environmental pollution. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringmining and mineral processingengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile networknatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollutionnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IRSES - Marie Curie Action "International Research Staff Exchange Scheme" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IRSES See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IRSES - International research staff exchange scheme (IRSES) Coordinator ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY EU contribution € 83 600,00 Address VISUALISATION CENTRE PENGLAIS SY23 3BF Aberystwyth United Kingdom See on map Region Wales West Wales and The Valleys South West Wales Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Nansi Williams (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITAT GOTTINGEN STIFTUNG OFFENTLICHEN RECHTS Germany EU contribution € 79 800,00 Address WILHELMSPLATZ 1 37073 Gottingen See on map Region Niedersachsen Braunschweig Göttingen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Nadja Daghbouche (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data INSTITUTE OF PLANT GENETICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Slovakia EU contribution € 66 500,00 Address Akademická 95007 NITRA See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Henrieta Kvapilová (Mrs.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data USTAV EXPERIMENTALNI BOTANIKY AV CR Czechia EU contribution € 55 100,00 Address ROZVOJOVA 263 165 02 PRAHA 6 See on map Region Česko Praha Hlavní město Praha Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Karel Angelis (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data