JRC Summer School on the evaluation of air, soil and water pollution in support to the European Green Deal: a holistic approach

Programme

1. 4 Sep 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 (CEST)

   Day 1

   Opening

   Welcome speech: the Rector of Novi Sad University (tbd)

   Environment and Climate in EU Enlargement, EC/JRC project: Claudio Belis, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Clean Air and Climate Unit (project leader)

   The role of science in WB region: Miroslav Veskovic, Novi Sad University (tbc)

    

   Round table: introduction of the participants

    

   Session 1:  Air emissions and impacts.

   a) Emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere could be harmful for human health and ecosystems, and change the climate. Moreover, pollutant deposition and runoff result in the discharge to soil and water, which could increase their level of pollution.

    

   • Introduction to Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), which is a multipurpose, independent, global database of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, air and toxic pollutants.
   • Presentation of EDGAR methodology to estimate emissions for specific sectors.
   • Overview on EDGAR methodology for emissions distribution and insight on how to create emissions gridmaps to be used as input to chemical transport models.
   • Practical applications.

   Each day: coffee break in the morning (20 min), lunch break (1h and 30 min), coffee break in the afternoon (20 min).

    

    

2. 5 Sep 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 (CEST)

   Day 2

   Session 1:  Air emissions and impacts. (Continuation)

   b)The JRC-FASST tool was developed at JRC’s Clean Air and Climate Unit, and allows the user to evaluate how air pollutant emissions affect large-scale concentrations and their impact on human health (mortality, years of life lost) and crop yields. The tool is specifically designed to compare a scenario (policy case) with a counterfactual case (baseline). The target policy domains are national to regional air quality policies, or air pollutant scenarios linked to other policy domains (e.g. climate policy).

    

   • Presentations on issues related to air quality impacts.
   • Introduction to the JRC-FASST tool and the underlying model approaches, validity and limitations.
   • JRC presentation of case studies and results obtained.
   • Practical introduction to the tool user interface.
   • Exercises for the participants, with a focus on evaluation of the air quality impacts of policy measures in the Western Balkans.

    

   Session 2: Soil health.

   New monitoring tools, methods and approaches to quantify and manage spatial and temporal variability of soil parameters.

    

   • Direct and indirect monitoring tools and techniques for assessing soil health, with hands-on field sampling experience
   • Explore spatial variability in soil properties, learning to account for site-specific factors and improve management decisions
   • Delve into temporal variability, understanding how soil parameters changes over time
   • Implications for precision agriculture and soil health decision support.
3. 6 Sep 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 (CEST)

   Day 3

   Session 2: Soil health. (Continuation)

   New monitoring tools, methods and approaches to quantify and manage spatial and temporal variability of soil parameters.

    

   • Master soil modeling, integrating data to predict and manage soil for long-term productivity and ecosystem preservation
   • Soil pollution in perspective of an integrated approach between air-water-soil
   • Land degradation: an integrated perspective on land resources (agriculture-urban-forest) and their sustainable management. 
4. 7 Sep 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 (CEST)

   Day 4

   Session 3 Water quality.

   Novel methods for improving the quality of water, overview on advanced measurement techniques and fieldwork. The implementation of new methods such as advanced molecular and cellular-based technologies is of utmost importance to improve the water quality; technologies e.g. metagenomics and bioassays, aim to improve the monitoring methods, knowledge of the aquatic environments, which are essential for their protection and preservation.

    

   1. Introductory and experimental part.

   • Sampling campaign: water-sampling method.
   • Test for microbiological parameter under the Bathing Water Directive.
   • Filtration and DNA extraction.
   • PCR for 16S rDNA  (ribosomal DNA):  the first step for metagenomics and PCR for the detection of an antibiotic  resistant gene.
5. 8 Sep 2023, 09:00 - 15:00 (CEST)

   Day 5

   Session 3 Water quality. (Continuation)

    

   b) Description of the techniques and their applications. Discussion of the results.

   • Short introduction to the Antimicrobial Resistance and cyanobacterial and algal bloom.
   • Bioassay to detect the estrogenicity in the European Water Framework Directive.
   • Differences between PCR and quantitative PCR, and novel approach:  the digital PCR.
   • Metagenomics: microbial composition and shotgun.

    

   Session 4 Closing

    

   • Integration and synergy.
   • Lessons learned.

Practical information

Description

Who can participate?  

We are looking for advanced students and young scientists from Western Balkans region, i.e., Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia (enrolled in masters or enrolled in PhD or max. 5 years after masters or PhD) with a strong interest in the protection of environment, air, soil and water in particular. Applications by Bachelor students are also admitted, however, the priority will be given to advanced students.

The maximum number of participants will be 25.

We expect a continuous presence from all participants to receive a certificate of attendance.  

Your presence during the whole summer school without interruption is not only important for the outcome of the event, but also for making the travel sustainable. 

How to apply?

The application process is now closed.

Applications should have been submitted by 30 June 2023.

How the participants are selected?

Participants will be selected based on the following criteria:  

• Clarity of the motivation to attend this Summer School
• Relevance of the CV

Please send these documents at JRC-summerschool [dot] WB2023ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-summerschool[dot]WB2023[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Decisions on acceptance will be announced by email on 15 July 2023.

Costs and logistics  

Participation in the JRC Summer School is free of charge. However, participants will need to cover the costs of their travel and accommodation. The JRC will provide budget for these costs only for the first 10 ranked in the list of selected candidates.

The participants are encouraged to think about the climate impact when planning their travel. Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. You can reduce your emissions by booking the most direct route and where possible consider travelling by train instead.

The JRC is dedicated to reducing its impact on the environment and will arrange the Summer School in a green spirit. We will endeavour to keep food waste, single-use plastics and printing on paper to a minimum.

Practical information

When

Monday 4 September 2023, 9:00 CEST - Friday 8 September 2023, 15:00 CEST (the dates are subject to change in case of force majeur)

Where

University of Novi Sad

Dr Zorana Đinđića 1, 21102 Novi Sad, Serbia

Who should attend

Advanced students and young scientists from Western Balkans region, i.e., Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

Languages

English

 

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.