DANUBIUS

Danube International Centre for Advanced Studies for River-

Delta-Sea systems

Manuela SidoroffINSB

manuelasidorof@yahoo.com

Viorel VulturescuM.E.N.

viorel.vulturescu@ancs.ro

Adrian StănicăGeoEcoMar

astanica@geoecomar.ro

A Pan European R&D infrastructure in the field of integrated management of rivers-deltas-seas focused on Danube – Black Sea macrosystem

…… with a hub in Danube Delta – a truly natural laboratory

……. nodes will be leading facilities and research centres dealing with processes, research methodologies and offering access to other parts of the Dabube – Black Sea macrosystem

What DANUBIUS will be ?

Schematic diagram of DANUBIUS (concept)

Concept of DANUBIUS

To provide innovative, science-based innovative

solutions for major actual environmental-related

problems and to set the framework for sustainable

development of Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea

system, as best practice for large river – delta – sea

systems worldwide

Mission of DANUBIUS

Will comprise a pyramid of knowledge upon which the effective integrated management of a large river – delta – sea systems must be based:

-monitoring infrastructure for R&D purposesmonitoring infrastructure for R&D purposes

-new and more advanced analytical experimental new and more advanced analytical experimental methodologiesmethodologies

-ecosystems services restoration strategiesecosystems services restoration strategies

-improved approaches within environmental economics to improved approaches within environmental economics to evaluate connections between society and natureevaluate connections between society and nature

-Management solutions based on forecasting and future Management solutions based on forecasting and future scenarios scenarios

Core capabilities of DANUBIUS

Solutions 

Scenario analysis & forecasting

modelling 

& Environmental Economics

 Data & Sample Collection & Processing

 

Analytical, Experimental & Sampling Methodology 

Schematic representation of the core capabilities of the Centre

Pyramid of knowledge at DANUBIUS

“The actors” Initiative Present (Near) Future

“The actors” (institutions) InitiativeInitiative PresentPresent

DANUBIUS will: become an ERIC (European Research Infrastructure

Consortium) from the legal point of view have an international management have an International Scientific Board have an International General Council with

participation of Shareholders

Principles of Centre’s functioning as Pan-European distributed Research

Infrastructure

DANUBIUS should be interconnected with:

DANUBe International

Centre for Rivers-

Deltas - Seas

EMSO (Marine observatories – bringing needed info for

the “sea” part)

EURO ARGO (marine circulation and interactions

with river inputs)

LIFEWATCH (rivers-wetlands-deltas-estuaries

-coastal-marine ecosystems)

ICOS (Greenhouse gas fluxes in natural river-wetland-

delta-sea environments)

SIOS (Dedicated ENV RI`sIn specific environments +

Study of ice processes)

EPOS (Integrating river-delta-sea systems in the greater “tectonic” picture)

ANAEE (analysis and experimentation on River-wetlands-delta-marine ecosystems)

Connection with other ESFRI ENV Projects

PRESENT DAY SITUATION

WHAT WE HAVEWORK IN PROGRESS

STEPS TO BE TAKEN

DANUBIUS Hub 10 hectares available at Murighiol Administrator: Romanian National Institute for Biological

Sciences - INSB Topography studies – done Reference borehole for water supply & geothermal

gradient – done Architecture design – done Permits & authorizations for building (32 permits) – in

progress…

DANUBIUS Existing nodes in Romania (1)

R/V “Mare Nigrum” – 3 000 tdw R/V “Istros” –river and coastal research

Laboratory boat “Halmyris” for the Danube Delta research

Sulina Branch of the Institute of Biology

MARINEGEOHAZARD –Black Sea Early-Warning System – funded by CBC Ro-Bg (6,5 Mil. Euro) – R.I. nodes connecting with EMSO, LIFEWATCH and EPOS – functional since June 2013

MARINEGEOHAZARD is composed of:1. EUXINUS network - the Black Sea regional early warning system to marine-geohazards – marine observatories

2. GeoPontica network - the first on-line geodynamic surveillance network in the entire Black Sea region

Existing nodes in Romania (2)

1. The EUXINUS network - the western Black Sea regional early warning system to marine-geohazards

Components of the EUXINUS cross-border infrastructure ::

Network of 5 complex, fully automatic marine stations (buoys) with automatic equipment for measuring the characteristics and the dynamics of water masses .

Interconnected, national co-ordination Centres, located in Constanta, Romania and Varna, Bulgaria.

Node of DANUBIUS, Romanian contribution to ESFRI EMSO

The GeoPontica network includes: - 18 on-line geodynamic stations located along the Romanian-Bulgarian coast;- 2 coordination Centres located in Constanta, Romania and Varna, Bulgaria

2. The GeoPontica network for geodynamic surveillance in the western Black Sea

Node of DANUBIUS, Romanian contribution to ESFRI EPOS

Planned nodes (1)

CBC Black Sea MAREAS: e-Infrastructure for global changes in the Black Sea (“Black Sea Joint Regional Research Centre for Mitigation and Adaptation to the Global Changes Impact’). Partners: Ro (coordinator), Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine.

Romanian contribution to DREAM: in situ hydraulic monitoring, measurements and testing facility in the Danube Delta (Sf. Gheorghe Arm)

… and more to come… (MESOCOSME, etc.)

Planned nodes (2) AUSTRIA: WCL freshwater ecology facilities BULGARIA: BG contributions to MARINE GEOHAZARD

and MAREAS + river morphology FRANCE: Laboratories at IFREMER + Rhone River-

Delta-Sea system facilities at CEREGE and U. Perpignan GREECE: coastal – marine facilities at HCMR HUNGARY: river – groundwater interactions RI`s from

Eotvos Lorand Univ. in Budapest ITALY: connection to EMSO IRELAND: coastal wetlands research facilities of UCC SPAIN: CIIRC Facilities in Ebro and Llobregat River-

Delta-Sea systems UK: GLOBOLAKES – remote sensing for coastal lakes

and wetlands

Planned nodes (3)

+ negotiations with other research institutions to further develop nodes – from Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Ukraine, United Kingdom

+ atmospheric (GHG) monitoring and RI in the Delta – as contribution to ESFRI ICOS

NB THE LIST IS OPEN!!!looking towards: Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia

Steps to be taken

…. towards creation and functioning of the Danube International Centre for River–Delta-Sea systems – take into account:

1. Research Infrastructure – towards DANUBIUS ESFRI RI (National Project)

2. Human potential – FP7 DANCERS3. Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda – FP 7

DANCERS

Short term plan (2013 - 2014)

2013 – DANUBIUS as Flagship Project PA 7 – EUSDR

2014 - Final Version the Scientific Case Study (already at v. 7.2)

2014 – application of DANUBIUS as ESFRI ENV Pan-European Distributed Research Infrastructure

2014 - Preparation of the Structural Funds Application for Romania Hub and nodes (partial):

- Feasibility study and application for a major project

- RO - Sectorial Operational Program for Research to include the Centre as a major project

Short term plan (2013 – 2015)

FP 7 DANCERS: "DANube macroregion: Capacity building and Excellence in River Systems (basin, delta and sea)“. - EC Grant agreement no: 603805

Deliverables:Toolbox of instruments containing: 1. Strategic research agenda, 2. Proposals for an integrated educational program with the

full cooperation of partners from Danube - Black Sea Macrosystem.

3. Concept and detailed plan of the distributed research infrastructures for the Danube – Black Sea Macrosystem

Drafting the application for ESFRI (2013 - 2014)

Nationally funded strategic project

DELIVERABLES:1. MoU to be signed with future “nodes” (BG, HU, AT, SR, UA, MD, FR,

IT, UK, ES, etc.) – research & innovation

2. MoU to be signed with funding agencies across Danube Region as well as EU + neighbouring countries – finance

3. Draft of socio – economic studies for DANUBIUS – impact

4. Development Plan for DANUBIUS as pan-European R&D Infrastructure – perspectives

5. Basis for: governance, functions, cost-book – operations

Mid-term plan 2015 – 2020 (ESFRI)

(after inclusion on ESFRI roadmap): 2015 – 2017 (2016-2018?)

Preparatory Phase (PP) project for the Danube International Centre for Advanced Studies in Rivers-Deltas-Seas

Planning and designing the legal framework; Detailed scheme of functioning for the centre;Interconnectivity with nodes, communication and

specific aspects for e-infrastructuresAspects regarding the human potential and financial

resources for a sustainable functioning of the Centre

Mid-term plan 2015 – 2020 (Structural funds - construction)

Construction phase Phase 1 –2015

Basic constructions of the Hub – to add to already existing facilities and infrastructures from other partner countries

Buildings for field research activities on the river – delta – sea system

Administrative building of the Centre and office building for scientists

Main logistics

Mid-term plan 2015 – 2020 (Structural funds - construction)

ConstructionPhase 2 – 2016 – 2017

Specialized high-tech laboratories – as agreed in the ESFRI Proposal

Phase 3 – 2018 – 2020 Specialized high-tech laboratories – as agreed and

resulted from the Preparatory Phase. Research Vessels to replace existing fleet for studying

the river, delta and sea

Mid-term plan 2015 – 2020 (ERIC)

2018-2020: Structuring the legal dimensions of the DANUBIUS - ESFRI ENV Distributed Research Infrastructure as ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium)

By 2020: DANUBIUS = Fully functional Pan-European

distributed Research Infrastructure in the field of rivers – deltas – seas, legal status = ERIC

IMPORTANT MESSAGES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT PREPARATION AND

IMPLEMENTATION

Preparation for setting up E(RI)C and for operational support of the Centre:- EU2020, National and regional Strategies, EUSDR as

the main vehicles for use and support of the Centre

Plans for the future are adaptive!= ALL European programs will be addressed (DANUBE,

Black Sea, H2020, Structural Funds, etc.) in order to cover in this way various components of the Centre

Thank you for your attention

Looking forward to cooperating with Danube Region R&D organisations within DANUBIUS

Manuela SidoroffINSB

manuelasidorof@yahoo.com

Viorel VulturescuM.E.N.

viorel.vulturescu@ancs.ro

Adrian StănicăGeoEcoMar

astanica@geoecomar.ro