COMET - Final Event

COMET Final Event, 25 – 27 April 2017, Bruges, Belgium

        

The EC FP7 COMET project is about to reach its end. The COMET consortium, consisting of 20 research partners, has dedicated 4 years on conducting innovative research on key needs identified by the radioecology community in interaction with the (post) emergency management and low-dose research communities and through engagement with partners from countries where major nuclear accidents occurred. Research was directed in domain of transfer and exposure assessment with six dedicated research activities being addressed (forest radioecological modelling, marine radioecological modelling, food chain modelling, developing alternative transfer models for wildlife, key processes ruling the behaviour of hot particles and NORM) and one research activity linked with transgenerational and epigenetic effects of chronic exposure of wildlife. Research in marine radioecology and hot particle research has been strengthened through two projects funded through COMET. Further we have invested quite some effort to integrate radioecology at the European level and to develop initiatives to encourage organisations from the European (and larger) radioecological research community to join the Radioecology Alliance (ALLIANCE - www.er-ALLIANCE.org) and to help realise the priorities identified in the Strategic Research Agenda for radioecological research (www.comet-radioecology.org).  Last but not least the COMET consortium has succeeded in developing a strong mechanism for knowledge exchange and dissemination to enhance, maintain and spread European capacity and skills in radioecology.

The COMET consortium is ready to share their findings and developments with the outside world during the COMET final event, which will take place from 25 – 27 April 2017 in Bruges, Belgium.  Next to showcasing the COMET results, the further integration, long-term sustainability and roadmap for radioecology research in Europe will be discussed with representatives from the EC and international organisations. 

The final event will be centered around the discussion of position papers which highlight the major contributions of COMET to key radioecology domains dealt with under COMET, our endeavour to assure sustainability of radioecology in Europe and views on the way forward.

A few examples of position papers are:

  • Sustainability and integration of radioecology in Europe
  • Development and implementation of medium-term topical research roadmaps in line with the ALLIANCE Strategic Research Agenda
  •  Marine radioecology after Fukushima: are we better positioned to assess impact
  •  Importance of epigenetic mechanisms in the induction of long term or transgenerational effects of ionizing radiation
  • Education and Training activities during COMET - successes, lessons learned and suggestions for the future

Programme: Final event will start on Tuesday, 25 April 2017 at 9.00 hrs. and it will be concluded on Thursday, 27 April 2017 at 13.00 hrs.

DateEvent

Tuesday,
25 April 

  • Strengthening and integrating radioecology in Europe
  • Knowledge exchange
  • Improving and validating radioecological models
Wednesday,
26 April 

Can we predict long-term effects on ecosystems?

  • How to make it possible?
  • From the lab to the field.
    Poster session + discussion on selected topics related to day 1 and 2 presentations
Thursday,
27 April 
  • Future of radioecology in Europe and how to sustain it
  • Views of the EC, of international bodies and of the European radiation protection community on European radioecology
  • Panel discussion on the future of radioecology in Europe

A more detailed agenda is published here.

Venue: The final event will be held in Hotel de’ Medici, Potterierei, Bruges, Belgium.

Registration: Is now closed for the final event.