Student name: Roubina Papaconstantinou

Short bio: Roubina Papaconstantinou started pursuing her PhD in Energy, Environment and Atmospheric Sciences in October 2020. She joined CARE-C of the Cyprus Institute in December 2019 as a Research Assistant in Aerosol Science and Technology. She holds a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cyprus (2018) and an MSc in Engineering Materials from the University of Southampton (2019).

PhD year of study: 4^th year

PhD supervision: Prof George Biskos

PhD institution: The Cyprus Institute

Thesis title and description: “Performance Evaluation and Development of Cost-Effective Sensor Platforms for Air Quality Monitoring, Localization and Quantification of Emissions”

This research aims to assess the capability of a UAV-based system to detect and geo-localize accurately CH₄ sources. Thanks to further fusion/processing of the multi-sensor data with a Gaussian dispersion model, the solution is not only limited to the high-resolution 3D mapping of atmospheric concentrations of CH₄ (expressed in ppb) but can also calculate accurately CH₄ emissions in the atmosphere (expressed in kg/h) and therefore fulfil regulation requirements (which concern emissions and not concentrations).

Relevance of Edu4Climate to your project: The objectives of this research align well with Edu4Climate’s aim to address challenges related to air pollution and climate change in the EMME. Methane (CH₄) is the second most significant anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Reducing CH₄ emissions is essential to mitigate climate change. The potential for CH₄ emissions mitigation is closely linked to improvements at individual sites, including industrial sites (natural gas), landfills, and farms. Therefore, the reliability of tools to identify and monitor emissions at the site level is crucial. The findings significantly contribute to understanding the dispersion of CH₄ emissions and improving quantification methodologies. Ultimately, this work will inform strategies to reduce site-level methane emissions and mitigate climate change.

Student name: Nikos Gialesakis

Short bio: Nikos Gialesakis graduated from the University of Crete, Department of Chemistry where he also obtained his master’s. He conducted his research thesis “Interannual and seasonal variability of greenhouse gases at Finokalia station in the Eastern Mediterranean” at the Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory. Since then, he has been part of a joint PhD between the University of Crete and the University of Bremen.

PhD year of study: 2^nd year

PhD supervision: Professor Maria Kanakidou (University of Crete) and Professor Mihalis Vrekoussis (University of Bremen).

PhD institution: University of Crete, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory (ECPL) and University of Bremen, Institute of Environmental Physics, Laboratory for Modeling and Observation of the Earth System (LAMOS)

Thesis title and description: “Study of the sources of greenhouse gases in the east Mediterranean using a 3D data assimilation system”

The aim of our study is to optimize the bottom-up anthropogenic emission estimations of greenhouse gases over Greece. We provide the estimated emissions to an atmospheric model (WRF-CHEM-GHG) which are being optimized by assimilating in-situ and satellite observation, using a data assimilation system (CTDAS). The coupled system compares the simulated results with observation data and tries to minimize their differences by optimizing the anthropogenic emissions, resulting in more accurate emissions.

Relevance of Edu4Climate to your project: Greece is part of the EMME which is identified as a critical area impacted by climate change. By providing more accurate emission estimates we can better understand the impact of human activities on the region and develop effective strategies to mitigate their effects and to achieve the Paris agreement objectives, which align with the Edu4Climate objective to address climate change and air pollution related challenges in the region.

Student name: Siqing Xu

Short bio: Siqing Xu received her bachelor degree of geoscience in 2019 from Central South University (China), master’s degree of environmental science in 2022 from Fudan University (China), and now is a joint PhD student between the Cyprus Institute and University Paris-Saclay since December 2022.

PhD year of study: 2^nd year

PhD supervision: Prof. Jean Sciare (CyI), Prof. Jos Lelieveld (CyI), Dr Yves Balkanski (LSCE, Gif/Yvette, France)

PhD Institution: Cyprus Institute and University Paris-Saclay

Thesis title and description: “Vegetation – Dust Cycle Feedback in IPSL Earth System Models”

In semi-arid regions, grasslands with lower density tend to have more bare soil, which provides the basis for dust emission. Our work focuses on simulating dynamic grass density and coupling vegetation with dust emission in Earth System Model.

Relevance of Edu4Climate to your project: Simulating dust emission is an important part in this PhD work and Edu4Climate supports the subject of dust emission especially in (semi-) arid regions.

Student name: Anna Zenonos

Short bio: Anna Zenonos has obtained her BSc in Applied Mathematics from the University of Cyprus in 2021,  and she continued her studies obtaining an MSc in Applied Mathematics, with specialization in Plasma Physics, from KU Leuven, Belgium, in 2023. She is currently pursuing her PhD, a joint doctorate, between the Cyprus Institute (CyI) and Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement -LSCE at University Paris-Saclay.

PhD year of study: 1^st year

PhD supervision: Professor Jean Sciare (CyI) and Professor Philippe Ciais (LSCE, University Paris-Saclay).

 PhD Institution: The Cyprus Institute and Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement-LSCE at University Paris-Saclay.

Thesis title and description: “Development of the first national airborne tree inventory for Cyprus and the estimation of tree carbon stock and carbon emissions of buildings over Cyprus”.

The study aims in the creation of a monitoring system of tree resources using state-of-art methods, something that is currently missing for Cyprus. In addition, the estimation of carbon stock of trees and carbon emissions of buildings will assist in the construction of effective strategies aiming to the reduction of carbon emissions and finally, to the achievement of carbon neutrality.

Relevance of Edu4Climate to your project: The study’s aims align with the “Fit for 55” plan that refers to the target of the European Union for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030​.  Moreover, the development of a forest monitoring system contributes to the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) greenhouse inventory by covering a significant gap in knowledge for Cyprus. Therefore, the results of this research will contribute to addressing challenges related to air pollution and climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region, one of the main objectives of the Edu4Climate project.

 On Saturday, June 29, 2024, the Finokalia Open Science festival was successfully held in Ano Merambello, in the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, in Crete.

The festival took place at the University of Crete’s environmental station in Finokalia.

Experiments and demonstrations were conducted by research teams from the University of Crete, FORTH, HCMR, the Natural History Museum of Crete, and the 2nd Science Lab Center of Heraklion.

A total of seven teams presented activities for both children and adults.

As night fell, the festival continued with musical performances by University of Crete ensembles and local artists.

The 4^th Annual Online Workshop on Innovation in Atmospheric Measurement techniques took place on Thursday, 27^th of June, 2024, as an EU Green Week 2024 Partner Event.

The half-day online event brought together atmospheric science communities to exchange and discuss the latest advancements, such as new technologies, products, and services in atmospheric measurement techniques and modeling. Attendees also had the chance to network, strengthen local and regional partnerships, and bolster their national capacity to address the climate crisis.

129 participants from 32 different countries attended the workshop, including researchers, and industry professionals in the atmospheric sciences.

Prof Jean Sciare, Director of CARE-C, gave the introductory speech welcoming all the participants and presenters at the workshop.  20 presentations followed, delivered by speakers from 10 countries, including academics, representatives from research institutions, and private companies, actively involved in the innovation and R&D in atmospheric measurement techniques.

Organisers: The workshop was hosted by three EU RIs working in the Atmospheric Measurements remit, ACTRIS, ICOS and IAGOS, together with the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) and it was supported by the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (EMME-CARE)  and Edu4Climate Consortium partners,  as well as the ENVRINNOV  Horizon project.

More information about the workshop, including a recording,  can be found here.

Research scientists of CARE-C at the Cyprus Institute, in collaboration with representatives of RAYMETRICS, partners of the Edu4Climate Horizon project (coordinated by CARE-C), have completed a new research campaign, as part of the Edu4Climate’s objective to co-develop innovative environmental products and services with surrounding ecosystems, in order to address climate-relevant challenges across the EMME region. The campaign took place on 8-31 May, 2024.

A CARE-C team, led by Associate Research Scientist, Dr Maria Kezoudi,  and members of the Cyprus Atmospheric Observatory (CAO) and the Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory (USRL) facilities of the Centre, collected data using sensors on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which were flown at air pollution hotspots in Cyprus. This data will be used to validate new, advanced PMeye lidar technology, which will then be utilised to enhance the accurate measurement of emissions in real-world environmental monitoring scenarios, such as ship plumes and emissions from power plants.

The campaign was organised within the context of the Edu4Climate Horizon programme. The Edu4Climate Consortium received funding of €2 million from the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Coordination & Support Action (CSA) “European Excellence Initiative” (EEI) programme (under grant agreement no. 101071247) for the establishment of a European Higher Education Institutions Network for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or REA. Neither the European Union, nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Between February 2023 and May 2024, 53 schools visited the Finokalia station, in Crete, selected from 97 applicants and involving around 1,500 students and 100 teachers. Students engaged in various activities such as drama, games, and climate change presentations.

Schools participating in Erasmus+ projects also took part, hosting visiting teachers and students from Italy, France, Spain, and Turkey.

Visitors experienced an integrated, hands-on programme designed for students and teachers, which promotes climate change education in secondary schools. This programme, grounded in scientific data from long-term atmospheric observations, highlights the seriousness of climate change and the risks of inaction

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Crete, partner of the Edu4Climate project, organised a number of school visits during March 2024. More specifically, several school visits took place at the Finokalia station and the pupils had the chance to interact with scientists and get informed about climate change, air pollution and their interactions.

The Finokalia atmospheric monitoring station is operated by the Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory (ECPL) of the Department of Chemistry of the University of Crete since 1993. The station is representative for the Eastern Mediterranean atmosphere and has attracted strong scientific attention in the fields of atmospheric composition, air quality and climate change. It also reports to authorities as the regional background station for Greece.

Visits in the frame of the national EDU4clima and the Erasmus+ Climademy projects, created synergies with the Edu4climate project, maximizing the impact of the educational visits and the visibility of the aims and scopes of the project.

The project Edu4Climate received funding of €2 million from the European Commission’s Horizon Europe “European Excellence Initiative” (EEI) programme under agreement 101071247, to lead capacity-building actions in Cyprus and Greece, the strengthening of their Higher Education European networks and their cooperation with a specific focus on the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME).

On Tuesday, 7^th of November 2023, the 3rd Annual Online Workshop on Climate and Atmosphere Research and Innovation in the Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East, organised by CARE-C of the Cyprus Institute, was successfully concluded.

This one-day online event brought together the international scientific community in order to discuss the latest innovations and exchange knowledge on the science of climate change and air pollution, as well as to highlight related challenges, impacts and potential solutions for the EMME region. The workshop also provided a great opportunity for networking and enhancing regional collaboration and national capacities for addressing the climate crisis.

Prof Charbel Afif, a professor at Saint Joseph University in Lebanon and an adjunct professor at the Cyprus Institute gave the introductory speech welcoming all the participants at the workshop. His opening speech was followed by 22 oral (including 3 keynote speakers) and 34 VPICO presentations delivered by representatives of universities, research institutions and private companies, actively engaged in the topics of air pollution and research innovations related on climate change.

More than 340 scientists, researchers, students and industry professionals in the area of research & innovation on climate change and air pollution in the EMME region, registered and participated at the workshop, from over 50 countries.

The workshop was organized within the framework of the H2020 Teaming Project EMME-CARE (emme-care.cyi.ac.cy), and the Horizon Europe project Edu4Climate (edu4climate.cyi.ac.cy).  The workshop organization was led by CARE-C, The Cyprus Institute, with the contribution of the EMME-CARE Advanced Partners and the Edu4Climate Consortium partners.

For more information about the outcomes of the workshop can be found in the link below:

https://emme-care.cyi.ac.cy/3rd-emme-climate-workshop/