(4) Популяризиране <strong>на</strong> дейността <strong>на</strong> проекта и <strong>на</strong> изследванията <strong>на</strong> влажнитезони в обществото: основен инструмент е създаде<strong>на</strong>та интернет-страница <strong>на</strong>проекта (http://wetlanet.org); отпечатването <strong>на</strong> двуезич<strong>на</strong> дипля<strong>на</strong> иорганизирането <strong>на</strong> Ден <strong>на</strong> Отворените врати <strong>на</strong> ЦЛОЕ-БАН, по случаймежду<strong>на</strong>родния ден <strong>на</strong> влажните зони 2 февруари имаше за целпопуляризиране <strong>на</strong> дейността ни сред сродни институции, студенти, ученици,представители <strong>на</strong> индустрията, министерства и неправителствениорганизации. Следващите етапи <strong>на</strong> проекта ще имат за цел: (i) успешноусвояване <strong>на</strong> новата техника (особено тази в полевите бази) с тенденция зазасилване <strong>на</strong> цялостното представяне <strong>на</strong> ЦЛОЕ-БАН като <strong>на</strong>учен център(чрез подобряване броя и качеството <strong>на</strong> публикациите, организиране <strong>на</strong>визити, участия в <strong>на</strong>учни прояви); (ii) организиране <strong>на</strong> мероприятия запопуляризиране <strong>на</strong> проекта и изследователските дейности <strong>на</strong> ЦЛОЕ - БАН изасилване <strong>на</strong> тях<strong>на</strong>та връзка със социално-икономическите нужди <strong>на</strong>стра<strong>на</strong>та.PROJECT “WETLANET – ENHANCING RESEARCH POTENTIAL BYSTRENGTHENING A LOCAL NETWORK OF LABORATORIES FORSTUDYING WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS FUNCTIONING, RESTORATIONAND MANAGEMENT”B.B. Georgiev, G.P. Vasileva, E. SemerdjievaCentral Laboratory of General Ecology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,2 Gagarin Street, 1113 Sofia, BulgariaWETLANET is a project of FP7 EC, program “CAPACITIES” (CSA – SUPPORTACTION, REGPOT-2008-1), accomplished by the Central Laboratory of GeneralEcology, BAS (CLGE-BAS) during the period 2009 – 2012, with the co-funding ofthe National Science Fund (Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, Bulgaria).The aim of the project is to enhance the research potential of the CLGE-BAS bystrengthening a local laboratory network for studying wetlands ecosystemfunctioning, restoration and management. The local network includes three remotefield stations situated at wetlands of major ecological importance, and specialisedlaboratory units at the headquarters of CLGE-BAS in Sofia. Significant part of thetasks were accomplished during the first year of the project. (1) Improving thehuman capacity of CLGE-BAS: in total eight outgoing visits of young scientistsand four incoming visits of foreign experts were organised for exchange of knowhowand experience; four specialists with international experience were employedin CLGE-BAS - three biologists, experienced in studying biodiversity andecosystems of wetlands, and a chemist with skills and knowledge in using gaschromatographyfor environmental risk assessments in coastal zones. (2)Upgrading the technical and IT capacity of the WETLANET laboratories: a publicauction procedure for purchase of new research equipment was successfullyaccomplished; as a result, the laboratory units at the headquarters and those of thefield stations were renewed with optical devices (microscopes, binoculars), GC/MS80
spectrophotometer, growing chamber, ICP, a boat for coastal investigations, newIT equipment, etc. (3) Achieving better integration of CLGE-BAS in ERA: twoworkshops (“Genetic monitoring” and “QR modeling”) and three training courses(“Database creation and management”, “Multivariate statistics” and “Molecularand biochemical markers in ecotoxicology”) were organised; participants wereyoung scientists from the CLGE-BAS and related academic units, MSc students,and lecturers from abroad; these scientific and training events helped in promotionof new research collaborations and establishment of multilateral partnership forfurther participation in consortia and joint research projects. (4) Dissemination ofachievements of wetland science (including recent developments in WETLANETlaboratories) in the society: the main tool is the website of the project(http://wetlanet.org); the bilingual brochure and organisation of the Open DoorsDay on the International Day of Wetlands (2 nd February) targeted academicinstitutions, students, industry, authorities and nongovernmental organisations.Further work of WETLANET project is aiming: (i) successful promotion andutilization of the new research capacity (especially that of the field stations) inorder to strengthen the overall research performance of the CLGE-BAS (in termsof publications, visits, participation in scientific events); (ii) organisation ofpromotional events in view of increasing visibility of the research activities ofCLGE-BAS and improving their response to socio-economic needs of the country.18:15-18:30ЗакриванеClosing ceremony81