Regional Earth observation gets EU backing
A venture focusing on Earth observation has received the support of Horizon 2020.
Professor Dr Hesham El-Askary of Chapman University, California in the United States, will take the role of regional co-ordinator of the €3m project focusing on Earth observation related research; just over €2.9m is gained from Horizon 2020.
The ‘Coordinating and integRating state-of-the-art Earth Observation Activities in the regions of North Africa, Middle East, and Balkans and Developing Links with GEO related initiatives towards GEOSS’, or GEO-CRADLE, venture aims to provide timely and accurate forecasts, information and projections.
Speaking about the project, El-Askary said: “This is to address exiting specific challenges that are affecting our global understanding of the system we are living in, namely, strengthen the Earth observation networks (space-based, airborne, and particularly in situ) of the broad European and North African, Middle East, and Balkan region to reinforce its contribution to the knowledge base for climate, natural resources and raw materials.”
The project sees the collaboration of 23 institutions in Europe, North Africa and the Gulf nations and includes more than 200 researchers. The venture is due to last three years and will hold its launch meeting in February 2016 in Europe.
