The general objective of the program is to address fundamental scientific questions about natural environmental systems and processes at different levels, their interactions and responses to human activities, and to provide scientific evidence for the development of technical solutions and management related to environmental problems. The program should be considered as a core program that supports current projects and initiatives that are of great importance. The main activities of the program include three main themes (P), horizontally linked to four activities (H). P1 – Matter cycling under multiple stress conditions includes (i) studies of the global carbon cycle under conditions of increased pCO2 and temperature; (ii) impacts of climate change on the water cycle; (iii) national and international observation networks and database development; (iv) biological and complex environmental systems for climate and environmental change; (v) improved understanding of environmental pollution by pollutants; (vi) and the fate of non-radioactive and radioactive nanoparticles. P2 – Environment, Health and Food topics include (i) studies on human exposure and effects; (ii) the microbiome; (iii) the effects of nanoparticles; (iv) bioimaging; (v) authenticity and traceability of food; and (v) health risk assessments. P3 – Environmental technologies include: (i) CEC in urban and wastewater; (ii) bioremediation; (iii) remediation of contaminated soil and wastewater; (iv) reduction of emissions of volatile and semi-volatile elements. H1 – Analytical methods focus on (1) trace element speciation; (ii) metal visualization by LA-ICP-MS; (iii) NP analysis by sp-ICP-MS; (iv) stable isotopes of non-traditional elements and (v) targeted, screening and non-targeted analysis. Activity H1 will be additionally supported by metrology concepts (H2). H3 – in the field of sensor technologies: they include (i) low-cost sensors for air and water quality; (ii) biosensors; (iii) passive dosimeters; (iv) radon sensors; and (v) food sensors. Given the interdisciplinarity and complexity of the processes and mechanisms studied within the program, modeling support covers a wide range of applications and modeling tools/approaches, grouped under the horizontal activity H4, which also includes activities related to the relevant infrastructure for data management, which is currently not on willing. These activities will be involved in active national and international collaborations and linked with other interested partners from different sectors and dissemination, communication and awareness activities, including participatory scientific approaches.
Dr. Igor Živković
Research topics include: mercury biogeochemistry in the marine environment; development of methods for the determination of methylmercury in seawater; traceable calibration system for gaseous oxidized mercury using non-thermal plasma; mercury speciation in the atmosphere; development of materials for mercury remediation and pre-concentration; mercury intercomparison; measurement uncertainty of analytical methods for the determination of mercury; model development for dissolved gaseous mercury.
Research programme: Cycling of substances in the environment, mass balances, modelling of environmental processes and risk assessment
Training topic: Mercury biogeochemistry in the environment