Projects (International Cooperation)
Randomness has established itself as a vital building block of information processing and represents an integral ingredient for practically any aspect in the field of information processing and technology. The principal objective of this project is to establish and evaluate the role played by randomness in quantum information processing. The consortium (composed of 8 research teams) aims to unite the forces of EU expertise in computer science, physics and mathematics to undertake a comprehensive study of randomness and quantum information within their research portfolio.
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
prof. UG, dr hab. Michał Horodecki
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|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
Randomness and Quantum EntangLement (RAQUEL)
7th Framework Programme |
Randomness has established itself as a vital building block of information processing and represents an integral ingredient for practically any aspect in the field of information processing and technology. The principal objective of this project is to establish and evaluate the role played by randomness in quantum information processing. The consortium (composed of 8 research teams) aims to unite the forces of EU expertise in computer science, physics and mathematics to undertake a comprehensive study of randomness and quantum information within their research portfolio. |
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
|
| 2. |
Modelling properties, interactions, toxicity and environmental behaviour of engineered nanoparticles (NanoPuzzles)
7th Framework Programme |
The main objective of the NanoPUZZLES project is to develop, within three years, a package of computational algorithms for the comprehensive modelling of the relationships between the structure, properties, molecular interactions and toxicity of selected classes of engineered nanoparticles (NPs). The package (i) will serve as a proof-of-the-concept that the risk related to NPs can be comprehensively assessed with use of computational techniques and (ii) will define a basis for development of further modelling techniques for a large variety of nanoparticles. |
Faculty of Chemistry
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| 3. |
Transforming European transport through an Active Actors Forum (TRANSFORUM)
7th Framework Programme |
The TRANSFORuM project is conducted by a consortium of eleven well connected but independent and experienced policy advisers and researchers from across nine European countries who offer a "fresh approach" to helping to implement four key goals of the European Transport White Paper: - Clean Urban Transport and CO2‐free city logistics (goal 1) - Shift of road freight to rail and waterborne transport (goal 3) - Completion and maintenance of the European high‐speed rail network (goal 4) - European multimodal information, management, and payment system (goal 8). he project will initiate a discussion forum of relevant actors by organizing meetings and thematic groups on the four selected White Paper goals. The forum will offer an environment for a balanced and open discussion process bringing research and innovation into focus. TRANSFORuM will produce concrete implementation‐oriented outputs, including recommendations and roadmaps of joint actions as required by the actors / stakeholders. The project will promote targeted dissemination and communication activities to stimulate the implementation of the White Paper goals. Within the project, the main task of ITAS will be the development of roadmaps for the four thematic areas to support and accelerate the implementation of the White Paper goals. Therefor, the stakeholders’ perceptions and needs will be gathered by a specific stakeholder consultation. In an iterative process, implementation-oriented roadmaps will be developed together with the members of the forum. These roadmaps will then provide the basis for concrete recommendations for joint actions and policies of how to reach the goals and also for a strategic outlook on the future European transport system. |
Faculty of Economics
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| 4. |
Dynamic citizens active for sustainable Mobility (Dyn@mo)
7th Framework Programme |
CIVITAS DYN@MO is an ambitious project with strategic importance to sustainable mobility planning in four dynamic European cities. DYN@MO is short for the project motto DYNamic citizens @ctive for sustainable MObility, which combines four European cities. This includes two leading cities, Aachen in Germany and Gdynia in Poland, as well as two learning cities, Palma de Mallorca in Spain and Koprivnica in Croatia. The mission of the CIVITAS DYN@MO cities is to strengthen sustainable mobility by promoting non-polluting lifestyles, fostering social interaction and collaboration on the basis of the new media, and implementing integrated implementation of innovative transport services for active citizens of all ages. |
Faculty of Economics
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| 5. |
Transport Innovation Deployment for Europe (TIDE)
7th Framework Programme |
The mission of the TIDE project is to enhance the broad transfer and take-up of 15 innovative urban transport and mobility measures throughout Europe and to make a visible contribution to establish them as mainstream measures. TIDE will focus on 15 innovative measures in five thematic clusters: financing models and pricing measures, non-motorised transport, network and traffic management to support traveller information, electric vehicles and public transport organisation. Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans will be a horizontal topic to integrate the cluster activities. |
Faculty of Economics
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| 6. |
Center of Molecular Biotechnology for Healthy Life (MOBI4health)
7th Framework Programme |
MOBI4Health project will increase the potential of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdansk & Medical University of Gdansk (IFB UG&MUG) in terms of widening and modernization of its research techniques and to expand the innovative dimension of its scientific achievements through establishing the Centre of Molecular Biotechnology for Healthy Life: MOBI4Health Centre. Almost EUR 1.5 million will be dedicated to the purchase of equipment enabling future cutting-edge multidisciplinary research focusing on making the life healthier. This and the other aims realized within the action plan will strengthen IFB’s human potential and will allow to join to leading European scientific institutions establishing standards in biotechnology. |
Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG&MUG
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| 7. |
Bright Squeezed Vacuum and its Applications (BRISQ 2)
7th Framework Programme |
Quantum states of light and matter are viewed as one of the basic components for quantum information technologies. Their application to the information transfer and processing already brings certain benefits (rate and security) and promises new ones. Nonclassical (quantum) states of light actually involved into information and communication technologies (ICT) are faint states: single photons and photon pairs. However, they have a disadvantage, namely, they cannot interact efficiently with each other and material systems, and this limits their applications for ICT. Macroscopic (bright) states of light do not have this disadvantage because brightness, i.e., the number of photons per radiation mode, determines the efficiency of light-light and light-matter interactions. However, certain types of them are proved to be inapplicable. In this project we investigate another class of bright nonclassical state, namely the bright squeezed vacuum (BSV). In addition, we want to demonstrate its application for quantum information technologies. BRISQ2 aims at investigating the properties of bright squeezed vacuum. In particular, under study is the amount of quantum features (nonclassicality, entanglement) contained in it, its mode structure and the perspectives of engineering this structure or filtering it. Moreover, the project implies application of bright squeezed vacuum to quantum information technologies such as quantum imaging, quantum metrology, and quantum key distribution. |
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
|
| 8. |
Macroscopic Quantum Superpositions of Light Generated by Quantum Cloning for Applications in Quantum Technologies (QCAT)
7th Framework Programme |
Quantum technologies offer new quality with respect to classical ones by enhancing sensitivity of measurements and offering unconditional security of information transfer. Their optical implementation within the current technology is limited by inefficient detection and use of single photons. The solution is to apply macroscopically populated quantum states of light (MQSL) created by quantum cloning. However, they suffer from low distinguishability. The aim of this project is to merge unique properties of these hybrid states with innovative filtering and detection methods for applications in quantum technologies. The new concept is to use a filter relying on a conditional weak measurement described by a positive operator valued measure. It preserves quantum coherences and entanglement. Also new detection techniques genuine to continuous variables will be tested. Existing sources of MQSL will be improved by quantum state engineering, broadening palette of the experimentally accessible non-Gaussian states. Genuine macroscopic entanglement and multi-mode Bell tests, possibly with pre-selection technique, will be demonstrated. Feasible entanglement witnesses and measures will be proposed. They will help testing MQSL for quantum information, cryptography, metrology, teleportation and entanglement distillation protocols. Coupling between MQSL and polaritonic Bose-Einstein condensate, also a macroscopic superposition of light, and biomolecules will be examined towards quantum memories. Decoherence effects will be included in all steps of the analysis. Additionally, conclusions about the fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics are expected: testing it against local hidden variable models and the quantum-to-classical transition. Methodology includes analytical and numerical computations within the framework of quantum optical methods and tools. This project supports the applicant in building her own group, completing habilitaion degree and home country career integration. |
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
|
| 9. |
Quantum Resources: Conceptuals and Applications (QOLAPS)
7th Framework Programme |
The studies of quantum resources - entanglement (E) and non-locality (NL) carried out over the last decade have broadened horizons of our conceptual understanding of Nature and at the same time opened unprecedented possibilities for practical applications. The project aims at taking advantage of the most recent discoveries to understand the ultimate power and find novel applications of these resources. The main objectives are: E) to study novel entanglement-induced non-additivity effects in quantum communication and application of mixed state entanglement to quantum metrology NL) to recognize the influence of information causality on the power of quantum non-locality and verify the power of non-locality, and more generally contextuality for quantum computational speed-up. In particular, it is planned: E) to find new non-additivities by providing explicit constructions of bipartite channels, broadcast channels and quantum networks; to demonstrate experimentally non-additivity effects; to provide experimentally friendly entanglement measures in quantum networks; to analyse entanglement-enhanced metrology in presence of decoherence NL) to determine to what extent information-causality reproduces quantum mechanics; to generalize information causality to multipartite systems; to provide new fundamental information-theoretical principles behind quantum mechanics; to quantify and classify contextuality; to design and analyse multiparty non-local systems independently of quantum mechanics; to verify their usefulness for communication and computational tasks. We shall extensively exploit multiple interrelations between these two aspects of quantum physics. The results of theoretical investigations will be implemented in labs by experimental partners. In particular, we plan pioneering implementations of quantum channel non-additivity effects. The proposed research lines will bring ground-breaking results for quantum information processing. |
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
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| 10. |
Sub-seabed CO2 Storage: Impact on Marine Ecosystems (ECO2)
7th Framework Programme |
The ECO2 project sets out to assess the risks associated with storage of CO2 below the seabed. Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) is regarded as a key technology for the reduction of CO2 emissions from power plants and other industrial sources at the European and international level. The EU will hence support a selected portfolio of demonstration projects to promote, at industrial scale, the implementation of CCS in Europe. Several of these projects aim to store CO2 below the seabed. However, little is known about the short-term and long-term impacts of CO2 storage on marine ecosystems even though CO2 has been stored sub-seabed in the North Sea (Sleipner) for over 14 years and for two year in the Barents Sea (Snøhvit). Against this background, the proposed ECO2 project will assess the likelihood of leakage and impact of leakage on marine ecosystems. State-of-the art monitoring techniques will be applied to detect and quantify the fluxes of formation fluids, natural gas, and CO2 from storage sites. A best practice guide will be developed for the management of sub-seabed CO2 storage sites considering the precautionary principle and costs of monitoring and remediation. |
Faculty of Oceanography and Geography
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| 11. |
Bordering, Political Landscapes and Social Arenas: Potentials and Challenges of Evolving Border Concepts in a post-Cold War World (EUBORDERSCAPES)
7th Framework Programme |
In order to gauge its significance, conceptual change in the study of borders must be seen in relation to fundamental social, economic and geopolitical transformations that have taken place in the past decades. In addition, major paradigmatic shifts in scientific debate, and in the social sciences in particular, must also be considered. Recognising the close interrelationships between social change and paradigm shifts, the EUBORDERSCAPES project will analyse the evolving concept of borders in terms of a mutually linked emergence of “post-national”, “post-colonial”, “post-modernist” and “post-Cold War” strands of inquiry. State borders are the frame of reference, rather than ethnographic/anthropological boundaries. However, this approach emphasises the social significance and subjectivities of state borders while critically interrogating “objective” categories of state territoriality and international relations. This research will, furthermore, not only be focused at the more general, at times highly abstract, level of conceptual change. This approach will also allow us to compare and contrast how different and often contested conceptualisations of state borders (in terms of their political, social, cultural and symbolic significance) resonate in concrete contexts at the level of everyday life. |
Faculty of Oceanography and Geography
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| 12. |
Interconnection between short and long-distance transport networks (INTERCONNECT)
7th Framework Programme |
INTERCONNECT is examining the role of local and regional interconnections in the context of longer distance passenger journeys in Europe, in order to address the potential for greater economic efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Factors investigated in the project include integration, co-operation and, where appropriate, competition in the provision of local connections across all transport modes. The methodology that has been employed in the project includes literature reviews, interviews with key stakeholders and detailed investigations of selected case studies. |
Faculty of Economics
|
| 13. |
Quantum Interfaces, Sensors, and Communication based on Entanglement
(Q-ESSENCE) 7th Framework Programme |
Quantum entanglement has the capacity to enable disruptive technologies that solve outstanding issues in: - Trust, privacy protection, and security in two- and multi-party transactions; - Novel or enhanced modes of operation of ICT devices; - Reference standards, sensing, and metrology. The development of entanglement-based strategies addresses these challenges and provides the foundations for quantum technologies of the 21st century. The practical exploitation of entanglement requires groundbreaking levels of robustness and flexibility for deployment in real-world environments. This ambitious goal can be reached only through radically new designs of protocols, architectures, interfaces, and components. Q-ESSENCE will achieve this by a concerted application-driven effort covering relevant experimental, phenomenological, and fundamental aspects. Our consortium will target three main outcomes: 1) Development of entanglement-enabled and entanglement-enhanced ICT devices: atomic clocks, quantum sensors, and quantum random-number generators; 2) Novel physical-layer architectures for long-distance quantum communication that surpass current distance limitations through the deployment of next-generation components; 3) Distributed quantum information protocols that provide disruptive solutions to multiuser trust, privacy-protection, and security scenarios based on multipartite entanglement. These outcomes will be reached through the underpinning science and enabling technologies of: light-matter interfaces providing faithful interconversion between different physical realizations of qubits; entanglement engineering at new scales and distances; robust architectures protecting quantum information from decoherence; quantum information concepts that solve problems of limited trust and privacy intrusion. The project builds on the outstanding expertise of the consortium demonstrated by pioneering works over the past decades, enhanced by a strong industrial perspective. |
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
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| 14. |
Optimal Regulation and Intrastructure for Ground, Air and Maritime Interfaces (ORIGAMI)
7th Framework Programme |
Effective solutions to existing problems in long-distance door-to-door passenger transport chains require the provision of attractive integrated networks and services and this is likely to require vision and cooperation between stakeholders in the public and private sectors. ORIGAMI has built on the substantial body of knowledge on long-distance passenger transport already available from past projects (in particular KITE, LINK, INTERCONNECT, HERMES and CLOSER) and from other available literature. ORIGAMI collected a substantial body of new data on the attitudes of long-distance travellers to alternative future transport provision and collated examples of current best practices and potential new technical solutions. One strand of work analysed the technical solutions, investigated the extent to which solutions found in one mode can be transferred to other modes, identified barriers to be overcome, and discussed the findings with stakeholders. Another strand of work investigated traveller behaviour and attitudes in different countries and regions and identified the factors, demographics and traveller requirements which are likely to influence future trends in travel behaviour. Scenarios were developed to investigate alternative futures and pathways towards a successful intermodal transport system and a range of modelling approaches were used to forecast the demand for different modal combinations in the different scenarios. Solutions were evaluated against relevant criteria for European transport policy allowing recommendations to be made and disseminated amongst policy makers and other stakeholders, including industry representatives and researchers. |
Faculty of Economics
|
| 15. |
Industrial Crops producing added value Oils for Novel chemicals (ICON)
7th Framework Programme |
In one of the largest biotechnology consortia, the latest biotechnology tools are being used to develop high value plant oils to replace the fossil oils currently used in the global chemicals industry. The ICON project, a 4 year global collaboration involving 25 partners from 11 countries sponsored by the European Union, has gathered a significant proportion of the world’s most prominent plant lipid scientists. It aims to develop high-yielding sustainable oil crops that can produce the right oils for lubricants and the chemical industry, with substantial environmental benefits, energy savings and economic returns for farmers. The partnership is using genetic engineering technology to modify new oilseed crops that are not used for food purposes. The plants Crambe abyssinica and Brassica carinata are being modified to switch from producing triglycerides to making wax esters, which are much more resistant to high temperatures and pressures than normal plant oils. This will substantially increase the industrial uses of plant oils. While there are a range of alternatives to using fossil fuels for energy production, only biological materials can replace fossil oil derived lubricants and industrial chemicals. Furthermore, fossil oils require a lot of energy to process, energy that could be saved by developing innovative oil crops that produce special oils for specific requirements. Global requirements for high value industrial oils could also see farmers receiving premium prices for these new crops. The relatively small area needed to grow industrial oilseed crops will take up a minimum of valuable food production land, which is in contrast to the cultivation of energy crops. |
Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG&MUG
|
| 16. |
Mechanisms of interactions in nano-scale of novel ionic lubricants with functional surfaces (MINILUBES)
7th Framework Programme |
Recently, ionic liquids (IL) are employed as substitute for traditional solvents in catalysis, synthesis and electrochemistry. But little research work or actual applications have been published until now concerning the utilization of IL as lubricants. Generally, IL show no or very low vapour pressures, satisfying viscosity-temperature behaviour, no inflammability and high thermal stabilities up to 250°C. The choice of cation and anion as well as the design of side chains determine fundamental IL properties. These properties desirable for lubricants and the possibility to create tailor-made compounds give rise to the demand of in-depth investigations of IL in tribology. To our best knowledge, the project will be the first extensive and integral approach of IL towards potential future applications as lubricants for metals, ceramics and polymers as well as base for wear and friction reducing nanoparticles. The investigations will involve molecular design and synthesis of new IL as well as preparation of advanced materials containing or based on IL. Evaluation of lubricant and material performance will range from determination of physico-chemical properties including artificial aging of IL and mechanical testing (e.g. tensile and impact strength) to tribometrical experiments. Wear and friction properties will be completed by thorough surface characterization, in particular towards tribochemical reaction layers. Parameters gained from these experiments will be used for modelling of triboprocesses in nanoscale and for molecular design of new ionic lubricants. Studies on biodegradability, toxicology and economical aspects will be studied in detail, too, to verify legal requirements and opportunities for highly potential applications. The overall objective of this interdisciplinary and intersectorial approach is the generation of unique and comprehensive knowledge about IL on a sustainable basis for future implementations as high performance lubricants. |
Faculty of Chemistry
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| 17. |
Exgenome Molecular Enzymes
(EXGENOMES) 7th Framework Programme |
The main objective of the EXGENOMES project is to develop new and improved thermostable enzymes for use, as reagents, in large-scale DNA synthesis and/or that can act on unnatural components such as in LNA (Locked Nucleic Acids). The target source for the new enzymes is a range of self-replicating mobile genetic elements (phages, plasmids and transposons) from thermophilic bacteria. Increased understanding of self-replication in many mobile genetic elements, such as phi29, has now made the commercial development of new self-priming & strand-displacing polymerases and other enzymes, much more plausible. A number of candidate enzymes, such as a new transposon-coded Thermus DNA polymerase are at hand for this project in the thermophilic bacteria & phage genome bank at Matis. Nucleic acids based technologies now underpin a large and fast-growing industry, including research, diagnostics and pharmaceutical production. Thermophilic enzymes have played a key role in this development, as polymerases (DNA and RNA), ligases, nucleases, reverse transcriptases, polynucleotide kinases, lysozymes and more, are of great importance in the research industry today. The partner SME/s are all active players in this area from bioprospecting (Prokazyme), laboratory distribution (A&A Biotechnologies), LNA manufacture & diagnostics (Exiqon) to DNA vaccine production (Touchlight Genetics). Together with the highly competent RTD partners the consortium is well positioned to implement the project according to its goals. The successful development of new thermostable polymerases and other enzymes with the desired properties would have a substantial impact on strengthening the current market status of the SME partners, resulting in growth in income and employment. |
Faculty of Biology
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| 18. |
Optimised co-modal passenger transport for reducing carbon emissions
(COMPASS) 7th Framework Programme |
COMPASS will look at the existing information available on passenger journeys in Europe, drawing extensively on work that has been undertaken in previous European-funded projects. Existing sources of information and data will be used to identify and describe the key trends in mobility patterns in the 21st century, based on current and future passenger needs. Existing sources of travel survey data will be exhaustively researched, with a particular focus on the role of ICT in data collection and management, and recommendations will be made on improving data collection in passenger transport to meet future needs. COMPASS will then identify ICT-based solutions that have the potential to improve co-modality in passenger transport and these potential solutions will be assessed through a number of case studies. The assessment of ICT solutions for improved co-modality will be based on a framework that emphasises the contribution of each solution to reduced carbon emissions. There will also be an investigation into how best to present solutions for improved co-modality to those stakeholders in transport operations and planning who will be responsible for their implementation, to ensure the best possible take-up of recommended solutions. Finally COMPASS will derive conclusions and recommendations for national and EU transport policy and actions, and will disseminate the findings widely amongst policy makers and other stakeholders as well as researchers and the transport industry. |
Faculty of Economics
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| 19. |
Exploring Marine Resources for Bioactive Compounds: From Discovery to Sustainable Production and Industrial Applications - (MAREX)
7th Framework Programme |
The EU FP7 MAREX project is a joint effort of 19 academic, research institute, and industrial partners from 13 countries for exploring and researching of marine bioactive compounds. MAREX plans to go through the whole discovery path from sourcing of marine organisms from the sea to cultivation, compound isolation, characterization, bioactivity screening, synthetic optimization, and finally to industrial feasibility. |
Faculty of Biology
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| 20. |
Impact of Transport Infrastructure on Interanational Competitiveness of Europe
(I-C-EU) 7th Framework Programme |
I-C-EU is a 2-year European Commission FP7 project that clarifies the relationship between investments in transport infrastructure on economic growth and competitiveness. The project consortium works are based on the exploration of the state-of-the-art of the theoretical methodology of the assessment tools, the analysis of the current situation of European economic and competitiveness as well as its present and future challenges and taking into account current European strategy being set to improve its economic performance and competitiveness. Using this triad of concept will later allow I-C-EU to provide recommendations to the European Commission on making political intervention in order to enhance competitiveness of Europe externally, i.e. in relation to the rest of the world and internally, i.e. between its countries and regions. |
Faculty of Economics
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| 21. |
Building bridges between specialists on computational and empirical risk assessment of engineered nanomaterials
(Nanobridges) 7th Framework Programme |
The project is aimed at creating a worldwide network of research partnerships, including various types of research organizations from EU and third countries, with different profiles (computational and empirical risk assessors), focused on the development of new tools for computational risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles (NPs). The mobility plan, supported by the electronic communication tools will create a platform for sharing knowledge and overcoming the fragmentation of scientific efforts in this novel and high priority research field. This is important, because extensively developing nanotechnology might create a significant risk for humans and the environment.
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Faculty of Chemistry
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| 22. | Nutrient cocktail in coastal zones of the Baltic Sea – improving understanding of the transformation and retention of nutrients and organic matter in the coastal zone (COCOA) BONUS Science for a better future of the Baltic Sea region |
COCOA will analyse the pathways of nutrients in the coastal zones of the Baltic Sea by 1) quantifying the role of bacteria, phytoplankton, benthic microalgae, seagrasses, macroalgae and fauna in transforming and accumulating nutrients using novel measurement techniques employed in four different types of coastal ecosystems (learning sites: lagoons, river-dominated estuaries, embayments, and archipelagos), 2) developing dynamic state-of-the-art coastal models for these learning sites with a strong focus on quantifying benthic-pelagic coupling and integrating the improved process understanding to the ecosystem level, 3) developing empirical models to estimate the nutrient retention across coastal ecosystems, 4) improving the model formulations for coastal nutrient retention in the decision support system NEST, used for the revision of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. Through model experiments, COCOA will investigate feedback processes, associated with hypoxia and loss of key biological functions, and examine the potential existence of alternative stable states leading to hysteresis responses and identify critical thresholds associated with such responses. COCOA will use models and statistical analyses to examine changes in nutrient retention over the past and in the future given scenarios for climate change and management responses. Consequences of altered nutrient pathways on coastal ecosystem services will be assessed and used for identifying optimal management strategies. |
Faculty of Oceanography and Geography prof. UG, dr hab. Iwona Sagan COCOA webpage |
| 23. | ECR2 - Economic Crisis: Resilience of Regions ESPON 2020 Programme |
The picture of the economic situation in Europe resulting from the crisis that began in 2008 looks rather asymmetrical and diverse with regions that were not or hardly touched by the crises at all, with regions that were touched but that seem to recover rather progressively and with regions that still suffer quite a lot from the crisis. The fast and successful recovery of some particular regions strikes the eye and raises the question of what is behind this success. The economic crisis and recovery are at the core of all recent policy initiatives that set the framework for territorial development and cohesion policy. The objective of this project is to expose territorial evidence that supports policymakers at different administrative levels in making the economic structure(s) in Europe and its countries, regions and cities more resilient to economic crises and a sudden economic downturn. |
Faculty of Oceanography and Geography |
| 24. | SAMBAH – Static Acoustic Monitoring of the Baltic Sea Harbour Porpoise LIFE+ Nature |
SAMBAH – Static Acoustic Monitoring of the Baltic Sea Harbour Porpoise – is an inter-national project involving all EU countries around the Baltic Sea, with the ultimate goal to secure the conservation of the Baltic Sea harbour porpoise. To achieve this, SAMBAH aims to increase the awareness and knowledge about the Baltic Sea harbour porpoise, estimating population densities and total abundance. The project will also produce distribution maps of harbour porpoises and identify possible hotspots, habitat preferences and areas of higher risk of conflict with anthropogenic activities. The new knowledge will be spread among policymakers, managers, stakeholders and the general public, to make possible a management of the population based on sound knowledge about its size, distribution and possible threats. The study area stretches from the Darss- and Limhamn ridges in the southwest to the northern border of the Åland archipelago in the north. Here, approximately 300 porpoise click detectors were deployed for two years between May 2011 and May 2013, and the collected data are currently being analyzed. |
Faculty of Oceanography and Geography dr Iwona Pawliczka SAMBAH webpage |
| 25. | Impact of potential leakage from the sub-seabed CO2 storage site on marine environment at relevant hydrostatic pressure (CO2MARINE) Norway Grants in the Polish-Norwegian Research Programme |
The CO2MARINE sets out to assess the impact of increased CO2 level on geochemical processes in marine sediments and sea water as well as on benthic biota at relevant hydrostatic pressure. The project proposal addresses environmental risk assessment related to potential CO2 leakage from sub-seabed storage reservoir as described in thematic area “Environmental impact” of the CCS 2013 call and, more generally, is in line with the EU strategy on reduction of CO2 emission. In a series of laboratory experiments, surface sediments and benthic species from the potential CO2 storage site in the Polish part of the southern Baltic Sea will be exposed to different CO2 levels at high water pressure thus imitating closely natural environmental conditions at the seafloor. Access to cutting-edge experimental facility (the hyperbaric TiTank) will allow us to study CO2-induced modifications to chemical gradients across sediments and mobilization processes of trace elements, heavy metals and organic pollutants, and their combined effects on marine organisms. Biological impacts will be measured at different levels of biological organization, going from gene, cell and tissue to individual, species and community, and functions including behaviour, physiological and enzymatic activity. The CO2MARINE will generate novel empirical data from high-pressure experiments and unique direct observations covering a range of potential CO2 exposure levels, operating over short periods of time, to define early-warning chemical indicators and biomarkers of environmental stress due to CO2 leak. The ultimate aim of the proposal will be to identify appropriate chemical and biological methods to monitor the marine environment above a storage site, thereby providing support to potential CO2-storage operators and environmental management of CCS under seabed in the Baltic Sea. |
Faculty of Oceanography and Geography prof. UG, dr hab.Adam Sokołowski CO2MARINE webpage |
| 26. | Socio-cultural and Psychological Predictors od Work-Life Balance and Gender Equality - Cross-Cultural Comparison of Polish and Norwegian Families (WLB_GE) Norway Grants in the Polish-Norwegian Research Programme |
PAR Migration Navigator is a non-commercial research project that aims to analyze processes unfolding at the crossroads of two cultures: Polish & Norwegian. In our research we would like to investigate how the similarities and differences between Polish and Norwegian societies influence the lives of individuals and couples who migrate between these two countries. The project partners are: University of Gdańsk (Project promoter),Institute of Psychology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Centre for Intercultural Communication (SIK), Stavanger Norway, International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), University of Stavanger (UiS), Norway. |
Faculty of Social Sciences |
| 27. | Potato pathogen population in changing climatic conditions of Norway and Poland and the mechanisms of their interaction with host (POTPAT) Norway Grants in the Polish-Norwegian Research Programme |
The potato is one of the most important crop worldwide. The annual potato harvest in Poland is estimated at 8 700 000 tons, while 321 100 tons were produced in Norway in 2010. Climate change has a significant impact on agriculture today, especially on plant pathogens. The project will focus on the two important pathogens of potato: Phytophthora infestans causing late blight and bacteria Pectobacterium spp. and Dickeya spp. causing black leg and soft rot of tubers. Chemical protection against late blight is expensive and has a negative impact for the natural environment. However, for bacterial diseases there are no chemical and biological methods of protection, therefore the only solution is production of disease–free seeds.
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Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG&MUG dr Robert Czajkowski POTPAT webpage |
| 28. | Glaciers as Arctic Ecosystem Refugia (GLAERE) Norway Grants in the Polish-Norwegian Research Programme |
This project will assess the importance of glacial bays as foraging areas for selected top predators and as habitats for cold water fauna in a quantitative manner. This assessment will be based on a combination of archival data and new data collected during this program. In this assessment, future scenarios in relation to the predicted fate of these glacial hotspots in Svalbard will be addressed, in addition to possible compensatory effects via the influences of river mouths and mudflats in areas where glaciers retreat onto land. | Faculty of Oceanography and Geography prof. UG, dr hab. Jacek Urbański GLAERE webpage |
| 29. | Third generation photoactive materials and new materials-based system for photocatalytic air treatment (PHOTOAIR) Norway Grants in the Polish-Norwegian Research Programme |
The aim of this projects is to develop a new materials belonging to the third generation of photoactive materials and to design/develop air treatment systems based on developed active materials. New materials should be highly active, stable and activated by low powered and low cost irradiation sources (such as LEDs or black fluorescent UV lamps). It allows to design and built highly efficient and relatively low cost systems to remove VOCs (volatile organic compounds), odorants and pathogenic microorganism from polluted air in the one system. New approach to research on photoactive materials, lead to highly promising prospects for development of new photocatalytic air treatment systems for a wide range of applications, such as air treatment of indoor air (houses, public buildings and hospitals). | Faculty of Chemistry prof. UG dr hab. Adriana Zaleska PHOTOAIR webpage |
| 30. | Climate Change Impact on Ecosystem Health - Marine Sediment Indicators (CLISED) Norway Grants in the Polish-Norwegian Research Programme |
Studies of old sediments in the Baltic Sea indicate that eutrophication occurred with different intensity during the last two millennia, and not only in recent times. Cyanobacteria blooms might have occurred as early as 7000 years BC. Knowledge about natural toxicity of these sediments is absent, though both algal toxins and natural dioxins could have been produced during these episodes. Thus, climatic change may thereby impact human health and the marine environment. Aim of the study is to study climate change effects in the sedimentary record, and connect it to indicators of the health of the marine environment archived in the sediments. Phytoplankton structure and biomass belong to the main indicators of the health of the marine environment. Phytoplankton population depends on climate factors, hydrodynamics and contaminants occurring in an ecosystem. These organisms have an impact on the fate and transport of contaminants in the sea and the anthropogenic toxicity. Some phytoplankton strains can release natural toxins to the environment. The aim of the project will be realized by studying sediment indicators of natural and anthropogenic indicators of ecotoxicity in relation to different geological sediment proxies. Recent and old - formed in historical times - sediments of coastal locations of different climate, hydrology and contaminant burial history will be analysed and compared: Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic) and Oslofjord/Drammensfjord as well as in the arctic region (Norway). Analysis of multi parameter sets will indicate sediment variability connected to different climatic conditions for the studied areas, as well as threats of release of natural and anthropogenic toxicity as a result of climate change. This research will increase our knowledge base and be and important contribution to the implementation of Marine Strategy Framework Directive and other management decisions related to the marine environment. |
Faculty of Oceanography and Geography prof. UG, dr hab. Hanna Mazur-Marzec CLISED webpage |
