Evaluation meeting for the Nordic Center of Excellecy application



Location: Seminar room B412, Physicum, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, Helsinki, Finland

Time: at 12:30, 25.9.2002

Present:
Prof. Markku Kulmala (UHEL), chairman (markku.kulmala@helsinki.fi)
Ph.D. student Taina Ruuskanen (UHEL), secretary (taina.ruuskanen@helsinki,fi)
Ph.D. student Tatu Anttila (FMI) (tatu.anttila@fmi.fi)
Prof. Merete Bilde (UC) (mbilde(kiku.dk)
Ph.D. student Alf Grini (UO) (alfgr@geofysikk.nio.no)
Senior Researcher Hannele Hakola (FMI) (hannele.hakola@fmi.fi)
Prof. H.C. Hansson (US) (HC@ITM.su.se)
Prof. Pertti Hari (UHEL) (pertti.hari@helsinki.fi)
Prof. Øystein Hov (UO) (oeh@nilu.no)
Prof. Kaarle Hämeri (UHEL) (kaarle.hameri@helsinki.fi)
Prof. Veli-Matti Kerminen (FMI) (veli-matti.kerminen@fmi.fi)
Prof. Ari Laaksonen (UK) (ari.laaksonen@uku.fi)
Prof. Søren Larsen (UC) (soeren.larsen@risoe.dk)
Ph.D. Student Monika Mårtenson (MISU) (monica@misu.su.se)
Prof. Douglas Nilsson (MISU) (dolan@misu.su.se)
Prof. Sara Pryor (UC) (spryor@indiana.edu)
Prof. Marja-Liisa Riekkola (UHEL) (marja-liisa.riekkola@helsinki.fi)
Ph.D. student Masahiko Shimmo (UHEL) (masahiko.shimmo@helsinki.fi)
Docent Hanna Vehkamäki (UHEL) (hanna.vehkamaki@helsinki.fi)
Evaluators Ritva Helle (SA), Ritva Dammert (SA), Sandy Harrison, Chris Thomas and Ruprecht Jaenicke


1. 12:30 Chairman Markku Kulmala met the evaluators and introduced the laboratory of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Helsinki.

2. Meeting for the evaluation began at 12:40.

3. Markku Kulmala presented the measurement stations from a map and showed the list of researchers in the application. All researchers present at the meeting introduced themselves and said a few words of their research and scientific points of interest.

4. Pertti Hari presented the Hyytiälä forest measurement station SMEAR I and gave a short introduction to the research done there.

5. Markku Kulmala gave a short presentation on the interaction of scientific field in the NCoE, about the level of scientific level of understanding and the goal of NCoE groups work together on atmospheric science. He proceeded into telling about how WPs and different laboratories are linked together and how important our laboratories already are in the field of aerosol sciences.

6. Scientific presentations were given.

6.1 Alf Grini gave a presentation on the research on global weather analysis and chemistry modeling done by their group in Oslo. Students view on expectations from other groups in NCoE and what they could give to others. Evaluators started a conversation about the research and how results from the model will be used by other groups.

6.2 Monica Mårtenson presented their study on sea salt particle formation. She told about their experimental laboratory research and modeling done in Stockholm and co-operation done with UHEL and NILO. Evaluators asked about the research and results and it was discussed.


6.3 Sara Pryer gave a presentation on atmosphere-surface exchange concentrated on deposition of particles and modeling of the process. She stressed the need of other groups and different field sites for a more comprehensive model. Other groups can then use the model and its results. The evaluators started a discussion about the research.

6.4 Merete Bilde gave a presentation on the chemistry and thermodynamics behind aerosol nucleation and formation. She presented their cloud condensation nucleus counter instrumentation and the evaluators were interested to know what new results she will produce and if it will be used in field campaigns.

6.5 Anca Gaman gave a presentation on modeling of nucleation and growth of aerosol particles and pointed out that in the field of aerosol science there is an immediate need for basic thermodynamical data. Evaluators started a discussion of how research data will be used and distributed inside the NCoE.

7. Markku Kulmala pointed out that we are running out of time and can not hear all scientific presentations. The schedule for the rest of the meeting was discussed.

8. At 14:10 the meeting was interrupted for a coffee break.

9. At 14:20 the meeting and scientific presentations were continued.

9.1 Hannele Hakola gave a presentation on organic particle and VOC measurements.

9.2 Marja-Liisa Riekkola introduced her research plans on analyzing of organic matter in aerosol particles and the development of instrumentation in it. Evaluators asked questions on collecting the aerosol samples and the problems involved in it.

9.3 Ari Laaksonen gave a introduction of his group, observations of nucleation events in Hyytiälä measurement station and QUEST measurement campaign. Evaluators questioned the usefulness of an EU funded measurement campaign for the NCoE

9.4 Douglas Nilsson gave a presentation on his personal scientific interests and how they fit into this consortium in terms of WPs and co-operation of different groups involved. Evaluators were interested in the city measurements Nilsson had showed and discussed about nucleation and where it takes place.

10. Øystein talked about the advantages of NCoE, having a large group of people doing basic research in the same field of science leads to a product of good quality. He also pointed out the possibilities of co-operation to researchers and students.

11. Markku Kulmala presented a list of WPs and their leaders and talked about how co-operation and management is going to be arranged in NCoE.
- annual 2-3 day long seminars
- 50-60 WP work meetings: common field campaigns, laboratory work, modeling, drafting publications etc.
- joint projects
- joint courses
- exchange of professors, post docs and students
- on the web: general information, on-line discussions and data archives
- other channels of communication in NCoE and WPs: e-mails, telephone meetings, mails, fax etc.
Evaluators called for up to date database strategy that everybody will commit to.

12. Markku Kulmala presented output of NCoE from the point of view of management. The evaluators asked about the studying of health risks in NCoE and it was discussed.

13. Markku Kulmala presented NorFA and how there will be common courses in NCoE. Evaluators asked what will happen if our joint application for graduate school goes through but the other group involved in carbon fluxes in the application will not get NCoE and vice versa. Answer was that in any case there will be an effort to have joint courses but the focus might in the science of the group that has gotten the NCoE. The possibilities of getting more graduate students in our field of science were discussed. The question what things could get done within NCoE that would not otherwise happen was answered that the most important achievements would be getting all research in WPs done and combining the results, better exchange of students and making a common data archive.

14. Markku Kulmala adjourned the evaluation meeting at 16:05




__________________________
Chairman, Prof. Markku Kulmala 		____________________________
Secretary, Ph.D. student Taina Ruuskanen