The project, supported for three years with an amount of EUR 2 million, will build a European digital campus on the issue of water. This will include, among other things, four virtual hubs (centers) of augmented reality within Europe, in which information will converge, which scientists will then move on. “Essentially, water-focused centers of excellence will be created. The centers will also include a 3D digital water laboratory. Information will be shared both between partners and target groups. It will also be possible to stream and virtually transmit practical measurements, water analyzes or teaching procedures within Europe,” said Milada Šťastná, head of the project team from the MENDELU Faculty of AgriSciences.
According to her, water management is a key challenge in times of climate change. The researchers will create recommendations for specific situations and communicate information to different target groups, which are policy makers, industry representatives, academics/scientists and citizens. “Currently, this information is mainly dealt with by scientists and experts for a specific sector, but there is a lack of connection with practice, education and communication with citizens,” said Šťastná.
The goal is to get the issue of effective water management into the strategies, policies and recommendations of the crisis management of the state and into the crisis management of companies. “Large companies must realize that water is a risky (limited) resource and can be purposefully regulated and limited in a critical period of drought, for example for industrial cooling, because providing water to residents has a higher priority,” said Šťastná, adding that academics should support these decisions and priorities with scientific facts.
“We need a closed cycle of information sharing. An ordinary citizen should understand why the state has taken specific measures, that something will change in the normal course of action. For example, it is obvious that the limitation of production, where even temporary measures would be taken, will have an impact on employees, and it will be necessary to prepare for these situations,” said Šťastná.
A total of 15 institutions from 11 countries are involved in the project in the European HORIZON program. The topic is coordinated by scientists from Malta, which suffers from a long-term drought. It ranks first in the ranking of European countries and in the top ten in the world among the countries most affected by drought.
Contact for more information: prof. Dr. Ing. Milada Šťastná, phone: +420 606 580 412, milada.stastna@mendelu.cz, head of the Department of Applied and Landscape Ecology at Faculty of AgriSciences MENDELU
More news
-
Generation Z, meaning people born between 1995 and 2010, wastes food according to their estimates more than the previous generation, a total of 43.4 grams per person per day. This number drops almost by half for young people living with their…2. 10. 2024
-
EU Commission selects HEROES as new European University alliance to boost smart…
The HEROES Alliance unites nine universities of applied sciences across the EU under one common objective: to strengthen the resilience of the regions they are located in through digital innovations. 120,000 students and 14,000 staff spread over 22…4. 7. 2024 -
The student competition MENDELU Boost was won by the project Citymind: AI…
The winner of the first edition of the MENDELU Boost student entrepreneurial competition was the project Citymind, which serves as an AI assistant for cities and municipalities. The second place was awarded to a project focused on identifying hidden…20. 6. 2024 -
The addition of insects can improve the nutritional value of meat products.
Insects are being discussed as a potential protein source for the future. Small larvae contain high amounts of proteins and healthy fats. Compared to other livestock, insect farming also seems to be more environmentally friendly. Therefore,…17. 6. 2024 -
EURAF conference sets the direction for agroforestry in Europe for the coming…
At the international agroforestry conference EURAF 2024, the institutions jointly concluded the Brno Agroforestry Declaration on the implementation of agroforestry in Europe. The Declaration focuses on the knowledge and actions needed in the field…3. 6. 2024 -
The national round of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize was won by a student of…
Tadeáš Fryčák from the Jan Opletal Grammar School in Litovel won the third year of the national round of the global competition Stockholm Junior Water Prize. In his presentation he introduced the Root Tracker software, which he programmed himself.…30. 5. 2024 -
World experts address current challenges of agroforestry at MENDELU
This week, experts from all over the world are meeting at Mendel University in Brno to discuss agroforestry - growing trees together with crop production or livestock breeding. The EURAF 2024 conference deals with both research and practice and is…28. 5. 2024 -
An exceptional figure of our university, Vojtěch Adam, has passed away
With deep sorrow, the university rector received the sad news of the passing of Emeritus Vice-Rector and prominent scientist Prof. RNDr. Vojtěch Adam, Ph.D., who succumbed to a short severe illness yesterday.22. 5. 2024 -
Project SPOT from MENDELU was chosen for the 20 years of EU enlargement article
Project SPOT which is coordinated by Milada Šťastná and also led on behalf of the Faculty of AgriSciences at MENDELU has beed selected for the European Research Executive Agency article dedicated to the 20 years of EU enlargement.3. 5. 2024 -
In the MENDELU Ph.D. talent competition, five students succeeded
The third edition of the MENDELU Ph.D. Talent competition for supplementary talent scholarships for doctoral students has announced its winners. Ten talented students advanced to the second round of the MENDELU Ph.D. Talent competition, where they…2. 4. 2024