A Vision From the Rudjer Boskovic Institute
Regarding Cooperation with the Mediterranean
Research and Application Network (MERAN)
T. Legovic and M. Ahel
1 Introduction
The Rudjer Boskovic Institute is the largest and most productive scientific institute
in Croatia, mainly in the areas of physics, chemistry, biology, ecology and
oceanography. The institute also hosts two departments for marine and
environmental research located in Zagreb and Rovinj, involving about 160 scientists,
technicians and administrative staff. The Institute is well connected by intranet and
internet, and hosts an array of sophisticated instruments to aid scientists in their
work.
In its 50-year history, the Institute regularly formed and often led consortia of
national institutes, especially in the field of marine and environmental research. The
Republic of Croatia has one more institute with divisions in Split and Dubrovnik,
and four departments at uni versities where marine science is being taught.Scientists
at the Rudjer Boskovic Institute are regularly invited an consulted in strategic
environmental issues of the national interest and readily respond to requirements set
by the government and pUblic. In addition, a number of applied studies are produced
annually that tackle developmental issues ordered by national and international
agencIes.
Croatia has a jurisdiction over the most of the east Adriatic coast and coastal sea.
Toward the inland Croatia extends over the Dinaride Mountains and into the
Panonia continental flatland, covering 3 differet climate types. The total length of
the Croatian coastline is 5790 km of which 1778 km belong to the continental coast
and 4012 km to the insular part. In the coastal region of Croatia are situated 4
National Parks hosting 44 protected varieties of plants and 381 animal species.
There is a growing evidence that change in climate as well as in land-use will
impact our forests, grasslands. non-coastal wetlands, freshwater ecosystems. littoral
pelagic zones, fisheries, hydrology and water management. However, unless we can
put the observed changes into a broader context of the global change in the
Mediterranean region, we cannot predict with certainty to what extents will they
occur and what their dynamics is going to be. Therefore, it is highly desirable to
establish links between the research efforts in the Adriatic region with relevant
international programs including the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the
Regarding Cooperation with the Mediterranean
Research and Application Network (MERAN)
T. Legovic and M. Ahel
1 Introduction
The Rudjer Boskovic Institute is the largest and most productive scientific institute
in Croatia, mainly in the areas of physics, chemistry, biology, ecology and
oceanography. The institute also hosts two departments for marine and
environmental research located in Zagreb and Rovinj, involving about 160 scientists,
technicians and administrative staff. The Institute is well connected by intranet and
internet, and hosts an array of sophisticated instruments to aid scientists in their
work.
In its 50-year history, the Institute regularly formed and often led consortia of
national institutes, especially in the field of marine and environmental research. The
Republic of Croatia has one more institute with divisions in Split and Dubrovnik,
and four departments at uni versities where marine science is being taught.Scientists
at the Rudjer Boskovic Institute are regularly invited an consulted in strategic
environmental issues of the national interest and readily respond to requirements set
by the government and pUblic. In addition, a number of applied studies are produced
annually that tackle developmental issues ordered by national and international
agencIes.
Croatia has a jurisdiction over the most of the east Adriatic coast and coastal sea.
Toward the inland Croatia extends over the Dinaride Mountains and into the
Panonia continental flatland, covering 3 differet climate types. The total length of
the Croatian coastline is 5790 km of which 1778 km belong to the continental coast
and 4012 km to the insular part. In the coastal region of Croatia are situated 4
National Parks hosting 44 protected varieties of plants and 381 animal species.
There is a growing evidence that change in climate as well as in land-use will
impact our forests, grasslands. non-coastal wetlands, freshwater ecosystems. littoral
pelagic zones, fisheries, hydrology and water management. However, unless we can
put the observed changes into a broader context of the global change in the
Mediterranean region, we cannot predict with certainty to what extents will they
occur and what their dynamics is going to be. Therefore, it is highly desirable to
establish links between the research efforts in the Adriatic region with relevant
international programs including the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the