COMENVIR · Communicating environmental impacts on water quality, availability and use

The ComEnvir project aims to narrow the gap between EU sponsored environmental research and European citizens. Water (resources, quality, pollution and biodiversity issues) has been chosen as a common theme to be addressed by the project. It will cover environmental stressors, waste treatment, health effects, biodiversity, risks and therefore the role of water quality in its different environmental locations (fresh water, marine, soil, air). The project will last 48 months. The project will communicate results and activities of EU environmental research with two specific target groups. The primary target group are teachers and students. The second target group is the general public. The overall project objectives are to: • empower the European citizens to constructively engage in scientific dialogue and debate • inform European consumers of the latest scientific advances in the food sector • strengthen science education in classrooms and • promote scientific curiosity among the youth The ComEnvir project will achieve its set objectives through a number of innovative approaches and strategies that have already been piloted in 2006 and 2007. These approaches centre around three key elements: • creation of knowledge packages on EU environmental research and will include films, film clips, FAQs, news, background reading materials, a glossary and links • effective dissemination measures (broadcast media, DVDs and internet) and • thorough evaluation of on-going project deliverables The nine project members, located in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway and the UK possess complementary expertise that assures successful project outcome. The project will last 48 months.