The international project “Collaborative Data and Information Exchange Network for Managing Invasive Alien Species” (DIAS) was implemented in the period from 2018 through 2021. The project partners were the Karelian Research Centre RAS, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), and Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE). In the final seminar, which was held in Petrozavodsk in a hybrid online/offline format, the participants had the chance to discuss the project results and the difficulties they have encountered during its implementation.
DIAS project has turned out as a real success. It is a blend of truly important things. Firstly, research is carried out – meeting modern standards, based on thorough methodology, with preparation of a database and a significant publication. On the other hand, the project is definitely practice-oriented: its subject is meaningful for the general public, students, schoolchildren – for anyone. Finally, science is popularized at its best. “A gratifying observation is that DIAS project was the one offering lots of public lectures, workshops, and outreach activities”, remarked KarRC RAS Director General Olga Bakhmet as she wished the participants a continuation of the cooperation.
During the seminar, project participants from Russia and Finland shared their experience in doing research, organizing educational events and information campaigns, and exchanged opinions regarding the project follow-up.
At the closure of the seminar, a speech was made by Dmitry Bazegsky, Head of the Petrozavodsk Office of the Karelia Cross-border Cooperation Programme, of which DIAS project was part. He congratulated everyone on successful completion of the project and singled it out among other components of the programme for combining scholarly research with education and outreach.
Dmitry Bazegsky also highlighted two features of the DIAS project – its vigorous information activity and sustainability of the results. “The outputs and data produced by the project are very important and unique”, he remarked.
International
News
September 22, 2021
Scientists from Karelia and Finland wrap up the international project for collaborative data collection and information exchange on invasive alien species – DIAS. The final seminar of the project took place in Petrozavodsk on September 13. Its participants were especially concerned with ways to align basic research and practical application of the project results.
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