The kick-off meeting of MULTI-MAREX, which took place on June 4 and 5 at GEOMAR in Kiel, focused on the development of extreme events and their impact on coastal communities in the Mediterranean region. “What is new about our approach is the so-called co-design, i.e. the joint development of research together with the affected communities,” explains the coordinator of the joint project, Professor Heidrun Kopp. “We are working on site with local authorities, mayors' offices, schools and other civil organizations. This means that local knowledge and historical experience are incorporated into our research. This is crucial in order to be able to assess the impact on the coastal communities and to provide the population with the best possible information about protection mechanisms and involve them in the development of early warning systems”.
Group Picture of MULTI-MAREX (© GEOMAR)
The Mediterranean is the most popular vacation region for Germans. Although little known, many regions of the Mediterranean are at high risk of natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis. The MULTI-MAREX project is establishing a living laboratory in the Mediterranean to provide holidaymakers and residents with the necessary knowledge to cope with geohazards. The work is being carried out on the Greek island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea, among other places. Up to 2 million vacationers, including many from Germany, visit Santorini every year. Due to its exposed location, it is repeatedly affected by natural hazards. For Germany, this work is not only important because of the large number of holidaymakers on the Mediterranean, but also because the research approaches can be transferred to the German coasts. These are also affected by natural hazards such as storm surges and coastal erosion. “The aim of our project is to provide specific recommendations for coping with natural disasters so that both holidaymakers and local residents or authorities know how to act,” adds Kopp.
All of the project's researchers and partner institutions came together in Kiel for the first time. The joint meeting offered a unique platform for the exchange of specialist knowledge and cooperation with partners from business, culture and politics. The extent to which the transfer of knowledge and technological developments to society can succeed in close cooperation with the other mareXtreme projects was also discussed. Professor Heidrun Kopp was positive about the milestone: “The first joint meeting marks the beginning of an exciting journey on which we will work together to deepen our understanding of extreme marine events and natural hazards. We are looking forward to the exchange with our project partners and stakeholders in order to achieve this important goal.”
تعليقات