A SMART AtmoSim Lab was opened at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) on September 29, as part of collaboration between Troposphere Lab (FZJ IEK-8) at the Institute of Energy and Climate Research of Jülich Research Centre and the TSU Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences. Rector of TSU, Giorgi Sharvashidze; Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandre Jejelava; Head of the National Environmental Agency, Tamar Bagratia; Mayor of Tbilisi, TSU Professors Davit Narmania; Acting Director of Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation, Mako Mikaberidze; Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Georgia, Monika Lenhard; representatives of Jülich Research Centre and students attended the event.
Rector of TSU, Giorgi Sharvashidze talked about the importance of the new SMART lab for the university: “This lab has no analogs in the Caucasus. For the first time, we will have the possibility to conduct scientific research on air pollution in the capital. Very expensive equipment will arrive from Germany and young Georgian scientists trained at Jülich Research Centre as well as our students will work on it. So, we have two main goals – combating air pollution and conducting research with the involvement of young people.”
“Jülich Research Centre is one of the leading scientific centers worldwide. It is very important that the second SMART Lab has been opened as a result of multi-year relations with TSU. Students and scientists will be able to get involved in the research ongoing at Jülich Research Centre through this lab. It is a very important project for advancing science education,” Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandre Jejelava said.
Tbilisi Mayor Davit Narmania also focused on the importance of SMART AtmoSim Lab: “By means of this lab, we will be able to receive information about air pollution in various places of our city; we will conduct research in order to take relevant measures. The Tbilisi City Hall is actively involved in this project and will continue its participation in future as well so that it gets involved duly and takes relevant measures,” Narmania said.
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Schmidt of Jülich Research Centre named strategic purposes behind the plans to open a new SMART lab at TSU. “Why we chose atmosphere is more or less clear. It is a global problem and it needs solution. Therefore, we need data and their analysis throughout the world. Countrywide data will be assessed at this lab and students will get involved in the process,” he said.
“The scientific research conducted at this lab will help the National Environmental Agency in comprehensive research and forecasting. Most important is that those young people, who will work at this lab and receive knowledge, will be an important staff resource for continuing their activities at the National Environmental Agency,” Head of the National Environmental Agency, Tamar Bagratia said.
The lab is specialized in atmospheric analysis involving chemical analysis of the atmosphere, as well as mathematical processing of the results and creation of an atmospheric model. Students, who will work at the laboratory, will be involved in a wide range of activities, among them taking air samples, analysis and mathematical simulation. Besides air quality assessments, detailed atmospheric analysis and modeling will be conducted; in addition, new methods and techniques of analysis will be developed, including creation of unmanned aerial vehicles for air quality measurements. AtmoSim lab will be an analog to IEK-8 (Jülich Laboratory).
The opening ceremony was followed by an official event, which brought together the representatives of Georgian and German academic and scientific circles.
