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MOE-Austauschstipendienprogramm

der Deutschen Bundesstiftung Umwelt DBU

Scholarship Exchange Programme with CEE Countries

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt DBU

Imprint

Editor: Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

Responsible: Dr. Markus Große Ophoff (ZUK)

Concept:Antoinette Bismark (ZUK)Dr. Nicole Freyer (DBU)

Translation:Antoinette Bismark (ZUK)

Design: Helga Kuhn, Christina Nieporte (ZUK)

Printing: SteiNBACHer DrUCK GmbH, Osnabrück

Photo credits:Project partners, archives

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

P. O. Box 1705 · 49007 OsnabrückAn der Bornau 2 · 49090 OsnabrückPhone: ++49 5 41 | 96 33-0 Fax: ++49 5 41 | 96 33-1 90www.dbu.de

2011

Printed on 100 % recycled paper

Impressum

Herausgeber: Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

Verantwortlich: Dr. Markus Große Ophoff

Konzept:Antoinette Bismark (ZUK)Dr. Nicole Freyer (DBU)

Übersetzung:Antoinette Bismark (ZUK)

Gestaltung: Helga Kuhn, Christina Nieporte (ZUK)

Druck: SteiNBACHer DrUCK GmbH, Osnabrück

Fotos: Projektträger, Archiv

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

Postfach 1705 · 49007 OsnabrückAn der Bornau 2 · 49090 OsnabrückTelefon 05 41 | 96 33-0 Telefax 05 41 | 96 33-1 90www.dbu.de

2011

Gedruckt auf 100 % recyclingpapier

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The initial years of the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt were characterized by the environmental situation in Germany‘s East and the immediately started on-the-spot support »New Laender«. However, the challenge of international environmental protection appeared in the focus of the foundation‘s activities. The geographical emphasis of these international commitment lies unequivocally still in Central and Eastern Europe, and it should not be underestimated that here sustaina-ble international relationships have been built within the course of the years – powerful bases for common efforts in the geographical spread of environmental protection.

A quite well example is the reliable cooperation with the former Minister for the Environment of Poland, Maciej Nowicki, which started in 1996 when Professor Nowicki was awarded the German Environmental Award.

He dedicated the prize money to a German-Polish scholarship programme which became model for nine more CEE countries and crucial impulse for the multi- national scholarship programme of the DBU in Central and Eastern Europe.

After a successful start in Poland with meanwhile more than 200 scholarship holders, the programme was extended on the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 2002, followed by the Baltic States Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as well as the region Kaliningrad in 2003, and a further extension on Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria two years later. And since 2009, applications from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania are possible.

The programme aims at improving the scholarship holders‘ vocational skills, establishing a

sustainable network involving experts from Germany and Central and Eastern Europe and overcoming obstacles in the international cooperation around environmental protection and nature conservation.

Dr. Fritz BrickweddeSecretary GeneralDeutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

Foreword

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Serbia

Montenegro

Croatia

Slowenia

Macedonia

AlbaniaBosnia andHercegovina

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Poland

Hungary

Romania

Kaliningrad

Czech Republic

Slovakia

Bulgaria

Countries of DBU Scholarship Exchange Programme

The DBU Scholarship Exchange Pro-gramme with CEE Countries enables young scientists from Central and Eastern Europe to broaden their pro-fessional horizons in the ecological domain within a research stay from six to twelve months in Germany.

Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.

The programme aims at improving the scholarship holders‘ vocational skills, at establishing a sustainable network involving experts from Germany and Central and Eastern Europe and at over-coming obstacles in the international cooperation around environmental protection and nature conserva-tion. The inter-action throughout Europe involves the participation in numerous events like the Internati-onal Summer Academy, a number of seminars, the German Environmental Award ceremony, and through the different alumni organisations.

Once a year, each of the afore-mentioned countries hosts a meeting of former DBU scholarship holders.The majority of the applicants are natural scientists and engineers, who prefer German universities and large research facilities, however German companies, associations, ministries and environmental autho-rities are favoured as well. The DBU provides a wide range of internships for new scholarship holders – for current offers please turn to www.dbu.de/618.html.

DBU Scholarship Exchange Programme with CEE Countries

The DBU programme covers meanwhile 17 countries – from the Baltic States Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the region Kaliningrad, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania to Albania, Bosnia Hercegovina,

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Scholarship holders‘ seminar

The DBU awards scholarships for highly qualified university graduates from Central and Eastern Europe with the goal of a further vocational qualification in solving environmen-tal and nature conservation problems in the scholarship holders’ home country. The DBU scholarship enables university graduates a research stay at German facilities. Host institutions are research centers and universities, but also enterprises, ministries, offices and NGOs.

The minimum term of a scholarship is six months, the maximum suppor-ting period twelve months. Besides the improvement of the scholarship holders‘ vocational skills, the exchange programme wants to break barriers and initiate cross-border contacts to build up an all-European expert network striving for dissemi-nation of experiences and informa-tion. The DBU awards approximately 60 scholarships for applicants from the aforementioned countries.

Target GroupGraduates from the aforementioned Central and Eastern European Countries can apply. Their studies must be finished with an above-average exam (Master, Magister Diploma) taken within the last 3 years. The graduates must be citizens of one of the aforementioned coun-tries and need a residence in their home country when applying. The scholarships are directed with a high priority at those for whom it will be the first research stay in Germany. Applicants must prove sufficient skills of the German language by the latest at beginning of the scholarship (through a language school certifi-cate or else).

The scholarship is not intended for those who would like to write their PhD thesis at a German univer-sity. The DBU welcomes applications from natural scientists, engineers, agrarian engineers, economists, lawyers, educationalists and others, provided they make an essential contribution to environmental protection or nature conservation in their home country or in the European Union.

Research Stay in GermanyDBU Scholarship Exchange Programme with CEE Countries Guidelines

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The internship begins with a several days‘ introductory seminar for all new scholarship holders in Osnabrück where important organisational matters are discussed. The German hosts provide the work place, arrange for accommodation and organise a competent tutorial.

DBU and the tutors accompany the scholarship holders during the entire period. The DBU organises status seminars where the scholar-ship holders can introduce their research topics and present first results. Individually organised events/seminars are also supported. A special focus is given to the annual International Summer Academy of St. Marienthal/Ostritz and the German Environmental Award ceremony (Deutscher Umweltpreis) in October.

No work permit is demanded for internships in Germany since these, according to the German Beschäftigungsverordnung (§ 2, 4 in the new version of January 2005), are considered as consent-free activities for a so-called residence permit. For some countries there is a compulsory visa required for which the scholarship holders apply themselves in their home countries.

ApplicationAny application has to be submitted online.

Please check the individual DBU country homepages at www.dbu.de/ stipendien_international. During the online procedure, you must also submit:

CV, Project proposal [project

idea (maximum 3 pages with description of the problem for which a solution is searched)],

Copies of diploma (Master or Magister certificate),

Written comment of a tutor from the home country, and

Confirmation of Germanlanguage skills (if available).

Closing DateApplications are possible once a year. Please ask your regional coordinator for information about the closing date or look at www.dbu.de/stipendien_international.

We are prepared to answer your e-mail inquiries any time.

Selection ProcedureAny application is assessed by a jury. After an internal pre-selection, short-listed applicants will be invited for an interview in their home country. All applicants are informed about their appointments in due course.

Financial BackingThe monthly amount of a scholarship is € 1,060 and exempt from tax and social security contributions. Additionally, scholarship holders have insurance coverage against health, accident and liability risks. Beyond that, the DBU supports a German language course in the home country prior to the scholarship. A correspon-ding request, addressed to the DBU in advance, is necessary.

Stay/Internship in GermanyThe internship is organised by the DBU in accordance with the scholar-ship holders and the German host institution. Scholarship holders can address their proposals to the DBU. For a range of current offers, please turn to www.dbu.de/618.html.

Field studies

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Duties of Scholarship HoldersWhen accepting a scholarship, the holders commit themselves to concentrate their work on the project like described in application and working plan. They are neither allowed to take any employment nor an additional scholarship. The DBU must be informed immediately if the project or internship is interrupted, changed or prematurely finished. DBU reserves its right of terminating the scholarship and claiming for a repayment of the financial backing if a scholarship holder gives inaccurate statements and/or withholds impor-tant facts and alterations that would negate the conditions for awarding a scholarship, and if a scholarship holder does not deal with his topic at the host institution or contravenes against the tutor’s instructions.

Information and ContactMore current information and appli-cation forms about the scholarship exchange programme as also contact details are regularly updated at: www.dbu.de/963.html.

E-mail contact:

Address:Deutsche Bundesstiftung UmweltMOE-AustauschstipendienprogrammAn der Bornau 2 D-49090 OsnabrueckPhone: +49 541|9633-302, 351

Dr. Nicole Freyern.freyer@dbu.de

Christiane Grimm c.grimm@dbu.de

Fieldwork of a scholarship holder

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economical forest economy. During her case study at the Freiburg University and the NABU, Vanya Ratarova examined the role of the German environmental associations in the process of the FSC forest certification and developed policy recommendations for Bulgarian environmental NGOs. Most important for Bulgaria is the implementation of a national team with the tasks of fundraising, creating a discussion platform, cultivating a network of contacts, launching information campaigns and a control function as also the development of a national standard for FSC.

Irma Soorand, Baltic States:Exterior paints based on combining vegetable and mineral raw materials During her research stay with the Brunswick company AURO Pflanzen-chemie AG, Irma Soorand developed a colour coating based on course, vegetable and mineral components. She used lime-based and silicate paints and others, based on synthetic materials, tree resin and plant oil. Her comparative experiments dealt with weatherability, transmissibility of water vapour and the absorption and release of water as also the storage life. The young scientist deter-mined that colours with a synthetic dispersion show the best results in the outdoor exposure, however their whiteness decreases. The lime and silicate-based colours show a good weatherability, however also a strong chalking effect after three months of outdoor exposure. Due to their organic components, natural resin oil colours (tree resin, plant oil) grow more prone to fungi and algae, and their oil-layer offers a high water impermeability. In order to increase this impermeability, Irma Soorand changed and varied fillers, binders, emulsifiers and thickening agents. Because of its new formu-lation and compared with synthetic colours, the natural resin product now performs essentially better.

Katrin Trükmann, Baltic States:Impact of pasture use on geophysical and mechanical parametersAgriculture is the major purpose of the land use in the Europe of our time. In the course of land culti-vation, machines and appliances introduce different physical forces into the soil – like compression and shearing strengths. If these forces exceed the given stability of the soil, compression occurs. Also in grassland management, soil compression is of increasing importance. During her research stay, Katrin Trükmann examined different frequencies and intensities in field work and their influence on the soil structure functions. Her study considers also those forms of ground vegetation and nutrient variations as they are used in the comparable ecological agriculture.

Vanya Ratarova, Bulgaria:The role of environmental associations in the FSC forest certification – Positive examples from Germany as impulse for Bulgarian environmental NGOsThe Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an initiative aiming at a global sustainable forest management, with an umbrella function for environmental and social associations as also for companies of the timber and forestry industry. Their common goal is an ecological, socially responsible and nevertheless

Examples

Scholarship holder Vanya Ratarova

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Akos Lukacs, Hungary:Emission Trading in EuropeSince the EC Directive for emission trading is transposed differently in the different member states, it should be harmonized in future. During his work for the Deutsche Emissionshandelsstelle at the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Akos Lukacs analyzed the practice and experiences of national authorities responsible for emission trading.

He compared the transposition of the EC Directive in the national legislation as also monitoring, coverage and verification on the emission market in the different countries.

Marta Miara, Poland:Wastewater Treatment of Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge VWNThe company FUGRO CONSULT GmbH is in charge of the wastewater treatment control at the Hanover works of Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge. This task includes the recording of all wastewater streams and places, were the different effluents occur and which must be pretreated before they are discharged into the local sewage system. For example, there is sewage, that accrues continuously and which is pretreated accordingly by using different filters. There is also specific sewage, that accrues seldom and in low quantities and which needs a so-called precipitation before it is discharged. The directives applying for this treatment are from the year 1999. However, today type and volume of the sewage are different and an optimization of these rules obligatory for Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge. During her stay with the company Volkswagen Marta Miara presented the bases for an optimization of these guidelines for a particular sewage treatment in this field.

Ioana Stan, Romania:Toxicity and degradation of ionic liquidsIonic liquids are new chemicals, needing conformity to the new European Union legislative after REACH before they can leave the industrial world as product. On reason of many interesting physicochemical qualities, numerous application fields for ionic liquids are given. The risk rises in that larger

quantities are emitted into the biosphere without elaborate knowledge about their (eco)-toxicity and degradation in the environment. Ioana Stan developed methods and procedures that can be put in already during the development process of new industrial chemicals for an assessment of the risk potential of new environmental chemicals. Additionally, her work aims at new findings about the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of selected ionic liquids and their effects on man and nature.

Radec Cerny, The Czech Republic:Scurf-resistant kinds of applesThe proper election of kinds is a crucial criterion for an ecologically meaningful and economic apple cultivation. Climatic conditions like sunshine hours, temperature, rainfall and frost risks determine their suitability for a region. Moreover, the ripening time, the formation of components and the risks for illnesses and pests are factors to be heeded. During his work at the Kompetenzzentrum Bodensee Radec Cerny surveyed the suitability of new kinds of apples like Modi, Greenstar, Collina and Santana for the ecological cultivation in the Lake Constance area.

Scholarship holder Akos Lukacs

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In recent years, alumni networks have been established in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

The network of former Polish scholarship holders – Stowarzyszenie Srodowisko dla Srodowiska (SdS)Founding year of the network of former Polish scholarship holders was 2001. Thus it is the eldest alumni network of the DBU scholarship programmes. Essential task of Stowarzyszenie Srodowisko dla

Srodowiska (SdS) is the spread of information about the programme in Poland, and the organisation of some events – for example the annual autumn seminar for approximately 80 scholarship holders and members of their families, and the introduction ceremony for the new scholar-ship holders.

Please turn to: www.sds.org.pl for information.

The Hungarian Alumni Network The Hungarian Alumni Network of the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt was established in May 2008 in order to guarantee a continuous contact among current and former scholarship holders and to establish a network of environmental experts. Additionally, the network supports the DBU in spreading information about the scholarship programme in Hungary, integrates new scholarship holders automatically and participates in the annual selection procedure for new scholarship holders.

The Alumni network organizes experts‘ colloquiums, annual meetings, certificate ceremony and seminars and has an individual homepage: www.dbu-alumni.hu

The Alumni Networks

MOE-Homepage

Alumni-chairpersons at an international workshop.