The IMVUL network

IMVUL (Towards improved groundwater vulnerability assessment) is a Marie Curie Initial Training network under EU Framework 7 (Grant agreement 212298, 3.25M Euros). The network started on the 1st October 2008 and will run for 4 years. The principal aim of the IMVUL network is to train researchers in the major issues, scientific challenges and operational problems in groundwater vulnerability that face the groundwater industry today, through a combination of research and industry related training.

Background

There has been an increasing realization over the last 30 years that to preserve water quality and quantity in Europe, measures at both European and national levels are needed. Our groundwater resources are at risk from a wide variety of stresses including point and diffuse sources of contamination, over-abstraction and saline intrusion. Minimizing this risk requires a good understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes involved and the development of tools to assess groundwater vulnerability, aid water management and design protection strategies. To meet the challenges imposed by the new EU Water and Ground Water Framework Directives, the water industry throughout Europe is already significantly expanding, creating an increasing demand for appropriately educated graduates.
The ITN network, IMVUL, is aimed at training researchers in the major issues and processes relevant to groundwater vulnerability. The network consists of 8 partners and 13 associated partners from industry in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Israel and Norway. The research objectives are to increase our understanding of the fundamental processes relevant to groundwater vulnerability and develop improved prediction tools that can contribute to the protection and sustainable use of Europe's groundwater resources.

IMVUL training events

IMVUL Generic skills Workshop 29 June - 4 July, 2009 School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds Workshop program Photo gallery “Flow and transport in fractured and porous media” 16 – 29 August, 2010 Cargese, Corsica coordinated by the CNRS Second summer school program Photo gallery Groundwater Modeling Workshop Politecnico di Milano (Polimi), 17 - 21 January, 2011 Milan, Italy Workshop program Photo gallery

IMVUL Annual meetings

IMVUL Network Annual Meeting at Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel 11 - 14 October, 2009 Annual meeting program Photo gallery Mid-term Review Second IMVUL Annual Meeting, 11 - 13 October, 2010 Barcelona, Spain, hosted by IDAEA-CSIC Meeting program How to reach map   Third IMVUL Annual Meeting in Trondheim, Norway hosted by NGU 27 - 28 October, 2011 Meeting programme How to reach map