Participation in a project “Oceans Past Platform” of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology Framework COST

Julia Lajus, an Associate Professor at the History Department and Senior Research Fellow, Center for Historical Research of the Higher School of Economics in Saint Petersburg, became a participant from Near Neighbour Countries in the project of the European network COST - Action IS1403 “Oceans Past Platform (OPP)”.

European Cooperation in Science and Technology framework COST is the longest-running European framework supporting trans-national cooperation among researchers, engineers and scholars across Europe. It is a unique means to them jointly develop their own ideas and new initiatives across all fields in science and technology, including social sciences and humanities, through pan-European networking of nationally funded research activities. Based on a European intergovernmental framework for cooperation in science and technology, COST has been contributing - since its creation in 1971 - to closing the gap between science, policy makers and society throughout Europe and beyond. As a precursor of advanced multidisciplinary research, COST plays a very important role in building a European Research Area (ERA). 

COST Action IS1403 “Oceans Past Platform (OPP)” aims to measure and understand the significance and value to European societies of living marine resource extraction and production to help shape the future of coasts and oceans. The Integrative Platform will lower the barriers between human, social and natural sciences; multiply the learning capacity of research environments; and enable knowledge transfer and co-production among researchers and other societal actors, specifically by integrating historical findings of scale and intensity of resource use into management and policy frameworks. The Action calls on historians, archaeologists and social scientists as well as colleagues from the marine sciences to engage in dialogue and collaboration with ocean and coastal managers. OPP will develop historical descriptors and indicators for marine and coastal management.

Historian, archaeologists and marine biologists from 23 European countries, Israel and Russia are involved in the activities of the Oceans Past Platform under the leadership of prof. Poul Holm (Trinity College, Dublin). The first OPP Annual Management Committee meeting will take place 21-22 May 2015 at University of Tartu, Tallinn, Estonia just after the International conference “Oceans Past V”. 
Julia Lajus will participate in both activities – the conference and the COST action management committee meeting.