The Institute of Environmental Research and Sustainable Development (IERSD) is one of the five institutes that constitute the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), the oldest research center in Greece (the first meteorological observations began in 1846). For more information about the National Observatory of Athens visit NOA's main WEB site.

Organizational Structure

IERSD's premises are situated in two main sites: the historical Thissio site and the newly established Penteli site.

Only few offices of IERSD are still hosted in the historical buildings at Thissio site of NOA , located on the small hill of Nymphs, overlooking the Acropolis.

IERSD building in Thissio

IERSD building in Penteli

Since 2001, most IERSD offices have relocated to the new premises at Penteli mountain. The building is located on the small hill "Koufos", about 15km from the center of Athens.

IERSD is staffed by:

• The Director
• Researchers
• Scientific personnel (permanent)
• Technical and administrative personnel (permanent)
• Scientists involved in research projects on a contract basis.

Basic Activities

The IERSD's aim is to promote environmental science and engineering. The IERSD is active in the following thematic areas:

• Meteorology / Weather Forecast
• Climatology and Climate Change
  
• Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
  
• Atmospheric Pollution monitoring and modelling
  
• Solar and Wind Energy
  
• Climate Change
  
• Resource Management and Sustainable Development
  
• Hydrology / Hydraulics
• Water Resources Engineering
• Numerical Modelling
• Remote Sensing / Radar Meteorology
• Energy Planning and Conservation
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

Goals

The goals of IERSD's research and technology policy are:

• Expanding the Institute's research activities and International cooperations
• Modernizing the Institute's scientific instruments, automating all activities related to meteorological observations and integrating all available data into a modern electronic data base.
• Participation in Research Projects.
• Training and Consultancy Services to Third Parties.

Income

The Institute is funded by the Hellenic Government, through the Secretariat for Research and Technology, of the Greek Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs, research projects (National, European, and International) and services offered to public and private entities.