Closer cooperation in weather and earth observation between Germany and Italy

Germany and Italy have concluded an agreement on closer cooperation in the field of meteorology and climatology. This agreement creates a legally binding framework for various projects that can be planned and implemented in the long term.

It strengthens bilateral cooperation between Germany and Italy in the fields of meteorology and climatology as part of the German-Italian network ‘Italia – Deutschland science-4-services network in weather and climate’, IDEA-S4S and now also paves the way for a joint degree program which CESOC and the University of Bologna will create and now have the financial resources.

In November 2023, IDEA-S4S held a kick-off event at the BMDV in Bonn, where the project was officially launched, the research projects and plans for cooperation in teaching were presented and the community was brought together in person for the first time.

A first teaching exchange between CESOC and the University of Bologna took place in December 2023: Dr. Claudia Acquistapace from the University of Cologne gave a 4-week course at the University of Bologna entitled “Featuring AI methods applied to cloud satellite observations” as part of the “Guest Lectures and Seminars on Climate Science“. Dr. Claudia Acquistapace also leads one of the junior research groups within IDEA-S4S and supervises two doctoral students at the University of Cologne. In addition to ERASMUS agreements and initially further individual exchange lectures as well as training courses and summer schools, a joint Master’s degree course between CESOC and the University of Bologna will be developed and implemented over the next few years.

More Information on the Masters project will follow soon on our websites – read the full press release here: