Norwegian Institute for Air Research is an independent research foundation, established in 1969, with a staff of approx.140. The institute is an SME and conducts environmental research, with emphasis on the sources of pollution, atmospheric transport and transformation, deposition and other removal processes, effects of pollution on ecosystems, materials and health and cost-benefit analysis of environmental strategies. NILU has several national roles related to all aspects of air quality, contracted from the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, Ministries of Environment and Education, sectoral authorities and local authorities (5 largest Norwegian cities). NILU conducts approximately 250 projects every year for governments, industry and national and international organizations. During 2004 NILU was involved in the coordination and performance of several projects and consulting services for the DG Research, DG Environment, UN ECE, HELCOM, PARCOM and other international and national organisations, and programmes aimed at the protection of the environment in Europe. NILU has long standing expertise in methodologies of emission estimation and prediction, transport and fate of pollutants, pollution forecasting, integrated environmental surveillance and planning systems, decision support systems for air quality, national and international co-ordination (incl. data centre functions) and internet-based environmental educational systems.

Alena Bartonova (SP2 leader, NILU PI), Senior Scientist. NILU PI on several international projects (EU R&D, EU DG Research, international collaborations). Mathematical statistics, environmental epidemiology, environmental monitoring and models, air quality management, uncertainty assessment. Collaboration with WHO EURO, EEA TC AQ, EMEP.

Aasmund Fahre Vik (WP4.1 leader, WP 4.2 and 4.3) Scientist, project leader at NILU on ESA database for calibration and validation of ENVISAT, and on GMES-GATO, VINTERSON, ASSET, CREATE and GOA, GOME projects.

NILU will act as a leader of SP2 “Monitoring”; will lead WP2.4 (Integrated monitoring) and WP4.1 (Toolbox design), and will provide major contributions to WPs 2.1 (Environmental monitoring), and 4.2 (Toolbox construction). It will also be involved in WP1.2 (Source-exposure), 2.2 (Biomonitoring), 2.3 (Health surveillance), 3.2 (Housing), 3.7 (Climate, with responsibility for UV, temperature predictions), 4.3 (Application and testing), 5.1 (Integration) and 5.2 (Internal training).