WP3

Human capital is the added value necessary to make RIs fully operational in reaching the level of scientific advancement expected of them: successfully addressing planetary challenges and opening completely new research fields and applications. To these aims, advanced training of the human capital involved in RI development and operation, whether this be scientific, technological and technical staff or infrastructure users, is a fundamental requirement to maximize the efficiency of infrastructure operation. The increasingly threats to biodiversity and ecosystems due to anthropogenic pollution, resource overexploitation, climate change and other drivers highlight the necessity for researchers to improve their communication and stakeholder engagement skills. Therefore, advanced training of RI human capital in science communication and citizen engagement is acquiring increasing relevance. Moreover, in planning advanced training for the employees of Environmental RIs, it is also necessary to account for the heterogeneity of the component research infrastructures of ITINERIS as regards their various levels of maturity and their characteristic ecological domains of interest (i.e., terrestrial, marine, solid earth, atmosphere).

The aim of this Work Package is to develop a Training Centre for National Environmental RIs, accessible via the ITINERIS HUB, which could coordinate the training plan for the integrated Environmental RI system, co-organize training courses and events for their employees and users as a distributed Centre in synergy, through dedicated distributed officers, with all thematic subdomains and cross domain activities and developments. This allows mapping continuously the ERI training requirements and ensures access of all PhD and master students, operating in the ITINERIS WPs, to the training courses and initiatives run in the context of the ITINERIS PhD training programme. Moreover, the Training Centre produces training materials and makes all training resources Findable and Accessible through a Training Platform with an associated Training Resource Catalogue, integrated in the ITINERIS HUB through WP2 resources and services. The ITINERIS Training Centre could also support a series of national and international major initiatives, including projects and research initiatives funded by other areas of the PNRR, as for example the National Centres of Future Biodiversity, hosting the training resources produced by them on the ITINERIS Training Catalogue and ensuring their long-term sustainability and accessibility.