WeBIOPATR 2023 : Abstracts of keynote invited lectures and contributed papers

Abstract

Welcome to the 9th WeBIOPATR Conference, to be held at Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Mechanical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia, 29.11.–1.12.2023. The first WeBIOPATR – „International Workshop and Conference, Particulate Matter: Research and Management“ was held in Belgrade in 2007. Its aim was to create a forum for Serbian and Western-Balkan experts and air pollution stakeholders to inform each other about state of knowledge in atmospheric research in Serbia and internationally, and about opportunities and barriers to reduce air pollution and especially, particulate matter (PM) towards safer levels. Since the first conference which became a bi-annual event, we have learnt much about the levels and negative effects of PM in Serbia and Western Balkan. The research carried out in Serbia has been significantly expanded, and better integrated in the international research community. The air pollution burden in Serbia and in particular, in Belgrade, has been much reduced. Our common quest is however not over – in line with the World Health Organization’s latest air quality guidelines, ambient pollution must further be reduced, in residential areas of large and small cities, in industrial areas, and in small settlements, bringing both the outdoor and the indoor levels towards safer levels. New challenges have arisen: the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it better understanding of pollution sources and the role of PM in virus transmission. New health-relevant metrics to assess PM properties have been established. New technologies have been developed for use at all observing platforms. Low-cost air quality sensos are now used in research and assessment as well as to raise awareness of air pollution in the society. Artificial Intellingence allows us to combine non-traditional data sources , and we can generate better emission estimates and precise finely time- and space resolved concentration fields that help us to develop mitigation strategies. Not least, European Research Infrastructures are now supporting harmonized methods and tools to generate, store and access research data on atmosphere, for the benefit of the wider scientific community and the society. This year's event brings to you 60 key-notes, lectures and posters, presented in-person and online, touching upon the new developments and demonstrating the solid basis research in Serbia rests on. The conference is supported by the European Union co-funded projects VIDIS (2020-2024, Grant Agreement ID 952433, https://vidis-project.org/), and WeBASOOP (2022-2025, Grant agreement ID: 101060170, https://webasoop.vinca.rs), by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of Serbia, by the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Serbia, by Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences Serbia, and by the Environment and Climate Research Institute NILU, Norway. [from Preface]