Ethel Eljarrat | Director of IDAEA

In our own words

Welcome message from IDAEA’s director Ethel Eljarrat

IDAEA is the leading environmental research center of CSIC. Founded in 2008 and organized into two major departments (Environmental Chemistry and Geosciences), IDAEA was awarded the “Severo Ochoa” Center of Excellence distinction in 2020, highlighting the high-quality scientific leadership and global impact of the work carried out at the institute.

The health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment as a whole (including ecosystems) is closely interconnected and interdependent. This ONE HEALTH concept is the foundation of studies conducted at IDAEA. For this purpose, we have the capacity and potential to address interdisciplinary research challenges from local to global scales.

IDAEA is characterised by its interdisciplinary nature, encompassing research in chemistry, biology, toxicology, hydrology, and geology. We cover a wide range of environmental challenges related to the origin and health effects of emerging contaminants, as well as studies characterizing the atmosphere-ocean exchange and biogeochemistry of anthropogenic chemicals, paleoclimatic studies, the use of chemometric tools for big data analysis, study and management of water resources, water system management, air quality issues, and circular economy.

Scientific activity focuses on detecting and diagnosing the situation and problems in each of these areas, followed by working on the development of solutions to eliminate or mitigate the problem. We place special emphasis on Science4Policy to harness science in improving policies to address current environmental challenges.

IDAEA seeks answers at the forefront of knowledge and poses questions that require in-depth research, development capability, and technological application. These capabilities, along with an intense proactive attitude, management skills, and commitment to society, enable IDAEA to tackle global challenges for a sustainable future development.

Our mission

IDAEA is an environmental science institute devoted to the study of the human footprint on the biosphere. We help to resolve 21st century environmental problems by providing high-quality research to the scientific community, and by raising awareness of environmental pollutants to the citizens.

Our vision

Our aim is to be the leading centre, both nationally and internationally, in transforming our societies into healthier, safer, and more sustainable places to live

Our values

It is difficult to overemphasise the value of high-quality research in the endeavour of facing global environmental challenges. Excellent science is at the core of everything we do. The award of Centre of Excellence ‘Severo Ochoa’ that IDAEA won recently proves that and encourages us to keep giving our best.

We believe that teamwork, interdisciplinary, and international teams aim at broader objectives. This is only possible in a collaborative atmosphere. To tackle global environmental issues, it is essential to create a respectful environment to foster trustable relationships.

Independent and evidence-based research is an act of responsibility. Not only with ourselves, and our mission and vision, but also with the rest of the scientific community, the society and the environment.

We strongly support transparency, ethics and integrity as the moral ground in which excellent science can grow and ultimately, benefit the society.

Teresa Moreno | Director of Severo Ochoa

Excellence in research

Accredited Centre of Excellence “Severo Ochoa”

The Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), part of the Spanish Research Council (CSIC), has been distinguished with the award of the prestigious Severo Ochoa accreditation of excellence (2019-2024) granted by the State Research Agency attached to the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

The objective of the Severo Ochoa Program is to support competitive science research taking place in Spain, identifying and promoting research centres that have positioned themselves among the best in the world in their respective areas. These research centres stand out for their high competitiveness, their ambitious strategic plans, top-quality scientific production and a strong capacity to attract national and international talent. The selection procedure is carried out transparently, based on international best practices, with an independent committee made up of more than a hundred internationally renowned scientists.

Thanks to this recognition, IDAEA-CSIC will receive one million euros per year for four years to invest in its research programs, in addition to preferential access to scientific facilities, flexibility in the hiring of researchers, and enhanced ability to attract funding. This accreditation is a recognition of IDAEA’s work in environmental research over the last 10 years, and will promote the synergistic expansion of its scientific talent and research programs.

Committees

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