On 1-2 July 2024, the first meeting of the partners of the project "Innovative sediment management framework for a SUstainNable DANube black SEa system" (SUNDANSE), funded by the Horizon Europe program, took place in Galati.
 
 The project, coordinated by "Dunărea de Jos" University of Galati, has as director Professor Puiu Lucian Georgescu, Ph.D., brings together 20 partners from 8 countries bordering the Danube, among which mention the Administration of the Lower Danube River, Romanian Waters, Marine Research, Flanders Hydraulic, European Shippers Council, Pro Danube, University of Novi Sad, University of Vienna, Hydro Proiect Invest. The main objective is to produce a manual for sustainable sediment management in the Danube - Black Sea basin. 

The activities on the first day of the event took place on board the research vessel REXDAN and included the presentation of the work packages and team composition of the partners involved as well as the main deliverables: the sediment management manual, models for predicting sediment dynamics in the Danube, monitoring and measuring sediment quality and quantity, case studies, demonstration of the proposed solutions as well as an action plan including steps for other regions.
 
On the second day of the meeting, workshops were held to establish the consortium-level work plan for the four years of the project, and the REXDAN research center was presented.
 
We want to thank the European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency, as well as the team of the "Dunărea de Jos" University of Galati in charge of the project coordinator for organizing an exceptional opening meeting!