TARGETED TRAINING ACTIVITIES (TTAs)


In 2004, the ICTP Physics of Weather and Climate Section initiated a new programme of educational activities called "Targeted Training Activities" (TTAs).
	
TTA's distinguishing feature is its team-oriented nature, with the aim of  putting together groups of scientists to collaborate on a specfic goal in a Developing-Country institution.  Such goals can be of different kinds:

	- Development of an educational team on climate sciences in a university environment;
	- Expertise building on the use of numerical weather forecasting, seasonal prediction products or climate-scenario simulations made available to the international community by institutions such as ECMWF, NCEP, IRI, IPCC;
	- Implementation of a project on the application of short- and long-term climate predictions to the management of hydrological or agricultural resources.

	To achieve this goal each TTA will be "targeted" to a limited number of institutions (from 2 to 5).  From each institute, a group of scientists (lead by a co-ordinator) will be chosen.  A limited number of "observing students"  from Developing Countries may also be allowed to attend.  The duration of the TTAs is expected to be between two and four weeks, with a mixture of formal lectures, laboratory sessions and project work.

Faculty: Lecturers from a number of institutions, with at least one external Director.  Joint organization with one specific institution from a Developed Country (acting as a co-sponsor) is welcomed.

The kick-off edition, 'Course on Climate Dynamics for Climate Research Centers and University Lecturers' (August 9 - 27, 2004),  was organized in collaboration with the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies (COLA, Maryland, USA)