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)