Mountain-EVO: start date and kick-off meeting doodle

• By Wouter Buytaert

While our legal team is working on the consortium agreement, I have spoken to the ESPA programme coordinators about starting our project. They expressed a preference for starting as early as possible and to request a no-cost extension if necessary. In this light, I suggest a revised official starting date of 1 October, to release the funds for those that are eager to start. However, we will consider October - December 2013 as a warming-up period towards the real kick-off during the meeting in January 2014.

To optimise everyone's time, I suggest a core meeting of 2 days with as many partners as possible, to focus on the science questions. In the
day(s) before and after the core meeting we can organise additional smaller meetings, perhaps per study site, focusing on the start of the fieldwork.

To fix the dates, can I ask that at least one delegate per institute fills in this doodle: http://www.doodle.com/brgqgrwh8pym8hem

I will then select the most appropriate time slot. For those travelling from far, please account for travelling time before and after the meeting.

Note that travelling will have to be covered from your local project budget, which you may consider to decide how many delegates you like to send. However, consider the meeting as one the most crucial of the project.