The Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (National Research Council of Italy, CNR) aims at promoting, transfer and improve scientific, technological, economic and social researches. CNR is organised in 11 departments, with 108 Institutes, more than 8,000 staff members, distributed all over Italy. CNR is a member of the European Science Foundation (ESF) and participates in the ESF-Marine Board. It is also a member of ICSU, EuroGOOS, MONGOOS (the Mediterranean component of GOOS) of the Italian Oceanographic Commission (COI), the national coordinating body of activities related to UNESCO/IOC.

CNR represents the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) in the Secretariat of JPI Oceans and, on behalf of MIUR, is participating in the EU project SeasERA. CNR is in the FP7 CSA project Oceans and operates the largest fleet of research vessels in Italy, which are used all year round in European and national research projects. It is also a partner in EUROFLEETS1 and 2. Moreover, it operates a network of equipped fixed platforms, both in coastal and open seas, coastal high frequency radars, oceanographic instrumentation installed on fishing vessels, and a system for satellite observations. CNR also contributes to the development of technologies and sensors for marine research. With its network of coastal observatories, CNR is participating in the Integrated Infrastructure Initiative JERICO which assures the data flow from the observation system to the SeaDataNet infrastructure and to the Ocean monitoring and forecasting system MyOcean (GMES core sevice). It is also one of the marine data centers in SEADATANET2.

Three institutes from CNR are participating in COMMON SENSE:

	The Institute for Marine Sciences (ISMAR, Units in Venice and in La Spezia) whose main activities are related to physical and chemical oceanography, ocean current dynamics and the related transport processes, biogeochemical cycles of the key elements of the water column (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon) and future impacts of ocean acidification. Website: http://www.ismar.cnr.it/
	The Unit in Oristano of the Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC) whose main oceanographic activities are related to the monitoring, forecasting and assessment of the impact of human activities on marine and coastal ecosystems. Ocean data (CTD, current, sea level), from cruises or drifting buoys or deployed instruments, are used to study the characteristics of the general circulation, from seasonal to climatic time scale, and to validate numerical models. Website: http://oristano.iamc.cnr.it/IAMC/
	The mission of the Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers (ICTP) in Naples is to combine basic research with results of potential applicability, investigating with an essentially fundamental approach systems of high technological interest. The ICTP research activities are: 1. Polymer design and synthesis of innovative and high performance polymeric systems for the eco-sustainable development; 2. Structure-properties relationships of polymeric based materials; 3. Development and characterisation of biodegradable synthetic and natural polymeric materials. Website: www.ictp.cnr.it

Contact Person: Dr Paolo Magni (paolo.magni@cnr.it)

Role of CNR in COMMON SENSE: CNR Institutes are involved in WP1 (Current and comprehensive understanding of in-situ ocean observing systems and EU legislation); WP2 (Integrated basis for cost-effective sensors development); WP4 (Transversal Sensor development and Sensor Integration); WP5 (Sensors for in-situ monitoring of Eutrophication); WP9 (Field testing); WP10 (Dissemination and Knowledge Management) and WP11 (Coordination and Management).

Profile of staff engaged in the project:

IAMC:

Paolo Magni, Principal investigator of the project for the CNR Consortium formed by ISMAR, IAMC and ICTP.  Research scientist working on marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and environmental pollution. National and international involvement in the assessment and development of indicators of environmental quality in application of EU marine policies.

Alberto Ribotti, IAMC research scientist expert in physical oceanography and ocean monitoring, participated to more than 25 oceanographic cruises in the Mediterranean for hydrodynamic acquisitions and for the management of deep moorings and oceanographic instruments.

Fabio Antognarelli, IAMC research scientist working on experimental oceanography with expertise in management of oceanographic and meteorological instruments. Experienced in European project management and scientific dissemination.

ISMAR:

Katrin Schroeder, ISMAR research scientist expert in physical oceanography focusing on dynamic processes and interannual variability of physical/biogeochemical properties of Mediterranean water masses. Participated in 16 Mediterranean cruises. Coordinator of CIESM-Hydrochanges Programme.

Mireno Borghini, ISMAR Professional Technical Operator whose main activity concerns the management of oceanographic equipment, the organisation of oceanographic cruises, the calibration of instruments and the following data acquisition and processing.

ICTP:

Maurizio Avella, ICTP research scientist, is an expert on the characterisation of blends and composite materials and interphase region. He was coordinator and responsible for CNR of numerous Italian and European projects.

Maria Emanuela Errico, ICTP research scientist, is an expert in the synthesis and compatibilisation of polymeric based systems.

Gennaro Gentile, ICTP research scientist, is leader group of morphological and mechanical characterisation on polymeric materials and composites.

Roberto Avolio, ICTP temporary research scientist, is expert in the preparation and characterisation of multiphase organic/inorganic polymeric systems.