One of the nine research projects awarded with the Research Grant from HERAS Plus: “Air Pollution in Kosovo – impact on human health and Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices (KAP) and Perception on air pollution” in partnership with the Medical Faculty of the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” (UP), Medical University of Vienna and Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje meet on the 28th -30th March 2022 with the purpose of validating health and air pollution data collected in Kosovo.

The project aims to assess the impact of air pollution on respiratory disease in children and evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and behavior of outdoor air pollution in Kosovo. We are very excited to see the results of their work in upcoming scientific publications with the established evidence on the impact of air pollution, which will benefit policymakers.

As part of the visit, Prof. Moshamer, head of the Environmental Health Department at the Medical University of Vienna, met with Ph.D. students and held a lecture with Medical Students from the University of Prishtina. The project team also met with experts from the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure.

The Research Grants’ aim is to promote international scientific cooperation and networking between Researchers from Austria, Kosovo, and the Western Balkan region, in the thematic areas of the call, as well as empower young and early-stage Kosovan researchers at Public Universities to get engaged and benefit from the knowledge and shared expertise, whilst building on original scientific contribution.