CECAM Nodes for 2009

The CECAM Council, in its meeting of November 28, 2008 has made a pre-evaluation of the node candidatures thus far received and six of them have been invited to start informally as "CECAM Nodes" on January 1st, 2009.

The official setup of the multi-nodal structure (implying the final confirmation of these Nodes and the expected incorporation of additional Nodes), should take place progressively in the coming months. To become effective, the multi-nodal structure needs first the new CECAM Convention to be signed by all CECAM Members (expected mid 2009), and subsequently it will require the signature of specific agreements between CECAM and each particular Node.

This is the current list of the "CECAM Nodes":

• Amsterdam-Leiden, The Netherlands
  Center for Multiscale Modeling (ACMM) - Website
  Lorentz Center - Website
  
  
• Bremen-Berlin-Frankfurt, Germany
  Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science (BCCMS) - Website
  Fritz Haber Institute, Berlin - Website
  Frankfurt University - Website
  
  
• Daresbury, United Kingdom
  Computational Science and Engineering Department (CSE)
  Website
  
  
• Dublin, Ireland
  Atlantic Centre for Atomistic Modelling (ACAM)
  Website
  
  
• Trieste, Italy
  International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA-Democritos)
  Website
  
  
• Zaragoza, Spain
  Information to be posted soon
  
  

Transformation of CECAM into a multi-nodal structure with CECAM-EPFL as its Headquarters.

The CECAM Council in its meeting of May 28th, in Lausanne, has formalized its intention to evolve CECAM towards a multi-nodal structure with CECAM-EPFL as its headquarters. The "Convention Task Force" (CTF), set up by the Council to prepare the new CECAM Convention (an update of the present one to include the new structures needed to run the new expanded CECAM), should propose a text at the next CECAM Council Meeting planned for the 27th and 28th November 2008. It is expected that the adoption of the new Convention and the launch of the CECAM multi-nodal structure will take place within the first half of 2009.

From now on, we enter into a transition period where it can be envisaged for a European Institution to become already an "aspirant CECAM node", its CECAM node status becoming formally established only once the multi-nodal structure, together with the new Convention, comes into full existence. A form to be filled by an Institution wishing to become an aspirant CECAM node has been established (obtainable by clicking on "form" here or by request to the CECAM Director), on the basis of a decision taken by the Council on May 29th. The procedure to become an aspirant CECAM node will be based on three steps:

a) The Institution introduces its proposal by sending the completed form to the CECAM Director. Are expected to apply: Research Centres/Universities of International standing wishing to take an active role in the development of computational sciences at regional/national level and to participate to the European activities of CECAM.

b) A CECAM internal report to the Council is established by the CTF on that proposal. This step will probably include some negotiations with the candidate Institution.

c) An Email vote of all Council Members on the proposition to accept the candidate Institution as a new (aspirant) CECAM node. The vote will be based on the two documents: the original proposal (possibly amended) of the Institution and the CTF report. The Institution needs an 80% majority to be accepted as an aspirant CECAM node.

The Chairman of CECAM Council, Jean-Paul Ryckaert