On the 30th of July, 2024, the majority of the Core group met in Wageningen, the Netherlands, to discuss the plans for the 3rd year of COST Action LIFT. LIFT started in November 2022 and will last until the end of October 2026. Each year, the Core group composes a Work and Budget Plan (WBP) that is voted on by the Management Committee (MC). The WBP details what will happen in the next budget year (from November to October) and how the budget is allocated to the various activities. Given the size of the Action, with more than 300 members, it is important to budget precisely so that the opportunities for reaching the Action’s objectives can be maximized.
The main point on the agenda was to decide on the in-person meetings for the next year, including the size of the meetings and where the meetings will potentially be organised. Further on the agenda were the progress of the sub working groups and core group management. The option for an additional training school was also considered, as the previous training schools have shown to be popular. Given the success of the Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) in this year, similar funds will be allocated for next year.
Having this important meeting in-person rather than online showed to be efficient and constructive. As Core group we do realise that the timing of the WBP does not align with the yearly Management Committee meeting, which is usually after the WBP has to be submitted to COST. A main reason for this is the start of the grant year in November, which means that the WBP needs to be submitted to COST early September. With the holiday and conference season running approximately from June to September, the participation in a Management Committee meeting in that time could result in limited participation. To balances the pros and cons, the MC meeting is outside of the holiday season, whereas the input from the MC meetings can still be incorporated when the budget is re-evaluated half-way the year.
From left to right: Manja, Laura Webb, Margit, Pol and Irene
