Centre for Envinronmental Engineering and Mechanics (CEM) was established as one of the Centres of Excellence within the EESD project (Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development) of Fifth RTD Framework Programme (1998-2002) under European Commision (please visit also Community Research & Development Information Service CORDIS).

CEM was created within the structures of Institute of Hydroengineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IBWPAN). The aim of the project is to create a centre dealing with inland, transitional and coastal waters, and directed towards sustainable development and integrated water resources management. The activities carried out in the Centre concentrate on the following topics:

• sustainable management of inland and transitional waters
• near-shore processes and sustainable coastal engineering

Special emphasis of the implementation of these topics are directed towards sustainability, water quality aspects, and introduction of the Water Framework Directive in Poland. Ground water problems and flood protection are taken into account. Expected impacts are:

• increase the effectiveness of research and implementation of results
• introduction of integrated and multidisciplinary studies with strong emphasis on water environment