cc: t.osborn@uea
date: Mon Jan 24 16:46:44 2000
from: Keith Briffa <k.briffa@uea.ac.uk>
subject: INTEGRATE
to: stepan@ipae.uran.ru,ifor@krsk.infotel.ru,fritz.schweingruber@wsl.ch

It will be necessary to make an extremely strong case for including two Russian partners and to justify the relatively large financial outlay ( large at least in terms of European grants to Russia). I believe we need to go over the top here to ensure  we make this case well. So please give me advice . 
I am considering the following:
Your great international reputations
        -stress Stepan ecology and pioneering in subfossil work
        -stress Eugene Modelling and links with carbon

your experience in the geographical areas we will sample
the value for money as regards personel costs
political difficulties of westerners working there - especially without help
unique attributes of laboratory personel - best dendro teams in Russia
facilities - we must be careful here not to over stress or it will undermine case for equipment resources sought but must stress Densitometry 
our existing relationships- our collaboration will produce results
relevance to international initiatives ( I am thinking here especially of the Siberian IGBP transect . What is its status ?)
Give me advice and fill out a few of these ideas. Provide more . I really do not wish to underestimate the significance of this aspect of the proposal
       thanks 
           Keith
