During my visit to Croatia one of our team project managers, Miroslav Ambruš-Kiš, arranged a meeting for us with the Director of the Ruđer Bošković Institute, Dr. sc. Danica Ramljak, and a colleague and fellow scientist at the institute, Dr. Guy Paic. The Ruđer Bošković Institute is the largest multidisciplinary research centre in Croatia with strengths in basic science and applied science research as well as higher education. It was founded in 1950 as a centre for advanced research and named after the famous 18th century Croatian scientist Josip Ruđer Bošković (1711- 1787).

The Institute seeks to achieve its objectives by continually improving and enhancing its facilities and capabilities as well as by establishing strategic partnerships and links with recognised organisations, scientific and academic institutions and industry. This scientific cooperation is enhanced through numerous projects, lasting between three and five years.

The multidisciplinary character of the Institute is manifested in different research fields in physics, chemistry, oceanography (including marine and environmental research and geosciences), biology, biomedicine, computer science and electronics/engineering. We have already established a relationship with the Centre for Informatics and Computing, thru one of our team scientist who works with that group, Zorislav Sojat, and the Centre's Head, Prof. dr. sc. Karolj Skala. Stay tuned for more details on this collaboration.

Dr. Ramljak expressed interest in our offer to provide space on our lander and rover for experiments that could occur while in space or on the surface of the moon. Dr. Paic, a well known and respected experimental physicist, currently working at RBI, CERN and on faculty at a university in Mexico City is also interested in the possibilities. The opportunities for collaboration are just starting to surface, and we will bring you more information as things develop!

(Photo by Chongor Farkas, Left to right: dr. Guy Paic, dr. Danica Ramljak, (sculpture of Rudjer Boskovic), Kevin Myrick, Zorislav Sojat, Miroslav Ambruš-Kiš)