cc: t.osborn@uea date: Mon Jan 24 16:46:44 2000 from: Keith Briffa 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