Interview of the month: Meteorological Society of Serbia

Interview with Zoran Vučinić, President of the Meteorological Society of Serbia (MSS) by the EMS Liaison Committee (EMS LC)

EMS LC: If you were to describe your society in one sentence, what would you say?

MSS: The MSS is a society that is part of a 70-year long tradition of meteorology in Serbia. The Meteorological Society of Serbia was founded on 30th May 1952 and was originally named ’Meteorological club of Belgrade’. Today the Meteorology Society of Serbia is a professional association of citizens who deal with meteorology or related activities. The Society is a voluntary, non-governmental, and non-profit association, established to promote meteorological activities. Our society had a break of several years during the 1990s, and then continued with its work in October 2000.

EMS LC: When was MSS founded?

MSS: The Meteorological Club was founded in 1952 by the Department of Meteorology. The Department of Meteorology was established in 1949 at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Belgrade. Its first president was Professor Marjan Čadež. The Club grew into the Meteorological Society of Serbia (MSS) in 1955.

EMS LC: What are the objectives of MSS?

MSS: The main purpose of MSS has always been and still is to improve our work in the broad field of meteorological science, in both theoretical and practical fields. It is also our goal to keep communication alive among meteorologists on current meteorological topics, to preserve our valuable meteorological history and tradition, to maintain international cooperation, etc.

EMS LC: Could you explain the structure of your membership?

MSS: Currently the Society has 25 full members and one titular member. Most members are meteorologists from: Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, Department of Meteorology Faculty of Physics University of Belgrade, Serbia And Montenegro Air Traffic Services SMATSA and retired meteorological professionals. The Society is trying to increase the number of members through its activities. But, unfortunately, the number of members is in decline.

EMS LC: What are MSS ‘s recent achievements?

MSS: Organizing professional and scientific meetings; Cooperation with professional, scientific and educational organizations and associations in the country and abroad; Giving opinions on the studies, projects and other documents important for the development or application of meteorology, and if necessary making its own; Monitoring and dissemination of meteorological products and application of knowledge in practice; et al.

For example, the Society has successfully organized: 18th International Conference on Carpathian Meteorology, Belgrade, October 7-10th 2002 and EMS Council, 16th Session, Belgrade, 17 – 18 April 2007. Also, the Society published in digital form “Climate phenomena El Nino and La Nina”, written by Ms Gordana Jovanović.

EMS LC: Where do you see the greatest challenges?

MSS: Our biggest challenge will be to stop the decline of membership and to increase membership activity.

EMS LC: Which activities are you planning for the coming months?

MSS: We are planning the celebration of important anniversaries in 2018, related to the beginnings of meteorology in Serbia. This year marks 170 years of meteorological measurements, 130 years of the foundation of the National Meteorological Service in Serbia, 130 years of the foundation of Belgrade Observatory and 50 years of the foundation of hail protection.

Also, we plan to launch an initiative for the installation of a monument or memorial plaque to Vladimir Jaksic, who started meteorological measurements in January 1848 at his home in Senjak, Belgrade.

EMS LC: Are you collaborating with other EMS Members?

MSS: Yes, members of the Croatian Meteorological Society (HMS) visited Belgrade in 2016,. This expert trip was organized jointly by HMS and MSS. But we want to improve cooperation with other meteorological societies, especially in our region.

EMS LC: What do you expect from the EMS? In what ways can it help you to develop your activities?

MSS: The EMS can help in every way.  Primarily it can help to attract young meteorologists to join the Meteorological Society of Serbia, as well as help to improve the organization of the society.

EMS LC: What have been your most successful events in the last three years?

MSS: The journal “Meteo et Climat Info”, No. 49 was published in text form on the Meteorological Society of Serbia. The website of the society was re-established, and a new Society logo was chosen.

Prof. Dr Zavisa Janjic supported the MSS in the election of a regular member of MSS to the Serbian Academy of the Sciences and Arts.

One of the regular activities of MSS is the organization of expert presentations by our colleagues. The Society has also discussed the other problems of our members.

EMS LC: What changes do you believe your society needs to make?

MSS: Our society needs to raise the awareness of the importance of such a society among young meteorologists in Serbia.

EMS LC: Thank you very much for the interview!