The UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN MACEDONIA (UOWM) was founded on 2003 under the Greek Authorities, consisting initially of the four departments of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki that were settled in Florina and Kozani. The academic structure of UOWM consists of the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Faculty of Life Long Learning and the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies. 

The Department of Mechanical Engineering, which participates in the LIFE CLIMATREE project, belongs to the Faculty of Engineering. It was established in 1999 and is one of the founding Departments of UOWM. The Department of Mechanical Engineering is located in the city of Kozani which is the heart of energy production in the country (nearly 70% of the electricity is produced in the power plants located in the broader area of Kozani). 

The participating in LIFE CLIMATREE project UOWM research team, belongs to the Laboratory of Environmental Technology which is part of the Section of Environmental Engineering and Energy Use, is headed by Dr. Rafaella – Eleni Sotiropoulou, Lecturer of Atmospheric Environment Management,  and is activated in the following research disciplines:

• Αir quality management
• Τhe study of environmental issues, particularly those concerned with energy use 
• Understanding the impact of anthropogenic perturbations on climate change
• Improving the ability to predict climate changes by better understanding the roles and interactions of the ocean, atmosphere, land and ice in the climate system
• Advancing the understanding of changes in the Earth’s radiation balance, air quality, and the ozone layer that result from changes in atmospheric composition