The Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Center (M.I.R.C.) of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) takes an interdisciplianry approach to researching and studying environment and development issues in mountain areas. The aim of the research centre is to address the lack of research and education on mountains in Greece and disperse gained knowledge and information to the country's network of mountainous municipalities, becoming the official national institute for integrated policy making and planning for mountains. Although the main research area of the MIRC is mountainous areas, it also focuses on isolated ecosystems, particularly small islands.