16 cities from ten countries are in the semi-final stage of the seventh iCapital edition to become the 2021 European Capital of Innovation and the first ever European Rising Innovative City. Supported by the European Innovation Council under Horizon Europe , the prize recognises the European cities for their most innovative city practices in the framework of […]
JRC launches new tool to explore the future of European energy
The JRC has launched an online tool allowing anyone to explore the energy options we have for a more sustainable future. The tool creates simple visuals from complex energy data to show how much energy is consumed in the industry, buildings and transport sectors – and what the sources of that energy are. It can […]
First LIFE Call for Proposals 2021 opened
On 13 July the first LIFE Call for Proposals opened under the new LIFE programme 2021-2027, which comprises four sub-programmes: nature & biodiversity, circular economy and quality of life, climate change mitigation and adaptation and the clean energy transition. Your guide through the calls – Info session material The LIFE Team has published on the CINEA’s LIFE programme […]
What exactly is academic freedom in higher education?
I want no person or system to have any power, real or apparent, to chill academic freedom. James E Rogers, Jr In recent months, a number of articles have been published addressing academic freedom in higher education. But what exactly is academic freedom? And does it matter? The Rome Communiqué, adopted by European ministers of […]
July infringements package: key decisions
Migration, Home Affairs and Security Union Letters of formal notice Fight against terrorism: Commission urges CYPRUS, CZECHIA, GREECE, SPAIN and LITHUANIA to ensure correct transposition of EU rules on combating terrorism The Commission decided today to open infringement procedures by sending letters of formal notice to Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Spain and Lithuania for failing to correctly transpose certain elements […]
Long-term vision for rural areas: stronger, connected, resilient, and prosperous
The European Commission has today put forward a long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas, identifying the challenges and concerns that they are facing, as well as highlighting some of the most promising opportunities that are available to these regions. Based on foresight and wide consultations with citizens and other actors in rural areas, today’s Vision […]
Report calls for global action for better resilience to droughts
Marking today’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, a new report calls for better coordination to manage the risk of severe droughts, as climate change brings increasing global temperatures and disrupts rainfall patterns. The report highlights the deep and widespread impacts of droughts, beyond the already high direct costs. Costs stemming from indirect impacts […]
Why are squid and very tiny animals being sent into Earth’s orbit?
NASA launches baby squid and water bears to the International Space Station (ISS). From worms to quail, the ISS has housed all kinds of creatures great and small over the years. Animal research in space is about to welcome some new members to the club. Aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, 128 baby glow-in-the-dark bobtail squid […]
Accelerated rates of change in Earth’s vegetation go back thousands of years
According to a new study, the world’s plant communities are changing at least as fast today as they did when the planet was coming out of the last ice age about 11 000 years ago. Climate changes and human activities have transformed our planet’s ecosystems over the last 18 000 years. While scientists know a […]