1. Tsunami early warning: Co-operation with Italian Civil Protection

The JRC and the Italian Department for Civil Protection (DPC) on Wednesday 16 May agreed to strengthen their collaboration and jointly develop a tsunami alert system in the Mediterranean Sea. The four year collaboration agreement foresees data and knowledge exchange between the parties with the ultimate goal to increase the security of populations at risk of a tsunami.

In this context, the JRC's Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) will provide its tsunami alert and monitoring systems to support decision making in the case of a tsunami. The use of common software and data will facilitate real time data exchange and hence timely action and alert.

Source: European Commission - Joint Research Centre  
2012-05-16 - 11:50   

2. EU-funded food technology project to help alleviate poverty by preventing food losses

Millions of the world's poorest people in some of the most deprived regions could soon be helped by a new EU-funded food technology project that brings together researchers from Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The 3-year project GRATITUDE ('Gains from losses of root and tuber crops') brings together 16 project partners from Ghana, the Netherlands, N...

Source: Community Research and Development Information Service  
2012-05-16 - 00:00   

3. Researchers investigate hockey board safety

Hockey is one of the toughest sports games. Players need both finesse and speed on the ice, but they also need to be strong. Being slammed into the boards or glass while chasing the puck is hard on the body.
Quality validation date: ...

Source: Community Research and Development Information Service  
2012-05-16 - 00:00   

4. A practical guide to green products and services

A new JRC report provides key information for policy makers and business managers on how to assess the environmental impacts of products and services through more consistent and better quality life cycle assessments.

Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) helps to assess the sustainability of supply chains, use, and end-of-life management options for goods and services. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a structured scientific method, internationally standardised according to ISO 14040 and 14044 that facilitates the implementation of LCT. It quantifies the resources consumed, emissions, and related environmental, health and resource depletion issues that are associated with any specific good or service. The International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) was developed to provide guidance for greater consistency and quality assurance of Life Cycle Assessments.

Source: European Commission - Joint Research Centre  
2012-05-15 - 14:41   

5. ‘Mathematics’ top of the agenda for European Latsis Prize 2012

European Latsis Prize seeks nominations for outstanding contributions to research in the field of...

Source: European Science Foundation  
2012-05-15 - 13:08   

6. Eco-industries: a sustainable and competitive option to increase growth and jobs

JRC conference Scientific support for growth, jobs and sustainability: the example of eco-industries, held on Tuesday 15 May in Brussels, emphasised the unique role eco-industries can play in Europe's economic recovery and sustainable future.

Opened by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, and Hannes Swoboda, President of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats at the European Parliament, the conference welcomed high level speakers from businesses, research organisations, governments and EU policymakers. They shared experience from their fields and discussed how scientific support can boost the growth of eco-industries.

Source: European Commission - Joint Research Centre  
2012-05-15 - 11:22   

7. Benchmarking employability of young graduates

A new European benchmark on the employability of young graduates, developed by the JRC in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Education and Culture, was adopted by the Council of the European Union on Friday 11 May 2012. This benchmark will be the reference level of European average performance on the share of employed graduates from education and training. It will help monitor progress towards EU’s 2020 targets, which envisage an average of at least 82% of graduates (20-34 year old) being employed no more than three years after they have completed education

Employability is a combination of factors which allow individuals to get a job, stay employed and progress during their career. It is a complex concept, which includes skills, attitudes and motivation. Additional factors which lie beyond education and training policy, involve labour market regulations, demography, the structure of the economy and the overall economic situation.

Source: European Commission - Joint Research Centre  
2012-05-15 - 11:21   

8. Sex chromosomes won't become extinct after all, say researchers

Scientists have refuted recent claims that sex-linked chromosomes such as the male Y chromosome could become extinct. The new claims have been made in a genetic study into the sex chromosomes of chickens, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The team, who hail from Sweden and the United Kingdom, looked...

Source: Community Research and Development Information Service  
2012-05-15 - 00:00   

9. Scientists shed light on giant manta ray movements

An international team of researchers provides insight into the movement of the giant manta ray, the world's largest ray measuring up to 25 feet (around 7 metres) in width. Presented in the journal PLoS ONE, the study used satellite telemetry to track the open-ocean journeys of this marine traveller that is listed as 'vulnerable' by the International Union...

Source: Community Research and Development Information Service  
2012-05-15 - 00:00   

10. Progress on materials and safety standards for photovoltaic modules

The JRC hosted between May 7-11 the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) Working Group on "Photovoltaic Modules".

Around 85 experts from industry, research and testing organisations gathered in Stresa, Italy to draft standards for existing and upcoming photovoltaic product ranges. Asian countries provided the largest delegation, confirming their commitment to the international standardisation process which fosters innovation and facilitates global trade in this very dynamic industry.

Source: European Commission - Joint Research Centre  
2012-05-14 - 14:57   

1. RSS feeds

For more RSS news feeds click the link above.

Source: DG Research - Science and business  
2012-05-18 - 13:54   

2. Improved lubrication without oil

Running nicely this applies even more to aqueous biopolymer solutions than to oil. These solutions are used as a cooling lubricant for machining hard metals and for tool-making machinery on which tools are manufactured.
Quality validation date: 2012-05-18...

Source: CORDIS Wire  
2012-05-18 - 00:00   

3. Hotel rooms à la carte

Until now, whenever you booked a hotel room, you had to decide between a standard room or a suite, twin beds or a double bed... From now on, you will also be able to decide what type of amenities you would like to enjoy during your hotel stay, like having power-operated doors or being able to operate anything from the curtains to the lights by means of a mobile phone. The project is Hotels for all
Quality validation date: 2012-05-18...

Source: CORDIS Wire  
2012-05-18 - 00:00   

4. Star Projects - A robot in mind

Its a new kind of robot, designed for some of the most delicate operations a surgeon can perform. Its accurate to just a few hundred microns, and is far steadier than a surgeons hand.

Source: DG Research - Science and business  
2012-05-18 - 00:00   

5. Geolocating soccer players

A GPS device providing ten data per second proves to be of use when evaluating players, according to a thesis defended by David Casamichana at the University of the Basque Country
Quality validation date: 2012-05-17...

Source: CORDIS Wire  
2012-05-17 - 00:00   

6. Conference on « Democracy - the World Future? » in Brussels, Belgium

Event date: 2012-06-20 The conference entitled Democracy - the worlds future? will be held on Wednesday 20 June 2012 at the Palais Egmont in Brussels. This event marks the official and public launch of the Democracy, Complexity, Prospective Initiative (D.C.P.).
Quality validation date: 2012-05-15...

Source: CORDIS Wire  
2012-05-15 - 00:00   

7. Chemical, water sectors announce broad strategic agreement to improve water management in Europe

The European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) and the European Water supply and sanitation Technology Platform (WssTP) today announced plans to formalize their long-standing alliance for the benefit of sound water management in Europe. With wide-ranging support from the European institutions, these 630 billion sectors will reinforce their collaboration on key priorities - including the implementation of the European Innovation Partnership unveiled today by the European Commission.
Quality validation date: 2012-05-14...

Source: CORDIS Wire  
2012-05-14 - 00:00   

8. Workshop: Leveraging new funding opportunities for African-European Radio Astronomy partnerships in Brussels, Belgium

Event date: 2012-05-29 The workshop will present recent policy developments in EU-Africa cooperation in the field of radio astronomy and explore new opportunities that such cooperation can offer to industry, particularly the ICT, energy and manufacturing sectors. The workshop will also celebrate the launch of the African-European Radio Astronomy Platform (AERAP).
Quality validation date: 2012-05-14...

Source: CORDIS Wire  
2012-05-14 - 00:00   

9. Analyzing energy potential

Sensors, radio transmitters and GPS modules all feature low power consumption. All it takes is a few milliwatts to run them. Energy from the environment from sources such as light or vibrations may be enough to meet these requirements. A new measurement device can determine whether or not the energy potential is high enough.
Quality validation date: 2012-05-13...

Source: CORDIS Wire  
2012-05-13 - 00:00   

10. Webinar Writing Effective Proposals

Event date: 2012-05-16 We take a look at the 5 key elements of writing an effective proposal before exploring one element in detail.
Quality validation date: 2012-05-13...

Source: CORDIS Wire  
2012-05-13 - 00:00   

1. Watch 'Desert growth' on the Earth from Space programme

Discover more about our planet with the Earth from Space video programme. Join us every Friday at 10:00 CEST for an 800 km-high tour with spectacular images from Earth-observing satellites.

Watch the replay

Source: European Space Agency  
2012-05-18 - 07:50   

2. A Deeper Look at Centaurus A

The strange galaxy Centaurus A is pictured in a new image from the European Southern Observatory. With a total exposure time of more than 50 hours this is probably the deepest view of this peculiar and spectacular object ever created. The image was produced by the Wide Field Imager of the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESOs La Silla Observatory in Chile.

Source: European Southern Observatory  
2012-05-16 - 10:00   

3. Euro area external trade surplus 8.6 bn euro

The first estimate for the euro area (EA17) trade in goods balance with the rest of the world in March 2012 gave a 8.6 bn euro surplus, compared with +1.0 bn in March 2011. The February 2012 balance was +2.3 bn, compared with -2.9 bn in February 2011. In March 2012 compared with February 2012, seasonally adjusted exports fell by 0.9% and imports by 1.1%.

Source: Eurostat  
2012-05-16 - 10:00   

4. Euro area annual inflation down to 2.6%

Euro area annual inflation was 2.6% in April 2012, down from 2.7% in March. A year earlier the rate was 2.8%. Monthly inflation was 0.5% in April 2012.

Source: Eurostat  
2012-05-16 - 10:00   

5. Ariane 5’s second launch of 2012

Early this morning, an Ariane 5 launcher lifted off from Europes Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place two telecommunications satellites, JCSAT-13 and Vinasat-2, into their planned transfer orbits.

Source: European Space Agency  
2012-05-15 - 22:05   

6. ‘The Rocket Man’ greets the ‘Rocket Men’

Continuing the celebration of André Kuipers music in space, British rock legend Sir Elton John sent a special message to ESA, André and the crew of the ISS on the 40th anniversary of his classic song Rocket Man.

Source: European Space Agency  
2012-05-15 - 13:00   

7. Watch the replay: Earth from Space – special edition

Tommaso Parrinello, CryoSat Mission Manager, and Duncan Wingham, Chief Executive of the UKs Natural Environment Research Council, join the Earth from Space programme to discuss ESAs ice mission.

Watch the replay

Source: European Space Agency  
2012-05-15 - 12:00   

8. Euro area and EU27 GDP stable

GDP remained stable in both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27 during the first quarter of 2012, compared with the previous quarter, according to flash estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the fourth quarter of 2011, growth rates were -0.3% in both zones.

Source: Eurostat  
2012-05-15 - 10:00   

9. André Kuipers: world ambassador

Observing Earth from far above, ESA astronaut André Kuipers is acting as a world ambassador for the WWF, which issued its flagship publication the Living Planet Report today.

Source: European Space Agency  
2012-05-15 - 08:55   

10. Amateur astronomers boost ESA’s asteroid hunt

A partnership with the UKs Faulkes Telescope Project promises to boost the Agencys space hazards research while helping students to discover potentially dangerous space rocks.

Source: European Space Agency  
2012-05-14 - 14:00