Science in society

EUCYS 2014 winners Mariana De Pinho Garcia and Matilde Gonçalves Moreira da Silva were also selected to attend the London International Youth Science Forum in 2015.

24 September 2014

Snail-inspired pollution test wins 2014 EU young scientist award

Two young Portuguese scientists have scooped a first prize at the EU young scientist awards for their work on how the eggs of pond snails can be used to measure the amount of pollutants in water.

European researchers are working towards a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a type of motor neurone disease. Neuron illustration: Shutterstock/ Sergey Nivens

health | science in society

12 September 2014

Ice buckets pour new attention on little-known area of research

If you haven’t had a bucket of iced water poured over your head recently, you probably know someone who has. The astonishingly successful #icebucketchallenge Facebook campaign, in which people agree to a chilled soaking to raise money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has generated unprecedented publicity for a previously little-known disease.

The MOTHERTONGUE project treats the evolution of words like the evolution of genes. Image: Shutterstock/ Pressmaster

science in society | ict

10 September 2014

Settee or sofa? Meet the words earmarked for extinction

‘Davenport’, ‘settee’, ‘couch’ – less common words are more likely to go out of fashion than precise terms, according to researchers who are borrowing techniques from genetics to study the evolution of language. Their results could help inform the way that computers communicate.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science. Image: Anne Marie Lykkegaard/ESOF2014

science in society | horizon 2020

26 June 2014

Europe needs to be at the forefront of ‘Science 2.0’ – Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn

An explosion in research data combined with an increasing number of people who can use it is transforming science, and Europe should be at the forefront of the change, said Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science.

Concrete display screens could be integrated into the walls of buildings. ©Dupont Lightstone

interview | science in society

24 June 2014

Concrete screens, the next big thing in outdoor advertising? - Bo Jacobsen

Digital screens made from concrete could mean displays are integrated into the sides of buildings, and make advertising billboards resistant to vandalism, according to Bo Jacobsen, the chief executive of Dupont Lightstone, the driving force behind the EU-funded DIGISTONE project. The project is displaying its first prototype at the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) in Copenhagen from 21 to 26 June.

The EU-funded EuroFIT project is aiming to harness people's enjoyment of watching football and use it to help them follow a healthier lifestyle. © Shutterstock/ rj lerich

science in society | health

12 June 2014

Football fans turning passion into action

Many football fans watch matches on the sofa or in the pub, and their fitness levels often contrast hugely with those of the players on the field. New efforts are underway to convert their fandom into motivation to get active and improve their health, or even to channel their support in socially beneficial ways.

Sumo-wrestling robots developed by Estonian students. Image courtesy of Robotex Estonia 2013

ict | science in society

28 May 2014

Sumo-wrestling robots in Estonia’s digital classroom

Estonia, or E-stonia as it is becoming known, is leading the way in digital education in Europe.

The EU-funded iTEC project is integrating technology into the classroom. Image courtesy of iTEC

ict | science in society

26 May 2014

Transforming education with digital technology

Researchers are using smartphones and tablet computers to transform classrooms across Europe.

The EU-funded SiS Catalyst project is getting children to participate in shaping the way they learn. ©Shutterstock/ Olesya Feketa

science in society

21 May 2014

Children’s universities to help shape the way we teach

On some streets in Europe, eight out of 10 children go to university, while in others it’s fewer than eight in 100. That’s according to an EU project which aims to reverse this trend by encouraging institutions to set up children’s universities and get young people to help change the way science is taught.