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Interview

smog city climate change
environment | ict | interview
22 May 2018

Cleaned-up data shows bigger-than-thought reduction in Europe’s NO2 pollution – Dr Folkert Boersma

An analysis of a newly cleaned-up dataset tracking Europe’s air pollution has revealed that nitrogen dioxide levels are on a steeper downward trend than previously thought, according to Dr Folkert Boersma from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, who says that ensuring the quality of Earth observation data can reveal new insights into climate change.

Thomas-Hertog-and-Stephen-Hawking
space | interview
03 May 2018

'I opened a bottle with Stephen Hawking to celebrate our eureka moment' – Prof. Thomas Hertog

A theory developed with the late Professor Stephen Hawking stating that the universe is more simple and uniform than current models suggest was so shocking that it had to be sat on for a while before it was released to the world, according to co-author Professor Thomas Hertog from KU Leuven in Belgium.

Dr Heidi Larson portrait
health | interview
26 April 2018

Rise in vaccine hesitancy related to pursuit of purity – Prof. Heidi Larson

The rise of alternative health practices and a quest for purity can partly explain the falling confidence in vaccines which is driving outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles, according to Heidi Larson, professor of anthropology, risk and decision medicine at the UK’s London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She is working to understand the causes of vaccine hesitancy in order to devise ways of rebuilding trust.

Artificial intelligence software technologies are very important for European industry, says Prof. Jürgen Rüttgers. Image credit - Dirk Vorderstraße, licensed under CC BY 2.0
interview | industry | policy | open innovation
24 April 2018

We want to end the de-industrialisation of Europe – Prof. Jürgen Rüttgers

Artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber security should be priorities in future EU industrial research policy in order to reinvigorate industry and recover jobs that have been lost abroad, according to Professor Jürgen Rüttgers, a former research minister in Germany.

Jean-Eric Paquet says the the need for science to live up to societal challenges is greater than ever. Image credit - European Commission
interview | policy
28 March 2018

'Evolution, not revolution' will guide next EU research funding programme – Jean-Eric Paquet

The structure of the EU’s next research funding programme is based on the mantra of ‘evolution, not revolution’ and so will not contain any major surprises, according to Jean-Eric Paquet, the EU’s recently appointed director-general for research and innovation, who takes up his new role on 3 April.

Imagine if all the billions we are now putting into these expensive subscription journals could be put into research, says Robert-Jan Smits. Image credit - European Union
interview | policy
23 March 2018

Open access to scientific publications must become a reality by 2020 - Robert-Jan Smits

A lot of lip service is being paid to making scientific papers free to access but when it comes to action there is a lot of hypocrisy, according to Robert-Jan Smits, the EU's outgoing director-general for research, science and innovation. He has recently been appointed the EU's special envoy on open access, tasked with helping make all publicly funded research in Europe freely available by 2020.

Dr Margarete van Ess says that educating people on the importance of cultural heritage can help preserve it. Image credit: I. Wagner, German Archaeological Institute
social sciences | interview
13 March 2018

War can destroy cultural heritage twice – in conflict and in clean-up

People can inadvertently destroy cultural heritage for a second time when cleaning up conflict sites after a war ends, according to archaeologist Dr Margarete van Ess, who says that databases and education are the best basis for safeguarding sites for the future.

Major missions such as putting a man on the moon generate a lot of spillover innovations along the way. Image provided by Prof Mazzucato.
interview | policy | open innovation
27 February 2018

Missions could make Europe cool again – Prof. Mariana Mazzucato

Missions modelled on the 1960s 'moonshot' programme to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade could help make Europe a cool place to do business and unite the public behind European science and innovation, according to Professor Mariana Mazzucato, founder and director of the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose at University College London, UK, where she holds the chair in the economics of innovation and public value.

Prof. Seán Ó Riain has been studying how workplaces have changed since 1995. Image credit - Maynooth University
interview | social sciences
21 February 2018

Era of flexible work requires new universal services – Prof. Seán Ó Riain

The future of work is here – and it’s defined by flexibility, autonomy and pressure, according to Prof. Seán Ó Riain from Maynooth University, Ireland, who has been studying how workplaces have changed since 1995. He says we need to rethink public services to help people balance work and family in this new era.

Professor Eus Van Someren says that our genetic make up and childhood experiences can impact on whether we experience insomnia as adults. Image credit - Gerlinde de Geus
interview | health
15 January 2018

Insomnia may stem from hyperalert brains shaped by genes and childhood – Prof. Eus Van Someren

Genes and adverse childhood experiences could result in a hyperalert brain that is good at being ready for action but gives rise to insomnia in later life, according to Professor Eus Van Someren, a sleep expert at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience. He is investigating the link between insomnia and depression and has discovered a strong genetic correlation among the two conditions.

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