EU Research Spring 2025

EU Research Spring 2025

LIFE GOES ON European Parliament approves new Commissioners

The Future of Renewable Energy

Sustainable Development and the Green Transition

Donald Trump vs Science

Disseminating the latest research from around Europe and Horizon 2020 Follow EU Research on www.twitter.com/EU_RESEARCH

Editor’s N D

espite, or more over, because, the newly established US administration is turning its back on Sustainability goals, Europe must double down on efforts to increase, improve and transition to renewable energy. Why? Because energy is the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, and because there is a clear pattern over recent years of hotter temperatures, exemplified by 2024 being confirmed as the hottest year on record since recordkeeping began in 1880. Earth’s tipping points are real and approaching, perhaps faster than expected, so any initiative to reduce carbon emissions and use cleaner energy is a step in the right direction.

The problems of changing infrastructure and technology are largely to do with money. The goal is always to make cheaper technology, so that it makes sense, is accessible and easy to mass produce, and those aims are now becoming a reality. This is where innovators really count in meeting not only our sustainability aims, but also bolstering our economic aims, and when that happens, it’s undeniably a good idea.

Despite this, there are often still issues that have nothing to do with sustainability or economics, they are human factors that may not have been considered much in design, and yet they are important for public acceptance of the replacement technologies.

As a seasoned editor and journalist, Richard Forsyth has been reporting on numerous aspects of European scientific research for over 10 years.

He has written for many titles including ERCIM’s publication, CSP Today, Sustainable Development magazine, eStrategies magazine and remains a prevalent contributor to the UK business press. He also works in Public Relations for businesses to help them communicate their services effectively to industry and consumers.

For example, there is the visual aspect of solar and wind farms on our rolling hills, land and seascapes. People may not even believe in climate change, or think the use of the land needed better serves other needs like housing or farming. There are fears like noise pollution or expected disruption to communities from the large devices, which can potentially create a political backlash. To this end, new initiatives in research are now addressing these points, one such project is GoGreen, covered in this publication.

My point is, that human factors in innovation can often be missing and be a reason good solutions fall short of adoption, which is a shame. Scientists must understand who is living with their technologies and what that might mean. We need to tread carefully, even when endeavouring to make progress urgently. We have to see the holistic view of solutions with eyes open, because uptake, adoption and appeal to humans in terms of design, in terms of location, are often vital ingredients that contribute to either successful implementation or failure. We have to remember, that technology is ultimately always for people, and they need to be in the equation of the research, even when their futures may depend on the change required.

Hope you enjoy the issue.

Richard Forsyth Editor

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Contents 28 PhyPro

18 EMULATED RANDOMIZED 4

Research News EU Research takes a closer look at the latest news and technical breakthroughs from across the European research landscape.

10 DeepEmbryo The team behind the ERC-backed DeepEmbryo project are using innovative technologies to help build a deeper picture of embryogenesis, as Dr Hervé Turlier explains.

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EXPANDING THE INDICATION OF HER2 TARGETED TREATMENT IN SOLID TUMORS We spoke to Dr. Morten Mau Sorensen and Dr. Kristian Egebjerg about their research on extending HER2-targeted therapies to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

14 NEXT GENERATION

EXPLAINABLE MEDICAL COMPUTER VISION The team behind the MedEx project are developing new machine learning methods to glean information from medical images, as Professor Michael Kampffmeyer explains.

16 PERISAFE Professor Ole Mathiesen is part of a team conducting a randomised clinical study exploring the safety and efficacy of ibuprofen for postoperative pain management following hip and knee arthroplasty.

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TRIALS USING REALWORLD DATA

Professor Pär Ingemar Johansson is investigating whether some patients with a chronic cardiac disease would have better survival prospects if they received blood at a higher haemoglobin trigger than currently recommended.

21 MultiHome We spoke to Teodora Marinova, Managing Director of Quadro Synergy, a consultancy specialising in EU funded research and innovation projects and business planning, about her work on the MultiHome project.

22 LIFE iTS4ZEB The ITS4ZEB project aims to revolutionize energy systems, led by experts from academia and industry, including Dr. Giulia Righetti from the University of Padova.

24 urbanLIFEcircles Mirjam Võsaste and her team are pioneering a more biodiversityfriendly approach to urban planning, aiming to restore green connectivity, revitalise habitats, and engage citizens in creating thriving, nature-rich cities.

26 LIFE PanPuffinus!

The BirdLife Malta project unites scientists, policymakers, and fishermen to safeguard Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters, aiming to protect vulnerable species across the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions, as Manya Russo explains.

We spoke to Mette Lübeck and Simon Gregersen Echers about their research into the interactions between proteins and phytochemicals, and how inhibiting some of them could help improve protein quality.

30 PERCEPTUAL FLEXIBILITY We spoke to Professor Ocke-Schwen Bohn about his research on perceptual flexibility among older people, and whether they retain the capacity to learn aspects of a new language.

32 EmergentCommunity Researchers in the EmergentCommunity project are investigating neighbourhood relations and how people co-exist with each other in today’s diverse, dynamic urban environments, as Eeva Puumala explains.

35 Harnessing the Wind As Europe accelerates its renewable energy transition, breakthroughs in turbine technology, offshore wind farms, and energy storage are redefining efficiency.

By Nevena Nikolova.

40 CO-GREEN Researchers in the Co-Green project are looking at issues around wind farm noise and how local communities can be included in project planning, as Dr Julia Kirch Kirkegaard and Daniel Frantzen explain.

43 LIFE WATERSOURCE We spoke to Ruud van der Neut and researcher Tim de Groot about the LIFE WATERSOURCE project. Their work focuses on pioneering naturebased solutions to strengthen the ecosystem of Lake IJsselmee.

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46 LIFE WATEROIL Assoc. Prof. Huseyin Yemendzhiev, Nicola Secchi PhD, Yoana Angelova, and Venelin Marinov tell us about their work in the LIFE WATEROIL project, the challenges they’ve faced, and the innovations they’ve helped develop.

48 LIFE VitiCaSe The VitiCaSe project team are investigating how sustainable management techniques could lead to the removal of more CO2 from the atmosphere, as Gabriele Mongardi and Simona Palermo explain.

50 LIFE4ZOO We spoke to Dr Tomáš Lederer and Dr Petr Kvapil about their work in developing a modern water management system that enables zoos to re-use water from within the site.

52 BACTERIALLY INDUCED CALCIUM CARBONATE

We spoke to Dr. Chenxi Zhang, Dr. Colleen Varaidzo Manyumwa, Dr. Carsten Jers, and Prof. Ivan Mijakovic, who are pioneering a groundbreaking carbon capture method inspired by coral reefs.

54 LIFE-TURBOALGOR CO2 Researchers in the LIFETURBOALGOR CO2 project aim to show how an innovative solution can improve the energy efficiency of refrigerating plants and reduce their environmental impact, as Maurizio Ascani explains.

56 HAVOC Sea ice ridges account for a large proportion of the overall Arctic sea ice volume. Dr Mats Granskog and Dr Oliver Müller are analysing samples from sea ice ridges gathered during the MOSAiC polar expedition.

58 ICED The ICED project team are developing novel techniques that could shed new light on whether erosion rates increase under colder climates, as Georgina King, Melanie Kranz-Bartz, Aditi Dave, Xiaoxia Wen and Maxime Bernard explain.

60 CROPS4LIFE We spoke to María de Santiago and Jon Ruiz de Infante about their work in testing different agri-food production systems and exploring new, more sustainable ways of getting locally-produced food to consumers.

62 ViableCow Combining cutting-edge science and global collaboration, the ViableCow project team leverages decades of expertise in ruminant nutrition to transform the dairy industry, driving significant change.

64 GREEN TRANSITION IN LOWER- SECONDARY EDUCATION

How should students be taught about sustainability and the green transition? We spoke to Professor Nikolaj Elf about his research into how these topics are being addressed in Danish lower secondary schools.

66 MetaBatt The METABATT project team are building up a new class of metamaterials which change their shape but not their volume when a stimulus is applied, as Professor Ivano E. Castelli and Joonyeob Jeon explain.

EDITORIAL Managing Editor Richard Forsyth info@euresearcher.com Deputy Editor Patrick Truss patrick@euresearcher.com Science Writer Nevena Nikolova nikolovan31@gmail.com Science Writer Ruth Sullivan editor@euresearcher.com PRODUCTION Production Manager Jenny O’Neill jenny@euresearcher.com Production Assistant Tim Smith info@euresearcher.com Art Director Daniel Hall design@euresearcher.com Design Manager David Patten design@euresearcher.com Illustrator Martin Carr mary@twocatsintheyard.co.uk PUBLISHING Managing Director Edward Taberner ed@euresearcher.com Scientific Director Dr Peter Taberner info@euresearcher.com Office Manager Janis Beazley info@euresearcher.com Finance Manager Adrian Hawthorne finance@euresearcher.com Senior Account Manager Louise King louise@euresearcher.com

68 LIQUID COATINGS Professor Anne Ladegaard Skov and her team are working on new silicone-based coatings with industrial applications, aiming to reduce environmental impact while enhancing performance and scalability.

70 SILENT The next generation of gravitational wave detectors are under development. Professor Christophe Collette and his team are developing a platform to isolate the Einstein telescope from background disturbance and increase sensitivity at low frequencies.

EU Research Blazon Publishing and Media Ltd 131 Lydney Road, Bristol, BS10 5JR, United Kingdom T: +44 (0)207 193 9820 F: +44 (0)117 9244 022 E: info@euresearcher.com www.euresearcher.com © Blazon Publishing June 2010 ISSN 2752-4736

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RESEARCH

NEWS

The EU Research team take a look at current events in the scientific news

New European Commission is approved by European Parliament with a focus on Research and Development Ursula von der Leyen wants science to be ‘at the heart’ of the EU economy.

Here’s a look at the commissioners who will drive that ambition.

After weeks of haggling among political groups, the European Parliament has finally approved a new team of commissioners, to be led by returning European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. They will take office on 1 December.

In a speech to the Parliament on Wednesday, von der Leyen emphasised the crucial role of research and innovation in her new mandate, announcing a plan to close the EU’s innovation gap with the US and China. Research and innovation will be placed “at the heart of our economy,” she said.

But how will her new team of commissioners achieve that?

Over the past few weeks, we have combed through official plans for each commissioner and listened to what they had to say during hearings in the Parliament. Here’s a roundup of the main ideas, plans and strategies for research and innovation and for Framework Programme 10 (FP10).

For now, the new commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation has diffused fears that research funding will be merged in a mega competitiveness fund. She told MEPs the development of the next Framework Programme will be a “top priority” of her mandate. In written responses to questions from the European Parliament published ahead of her hearing on 5 November, Zaharieva laid out her preliminary vision for “a new and strengthened Framework Programme 10”, drawing on the recent Draghi report on EU competitiveness and the conclusions of the Commission’s independent FP10 advisory group.

During her hearing, Zaharieva promised to radically simplify the EU Framework Programme and make it more attractive for start-ups and SMEs to take part. Simplification was a common thread in Zaharieva’s answers. She noted that a simpler, easier to use Framework Programme would speed things up and reduce the time from application to grant agreement, which currently stands at nearly 12 months. Zaharieva said she “really like[s]” the proposal by the Heitor group on FP10, of introducing a “trust first, evaluate later” principle, to simplify and shorten the application process. She is also in favour of lump-sum funding, two concrete examples of how the application process can be simplified.

From 2025, Zaharieva wants to trial a two-stage application process to reduce application times. The first phase will be “focused on the core of the project”, with more documents to be provided if a project

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progresses to stage two. Zaharieva is also in favour of double-blind evaluation, a process which would reduce the odds of evaluation bias. This was already the subject of a pilot project currently being evaluated by the Commission.

Piotr Serafin, Commissioner for budget, anti-fraud and public administration, has played down rumours circulating in Brussels and denied reports the Commission is planning a complete overhaul of the EU budget, but has said there should be fewer funds and that these should be linked to national reforms.

A leaked memo suggested all research and innovation funds managed by Brussels, could be subsumed into a single European Competitiveness Fund. But Serafin denied the existence of such a plan. “Up until now there is no proposal of the European Commission for the future multiannual financial framework.

Whatever you have read in the press, it is not the proposal of the Commission for the next MFF.” Von der Leyen has promised to propose a new Competitiveness Fund to support strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, clean tech and biotech. The Commission is still debating the form this fund will take, Serafin said, but the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) launched earlier this year provides a glimpse of what could be expected.

The new commissioner for tech sovereignty, security and democracy has revealed she is drawing up a Quantum Act to pull together fragmented research efforts by member states. Henna Virkkunen argued that quantum technologies are a European strength, but that EU legislation is needed to consolidate individual member state programmes.

Virkkunen didn’t explicitly say what aspects of quantum technology she wants to boost, but talked of introducing a “quantum chips act”, suggesting that she primarily has quantum computing in her sights. The proposal for an act takes up a suggestion made in September by the European Liberal Forum, a think tank affiliated to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe parliamentary bloc, when it warned that member states are duplicating quantum computing research, not investing enough, and need big spending on quantum computing infrastructure.

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New European Commissioner for Energy commits €1.25 billion for cross-border energy infrastructure Dan Jørgensen, the new European Commissioner for Energy pushes ‘Green Transition’ and is more open to nuclear in a bid to end Russian fuel ties for good.

The European Commission has announced nearly €1.25 billion in grants under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to support 41 cross-border energy infrastructure projects. These initiatives, designated as Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs), aim to enhance energy market integration and support the EU’s decarbonisation goals.

This funding round, the largest under the current CEF Energy programme, surpasses the initial budget of €850 million. It also marks the first call under the revised Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) Regulation, which now includes hydrogen and offshore electricity grid projects.

A significant portion of the funding—nearly €750 million—will go towards eight electricity grid projects. The largest grant, €645 million, will fund the Bornholm Energy Island project, a hybrid interconnector in the Baltic Sea linking Denmark and Germany while integrating 3 GW of offshore wind capacity. Another €33 million will support Danube InGrid, a smart electricity project between Hungary and Slovakia.

Hydrogen infrastructure will receive over €250 million for 21 development studies, supporting projects across multiple EU countries,

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including the BarMar-H2med initiative between Spain and France and hydrogen corridors in the Baltic region. Meanwhile, €250 million will go towards CO2 infrastructure, with €120 million allocated to Greece’s Prinos storage facility, €55 million for the North Sea L10 storage project, and nearly €12 million for Denmark’s Norne CO2 facility.

Dan Jørgensen is making it his “main priority” to craft a plan that will finally sever all European Union energy links with Russia. In his first interview since taking office as the EU’s new energy chief, Jørgensen warned that the EU is faltering in its multiyear campaign to shun Russian fuel and needed a plan to get things back on track.

He pointed to the EU’s rising purchases of Russian liquified natural gas as a particular concern — and a reverse of the bloc’s downward trajectory. Additionally, five EU countries still rely on Russia for nuclear fuel.

Following a positive vote by Member States on January 28, 2025, formal adoption of the funding decision is expected in the coming weeks. The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) will finalise grant agreements with beneficiaries. The next CEF Energy funding call is scheduled for 2025.

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As Trump targets science, researchers share despair but resolve to fight At the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Boston, attendees scrambled to keep up with barrage of cuts and policy shifts.

On a cold, snowy weekend in Boston, a few thousand scientists from around the world huddled inside a big conference hall bemoaning Trump layoffs and budget cuts. But outside, a few steps down the street, some oldfashioned resistance was underway. About 30 protesters were marching outside a Tesla dealership. “Save science, Save lives,” some placards read. “Boycott Tesla,” read another. The group chant: “It ain’t fair, it ain’t funny.

President Musk is stealing your money.”

Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which took place here in Boston on February 13-15.

So it goes as the US, and global, science world tries to find its footing in the Trump-Musk hurricane. Many grant payments have been blocked, thousands of science-agency workers abruptly fired, datasets taken down, websites scrubbed, and all this before the administration is a month old. In response, the scientific community is starting to organise, but as yet with no clear plan. That’s true for American scientists, but also for those in Canada, Europe, Asia and elsewhere accustomed to grants and partnerships with the world’s biggest science power. “A lot of us are in a state of shock. It’s so sudden,” observed Remi Quirion, chief scientific advisor to the Quebec government and president of the International Network for Governmental Scientific Advice, a science policy organisation.

The AAAS conference was the first opportunity since Trump’s inauguration for a major multi-disciplinary gathering to discuss protest strategy. In the conference corridors, the Union of Concerned Scientists was gathering signatures for a petition to Congress. Conference speakers urged attendees to complain directly, and to download and save scientific datasets before Trump science appointees can block or delete any more.

Panellists advised how best to present the case to politicians for saving science: focus on good story-telling, rather than dumping a blizzard of data. One session advised how best to support and comfort colleagues who are laid off or attacked on social media. But from the leaders of the US science community, the advice was often conflicting or vague on how to deal with the Washington slashers.

“This is a ‘hair on fire’ moment,” said Rebekah Tromble, a professor at George Washington University. She was speaking at a panel session, titled Science under Siege, at the annual gathering of the biggest US science society, the American

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Part of the problem is that most American scientists haven’t had much experience with massive political protest since the Vietnam War a generation ago. The most visible protests so far, such as the Tesla demonstration Saturday and a bigger nationwide protest Monday, involve some scientists but have been organised by broader political groups.

During a painfully polite panel discussion, first-term Trump science advisor Kelvin Droegemeier – appearing remotely by video – extolled the “values” of American science even as he

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argued the need to boost its “efficiency” (aka budget cuts).

In the same vein, Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences, said Trump presents an opportunity to take a close look at those science programmes that had grown rapidly – perhaps too rapidly – and reassess what “baseline” science funding really ought to be. While Sudip Parikh, chief executive of the AAAS, had strongly decried budget cuts in other conference sessions, with Droegemeier on the video screen he took a more pragmatic tack. He said he was “100% focused” on the next big budget bill Congress is working on, to be completed by March 14. For that, he suggested, scientists will need at least a few Republican friends, and should pick their shots carefully.

All of this was confusing to the hundreds of researchers and science policy makers attending from abroad. Since World War II, the US has been the acknowledged scientific leader for many domains, including vaccines, computers, the Internet and, today, artificial intelligence. Over the decades, millions of foreign scientists have trained at American universities, many here in Boston at Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Northeastern University, Tufts and other famous institutions. Many stayed, and have now made their lives and research careers here. So what happens next for them?

One possibility: they return home. That prospect already has science officials around the world doing some fast thinking.

Many US partner countries already have some kind of repatriation awards for returning scientists, and discussions have begun about boosting funding for that, a once-in-a-century opportunity to strengthen their own science communities and reverse brain drain. Another possibility: expanding programmes to attract American scientists to work abroad. Not surprisingly, diplomats at the conference were, well, diplomatic about making any on-the-record comments on this topic.

Then there’s the more immediate worry about funding cuts to international research groups. Some European officials, for

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instance, are closely monitoring existing research consortia for evidence of cuts affecting them. But given how tight EU and member state budgets already are, there isn’t any consensus yet on whether they can take up the funding slack. One possibility: forging closer relations with science administrators in those ‘blue’ American states with sizeable science programmes of their own, such as New York, Massachusetts and California.

Under the circumstances, the conference’s exhibition hall – with stalls booked long before Trump’s inauguration – was transformed into a noisy sales floor. The Technical University of Dresden, Canada Science and Innovation, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa and others hawked their scientific wares and opportunities alongside American institutions, hoping to attract American students, scientists or partners, though not, for the moment, US funding.

And near the front of the hall, the Chinese Academy of Sciences organised a series of lectures. The aim, one official explained: to advertise its programme offering access to a portfolio of 38 different research infrastructures – synchrotron, tokamak, research vessel, neutron source and others – all free of charge to visiting scientists. The academy has participated in AAAS meetings since at least 2009.

Still, most scientists are by nature an optimistic breed. Monica Bertagnolli, the director of the National Institutes of Health just sacked by Trump, urged some historical perspective. The agency is the world’s largest government funder of medical research, and Congressional support for it has been bipartisan throughout its history. “The dust is going to settle,” she said. “Things are in a state of disruption right now. But I have an absolute belief that the value of science will not go away.”

http://www.aaas.org

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Environment more important than genetics in predicting longevity Analysis of UK BioBank data shows importance of factors including living conditions and smoking, say expects.

A new study led by researchers from Oxford Population Health has shown that a range of environmental factors, including lifestyle (smoking and physical activity) and living conditions, have a greater impact on health and premature death than our genes.

The researchers used data from nearly half a million UK Biobank participants to assess the influence of 164 environmental factors and genetic risk scores for 22 major diseases on ageing, age-related diseases, and premature death. The study is published today in Nature Medicine.

Key findings: • environmental factors explained 17% of the variation in risk of death, compared to less than 2% explained by genetic predisposition (as we understand it at present); • of the 25 independent environmental factors identified, smoking, socioeconomic status, physical activity, and living conditions had the most impact on mortality and biological ageing; • smoking was associated with 21 diseases; socioeconomic factors such as household income, home ownership, and employment status, were associated with 19 diseases; and physical activity was associated with 17 diseases; • 23 of the factors identified are modifiable; • early life exposures, including body weight at 10 years and maternal smoking around birth, were shown to influence ageing and risk of premature death 30-80 years later; • environmental exposures had a greater effect on diseases of the lung, heart and liver, while genetic risk dominated for dementias and breast cancer.

Photo by Dominik Kempf on Unsplash

Professor Cornelia van Duijn, St Cross Professor of Epidemiology at Oxford Population Health and senior author of the paper, said ‘Our research demonstrates the profound health impact of exposures that can be changed either by individuals or through policies to improve socioeconomic conditions, reduce smoking, or promote physical activity ‘While genes play a key role in brain conditions and some cancers, our findings highlight opportunities to mitigate the risks of chronic diseases of the lung, heart and liver which are leading causes of disability and death globally. The early life exposures are particularly important as they show that environmental factors accelerate ageing early in life but leave ample opportunity to prevent longlasting diseases and early death.’

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The authors used a unique measure of ageing (a new ‘ageing clock’) to monitor how rapidly people are ageing using blood protein levels. This enabled them to link environmental exposures that predict early mortality with biological ageing. This measure was previously shown to detect age-related changes, not only in the UK Biobank but also in two other large cohort studies from China and Finland.

Dr Austin Argentieri, lead author of the study at Oxford Population Health and Research Fellow at Massachusetts General

Hospital, said ‘Our exposome approach allowed us to quantify the relative contributions of the environment and genetics to ageing, providing the most comprehensive overview to date of the environmental and lifestyle factors driving ageing and premature death. These findings underscore the potential benefits of focusing interventions on our environments, socioeconomic contexts, and behaviours for the prevention of many age-related diseases and premature death.’

Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, added ‘Your income, postcode and background shouldn’t determine your chances of living a long and healthy life. But this pioneering study reinforces that this is the reality for far too many people. ‘We have long known that risk factors such as smoking impact our heart and circulatory health, but this new research emphasises just how great the opportunity is to influence our chances of developing health problems, including cardiovascular disease, and dying prematurely. We urgently need bold action from Government to target the surmountable barriers to good health that too many people in the UK are facing.’

The research shows that whilst many of the individual exposures identified played a small part in premature death, the combined effect of these multiple exposures together over the life course (referred to as the exposome) explained a large proportion of premature mortality variation. The insights from this study pave the way for integrated strategies to improve the health of ageing populations by identifying key combinations of environmental factors that shape risk of premature death and many common agerelated diseases simultaneously.

Professor van Duijn said ‘Studies on environmental health have tended to focus on individual exposures based on a specific hypothesis. While this approach has seen many successes, the method has not always yielded reproducible and reliable findings.

Instead, we have followed a ‘hypothesis free’ exposome approach and studied all available exposures to find the major drivers of disease and death.

‘We have made a big leap forward in understanding how to provide accurate evidence on the causes and consequences of age-related diseases by combining novel computational methods with clinical and epidemiological knowledge to explore the interplay between multiple exposures. In an ever-changing environment, it is critical that we combine these techniques with novel advances in smart technology to monitor lifestyle and environment, as well as with biological data, to understand the impact of the environment over time. There are a lot of questions still to be answered related to diet, lifestyle, and exposure to new pathogens (such as bird flu and COVID-19) and chemicals (think of pesticides and plastics), and the impact of environmental and genetic factors in different populations.’

The study was led by researchers from Oxford Population Health in collaboration with researchers from the Departments of Psychiatry and Anthropology at the University of Oxford; Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Broad Institute, Boston; the University of Amsterdam; Erasmus University, Rotterdam; and the University of Montpellier.

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© ESO/Y. Beletsky

Astronomers capture first 3D view of an exoplanet’s atmosphere and climate Scientists map the first 3D structure of an exoplanet’s atmosphere, revealing extreme winds and unexpected chemical patterns in a distant gas giant.

Scientists have mapped the atmosphere a planet outside of our solar system in 3D for the first ever time. They have found a world unlike anything we have ever seen: powerful winds that carry chemical elements in complicated, intricate patterns across the atmosphere.

A vast jet stream reaches across half the planet, churning the atmosphere up as it crosses the side of the planet that it always facing its sun. Scientists say that the new 3D understanding of the planet represents a major breakthrough for our understanding of the atmosphere and weather of alien worlds. But it also challenges our current understanding of weather, they say, because it is so unusual.

“This planet’s atmosphere behaves in ways that challenge our understanding of how weather works – not just on Earth, but on all planets. It feels like something out of science fiction,” said Julia Victoria Seidel, a researcher at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile and lead author of the study, in a statement. The planet itself is known as WASP-121b, or Tylos. It sits around 900 light years away, and is an ultra-hot Jupiter, so close to its star that each year lasts only 30 of our hours. Astronomers were able to use the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope to probe the planet’s atmosphere and were shocked by what they found.

“Even the strongest hurricanes in the Solar System seem calm in comparison.” Other surprises came in the data itself. Scientists found there was titanium in the jet stream – previous observations suggested it was absent, but it may have been hidden down in the atmosphere.

“It’s truly mind-blowing that we’re able to study details like the chemical makeup and weather patterns of a planet at such a vast distance,” says Bibiana Prinoth, a PhD student at Lund University, Sweden, and ESO, who led a companion study. The work is described in a new paper, ‘Vertical structure of an exoplanet’s atmospheric jet stream’, published in the journal Nature. A companion paper looking specifically at titanium, ‘Titanium chemistry of WASP-121 b with ESPRESSO in 4-UT mode’, is published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

© ESO/M. Kornmesser

“What we found was surprising: a jet stream rotates material around the planet’s equator, while a separate flow at lower levels of the atmosphere moves gas from the hot side to the cooler side. This kind of climate has never been seen before on any planet,” Dr Seidel said.

Researchers discover anti-icing properties of polar bear fur Potential benefits of this discovery include a replacement to ‘forever chemicals.

Polar bear fur contains a cocktail of greasy compounds that make it exceptionally resistant to freezing, Bodil Holst and her colleagues reported last week in Science Advances. Nano-physicist Holst’s interest in polar bear fur began while she was watching a German quiz show. “I learned that polar bears are invisible in infrared cameras, meaning their fur has the same temperature as the surroundings,” says Holst, of the University of Bergen in Norway.

She also knew that polar bears jump into frigid water when they hunt, coming back onto land to eat their prey. Most mammalian hair can freeze when it gets wet in cold temperatures — think human beards on a frosty winter day. But, Holst noticed, polar bear fur did not freeze after getting wet. “I was very puzzled,” she says. “When they go into the water and out again, why do they not get covered in ice?” The work could eventually lead to more environmentally friendly alternatives to existing anti-ice chemicals. Hair grease is the secret, it turns out. And it’s partly what the fur has — and what it lacks.

Holst initially thought that polar bear fur might have structural properties that prevent ice from forming. She and her colleagues used high-powered microscopes to zoom in on the fur, but “we couldn’t really see anything special, they just looked normal,” Holst says. “We started to suspect, there’s more to this than structure.”

While the team was handling the fur, they noticed it was very greasy.

When the team washed the hair, it largely lost its anti-icing properties.

“We realized that this was down to polar bear hair grease, effectively,” Holst says. The team then did a suite of molecular analyses to identify what specifically about hair grease might prevent ice from forming. They

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found high levels of certain compounds that are especially resistant to freezing, specifically because ice has a harder time sticking to them.

Cameron Clifford and his son Cal, with help from a friend, are taking care of more than 20 tiny octopus babies, along with one named Terrance. These were the top animal stories on NPR in 2024, including a boy’s pregnant octopus. Polar bear fur also lacked a compound called squalene, the researchers found. Squalene is abundant in other marine mammals and has properties that make ice stick to it easily.

This combination makes polar bear fur highly resistant to freezing, Holst says. Lab tests showed that it performed about as well as fluorinated ski waxes, which have been banned in Norway for environmental reasons. “That was quite amazing, that polar bear fur does just as well as these very superior skiing waxes,” Holst says.

To be extra sure that these anti-ice properties are unique to polar bear fur grease, as opposed to any hair grease, one of Holst’s Ph.D. students took matters into his own hands. “He didn’t wash his hair for quite some time and then shaved and made a little mat of his own greasy hair,” says Holst. “He tested the anti-icing properties and could see very clearly that human hair, whether you wash it or not, isn’t very good at anti-icing.”

Holst hopes that the research might inspire new approaches to concocting anti-icing materials that could be used for ski waxes, lubricants and even plane de-icing fluids. But she stresses that her team isn’t the first to identify that polar bear fur has such special anti-icing properties. “We didn’t discover it,” she says. “It’s been known to Arctic people for centuries.”

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How does an embryo develop?

How does an embryo develop from a single cell into a highly complex structure?

How do cells self-organise to form and sustain this structure? The team behind the ERC-backed DeepEmbryo project are using innovative technologies to help build a deeper picture of embryogenesis, as Dr Hervé Turlier explains.

An intermingled sequence

of biochemical and mechanical events help shape and control the development of an embryo. Mechanical events are necessary, as cells need to divide in the right manner and arrange themselves correctly, which involves a lot of movement, yet it is ultimately biochemistry that plays the central role.

“There is some feedback between the two, but in the end it is biochemistry which controls the mechanics,” says Dr Hervé Turlier, leader of the Turlier lab at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, at the College de France in Paris.

As Principal Investigator of the ERC-backed DeepEmbryo project, Dr Turlier is now working to essentially reverse-engineer the process of embryogenesis and develop a virtual embryo, building from data on cell mechanics. “I need data about the geometry of the cells, which is controlled by mechanics. We believe this is generic across different animal species,” he outlines. “From there, I can then start trying to include data about the biochemical regulation.”

Holoblastic divisions This research is focused primarily on embryos with holoblastic or complete divisions, such as frog and mouse embryos. The idea was to start with relatively simple systems, many of which develop from a single cell, from which researchers can then look to build a deeper picture. “There are no gradients at early stages in these systems, cells communicate just through contacts,” explains Dr Turlier. As part of his work in the DeepEmbryo project, Dr Turlier is using new technological tools to investigate how a single cell is transformed into the highly complex structure of the early embryo. “Can I understand this using physical modelling? How can I extract as much biophysical information as possible from the available data?” he asks.

“We use artificial neural networks, such as convolutional neural networks, which are a powerful architecture in deep learning used to analyse images. That’s a really data-driven approach. We are also exploring other types of networks, such as graph neural networks. Most of the data available in the real world comes in the form of graphs.”

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Left: Graph representation of an embryo model. Right: 3D fluorescence microscopy image and shape of cells in an embryo.

The idea here is to think of an embryo as a graph, essentially a network of entities or cells, which interact with each other mechanically and biochemically. In the early stages of the development of holoblastic embryos, cells interact largely through contacts with neighbouring cells. “You can draw each cell as a node of a graph, and each cell has a contact to its neighbour. One idea is to see these embryos and their development as a dynamic graph, where you can embed the mechanics, and also the biochemistry, as the biochemistry is also passed through the

Turlier team retreat in the Pyrénées.

contacts,” outlines Dr Turlier. Artificial neural networks offer several advantages in terms of modelling cells, as Dr Turlier explains.

“They emulate true simulations so as to scale and accelerate them. Secondly, you can combine data from different modalities very easily,” he says. “It doesn’t really matter if the data relates to protein concentrations or mechanical tension, or something else. They are represented by numbers, and they can be combined inside a neural network.”

An artificial neural network extracts the relevant biophysical information, with researchers in the project primarily focusing on the mechanical data. During his career Dr Turlier has worked extensively on models of the mechanics of embryonic cells, in which the main ingredient is surface tension. “This is an effective surface tension created by what we call the actomyosin cortex, which is a contractile layer. By continuously contracting and renewing itself, it creates an effective tension,” he explains. Cells are fairly big in the early stages of embryogenesis, with comparatively small nuclei. “We assume that the nuclei don’t play an important role in mechanics at these stages. We take the position that all forces are near the surface, and they are all in the form of surface tension, which can be described at varying levels of complexity,” says Dr Turlier. “We have shown that we can extract this information using neural networks. Now we can create maps of the mechanics of each cell, each interface in a full embryo, up to 800 cells.”

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DeepEmbryo Reverse-engineering the development of embryos with physics-informed machine learning receives

Project Objectives

Multicellular self-organisation is central to developmental biology and tissue engineering, yet extracting biophysical insights from complex imaging data remains challenging. DeepEmbryo leverages deep learning to infer cell behavior from microscopy, creating a computational platform to uncover morphogenetic mechanisms, enabling iterative refinement through virtual predictions and experimental validation of early embryo self-organisation.

Project Funding

Surface tension map of a gastrulating ascidian embryo.

Researchers are also working to train the model itself using reinforcement learning, a technique which is mainly used currently to train robots. The idea is to learn by trial-and-error, to a point where the data and the simulations match. “A cell can be viewed as a sort of agent, like a robot is an agent. These cells are interacting agents on a graph,” says Dr Turlier. Cells are able to sense their surrounding environment, Dr Turlier and his team are looking to identify what exactly it is that they sense.

“A cell can measure a concentration of ligands, like proteins which are secreted in the inter-cellular space. But do cells feel

of the project’s work. “We are reaching a point where we are able to emulate the mechanics of an embryo with a dynamic graph that has been trained with a neural network. We can then start implementing this general idea of training a model to reach a certain target, like a certain tissue model,” says Dr Turlier. This research could also hold wider relevance to the field of tissue engineering, a topic Dr Turlier is keen to explore further in future. “Could we design tissue with certain characteristics on computers? In tissue engineering, protocols are often developed by hand, and there is a lack of reliable computer models,

“We are reaching a point where we are able to emulate the mechanics of an embryo with a dynamic graph that has been trained with a neural network. We can then start implementing this general idea of training a model to reach a certain target, like a certain tissue model.” geometry in some way?” he continues.

“This may then influence a cell’s behaviour – for example whether it will divide, if it will secrete another ligand, if it will move away from being a pluripotent cell to being more specialised. A cell starts to differentiate based on its memory of the stimuli that it has undergone - it starts to take a certain task, and to specify its fate.”

Multi-agent system The wider goal in the project is to model an embryo as a multi-agent system, on a graph, and to train it from data using reinforcement learning. A lot of energy has been devoted to improving the models, while significant progress has also been made on the graph neural network aspect

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which can cost time and money,” he explains. “One idea is to use the same type of tools to better understand the tissue system. Then we can add data on the gene regulatory pathways for example, as that may be something you want to modify.”

This could allow researchers to tune the biochemistry or mechanics in a certain manner, so that they can achieve a certain target shape or function of their computerdesigned tissue. A key challenge here is developing models that accurately describe the structure of tissue. “Once the models have been improved, can we then use them to design tissues? Researchers today can design molecules to perform specific functions. Can we do something similar for tissue?” continues Dr Turlier.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 949267.

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Dr Hervé Turlier, PhD Team Multiscale Physics of Morphogenesis, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology Collège de France / CNRS UMR7241 / INSERM U1050 11, place Marcelin Berthelot 75231 Paris Cedex 05, FRANCE T: +33 (0)144271410 E: herve.turlier@college-de-france.fr : @virtual_embryo W: www.turlierlab.com W: https://www.nature.com/articles/ s41592-023-02084-7 Dr Hervé Turlier, PhD

Dr Hervé Turlier, after a PhD at the Institut Curie (2013) and a postdoc at EMBL on mouse embryo morphogenesis, founded the “Multiscale Physics of Morphogenesis” team at the Collège de France in 2017. Supported by an ERC Starting Grant (2020), his team combines physical modeling and AI to reverse-engineer a virtual embryo.

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Unlocking the Potential of HER2-Targeted Treatments We spoke to Chief Oncologist Dr. Morten Mau Sorensen and Dr. Kristian Egebjerg from Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet in Denmark, whose research focuses on expanding HER2-targeted therapies to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and improving diagnostic methods to identify HER2-positive patients across various cancer types.

Nearly

three decades ago, a groundbreaking study published in Science marked a turning point in oncology. This paper revealed that the HER2 oncoprotein is found in greater abundance on the surface of breast cancer cells. This discovery stands as one of the most significant milestones in the pursuit of effective breast cancer treatments. HER2, short for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, is a tyrosine kinase protein within the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, which plays a key role in the regulation of cell growth.

Its over-expression is associated with the proliferation and survival of tumour cells. Early research revealed that the HER2-positive breast cancer subtype often exhibited aggressive disease progression, higher recurrence rates, and poorer overall survival compared to HER2-negative tumours. Consequently, HER2 overexpression was initially used as a marker of poor prognosis. At the same time, researchers at UCLA were studying trastuzumab or Herceptin, a monoclonal antibody specifically designed to target the HER2 protein. Following its FDA approval in 1998, trastuzumab transformed the prognosis for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, leading to increased survival rates, reduced recurrence, and improved outcomes in advanced metastatic cancer. It marked one of the first major successes in targeted cancer therapy.

Beyond Breast Cancer Treatment: Widening the Her2 Indication Over the next ten years, scientists attempted to replicate this success in other HER2expressing cancers, such as ovary, salivary gland, lung, bladder, and gastric cancer. Another breakthrough came in 2010 when researchers discovered that trastuzumab improves survival in HER2-positive gastric or esophageal adenocarcinoma (GE-ADC). Around the same time, T-DM1, a conjugate of trastuzumab, and the chemotherapeutic agent DM1 (emtansine) was developed. T-DM1 improved outcomes in HER2-positive lung and colorectal cancers.

Widening the indication of trastuzumab and newer HER2-targeted therapies brought new challenges. Prevalence of HER2 positivity is relatively high in breast cancer and GE-ADC, occurring in 20-25% of cases, but it is far less common in other cancers, with prevalence rates ranging from 2-5%. While trastuzumab is a cornerstone in the treatment or HER2positive GE-ADC, its efficacy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remains yet unexplored. These two challenges have inspired the work of Dr. Morten Mau Sorensen and Dr. Kristian Egebjerg at Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet in Denmark. Their project, “Expanding the indication of HER2 targeted treatment in solid tumours” funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark,

Exploring HER2-Targeted Treatment in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Esophageal cancer ranks as the eighth most common cancer worldwide, with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma accounting for the majority of cases. Despite advances, the prognosis for ESCC remains poor, with a fiveyear survival rate of 15–25%. Patients with advanced metastatic disease rely on palliative chemotherapy, which minimally improves survival. The ToGA trial showed that HER2targeted therapies improve survival in GEADC, and appropriate screening guidelines have been developed to evaluate HER2 status. Small studies have identified HER2 positivity in some ESCC cases, but currently, there are no approved HER2-targeted treatments for ESCC. Dr. Egebjerg, Dr. MauSorensen and their team highlight the need to identify potentially effective HER2-targeted therapies in this aggressive cancer type. For this reason, they conducted a meta-analysis involving 18 studies and 1,505 patients to determine HER2 prevalence in ESCC. They found that the estimated prevalence

HER2+ Cell

Normal Cell

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aims to address two questions: How effective is trastuzumab in treating HER2-positive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma? How can we identify patients across solid cancer types that will benefit from targeted HER2 therapy?

HER2 Receptor

HER2 Receptor

Nucleus

Nucleus

HER2 Gene

HER2 Gene

Discovery of HER2 oncogene function

Humanisation of HER2 directed antibody “Trastusumab”

Breast cancer: Trastusumab and chemotherapy

1986

1992

1998

Trastusumab in: Ovary, salivary gland, lung, bladder, endometrial cancer

Oesophageal and gastric cancer :Trastusumab and chemotherapy

Lung and colorectal cancer : T-DM1, lapatanib

2010

2016

Pan tumour Trastusumab multibasket trials : Deruxtecan (T-DXd): MD-Anderson, NCI- • Breast cancer • Upper MATCH, MyPathway, GI • HER2 low • HER2 MMSK mutated • Pan Tumour

2019

2021-2023

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of HER2 positivity was 8.6%. Although preclinical studies support the efficacy of trastuzumab in HER-positive ESCC, clinical trials are still lacking. “There is an obvious need to identify drug targets to improve therapies in ESCC. With around 500.000 newly diagnosed cases of ESCC worldwide each year, HER2 targeted treatment could potentially open a new treatment paradigm in a substantial sub-population of ESCC patients” says Dr. Mau-Sorensen. To bridge this gap, the team initiated the HERES trial, a non-randomised trial that evaluates the addition of trastuzumab to standard systemic therapy in HER2-positive ESCC, focusing on six-month progression-free survival as the primary objective. Additionally, they aim to assess response rates, overall survival, and treatment safety. In a sub-project, the team aims to establish a reliable and specific HER2 scoring system adapted to the squamous cell pathology, that will ensure an accurate identification of patients who will benefit from targeted therapy. The HERES trial, funded by the Danish Cancer Society and the Danish Comprehensive Cancer Centre, offers hope to a patient population with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options.

high HER2 prevalence, however, in cancers with lower HER2 prevalence, IHC becomes impractical due to high costs, labour intensity, and requirement for the use of limited tumour tissue. IHC only tests for one target at a time, which limits its utility when looking for other biomarkers. IHC is subject to marked interobserver variability, especially in pantumor settings lacking standardised scoring guidelines. As highlighted in their Journal of Clinical Oncology article, inconsistent validation of IHC assays across tumor types leads to discrepancies between local and central test results, increasing false positives and negatives. This underscores the urgent need for standardised, validated diagnostic methods to accurately identify patients eligible for treatments like trastuzumab deruxtecan.

Next-Generation Methods for Pan-Diagnostic Testing “RNA-Seq and Mass Spectrometry have the advantage that they can also screen for thousands of other biomarkers simultaneously. They are also more sensitive than NGS and can detect a higher percentage of HER2- positive cases.” In their project,

“The full potential of targeted-treatments can only be achieved when we can reliably and accurately identify the patients who will benefit the most” Identifying HER2-Positive Patients across Various Cancer Types “To determine eligibility for HER2-targeted treatment, the critical factor is the amount of HER2 protein present on their cells. Prevalence of high HER2 protein expression (20%) in breast, esophageal, and gastric cancers makes screening efficient, as one in five patients is likely to benefit from these treatments.

However, when utilising a tumour-agnostic approach, or looking at HER2 expression across all cancer types, the prevalence is much lower - around 2-5%. While this percentage is small, the total number of cases across all cancers is still high. The challenge lies in identifying these patients which can be done via various methods such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), RNA sequencing (RNAseq), immunohistochemistry (IHC), or mass spectrometry.” explains Dr. Egebjerg.

In our conversation, he calls attention to the difficulties scientists face when using current methods for HER2 detection. NGS is commonly used in pan-tumour trials, however, it lacks sensitivity, missing around 50% of HER2-positive cases. IHC is a highly effective screening method in cancers with

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“Next Generation detection of HER2 positive patients”, the researchers are using RNA-seq and Mass Spectrometry to develop a method for identifying HER2-positive patients across more than 29 types of cancer. This work is part of the Copenhagen Prospective Personalised Oncology (CoPPO) programme, which has analysed over 3,000 tumour samples since 2013. The goal of this project is to create a reliable HER2-RNA or -protein threshold that can detect HER2-positive tumours without relying on traditional methods. The challenge we are facing with the identification of HER2positive tumors across solid tumor types is one we will encounter over and over again in the near future. This issue is becoming more prominent as pan-tumor indications gain focus, especially with the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting markers like HER3, MET, B7-H3/CD276, NECTIN4, and PTK7. However, a significant obstacle lies in developing pan-tumor companion diagnostics.

“The full potential of targeted treatments can only be achieved when we can reliably and accurately identify the patients who will benefit the most” he concludes.

EXPANDING THE INDICATION OF HER2 TARGETED TREATMENT IN SOLID TUMORS Project Objectives

HER2-positive cancers respond to HER2targeted therapy which is widely used in breast and gastric/esophageal adenocarcinomas.

This project explores new HER2 screening methods such as RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry as well as HER2-targeted therapy for HER2 positive esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and other cancers.

Project Funding

The study is funded by the Danish Cancer Institute & Danish Comprehensive Cancer Center, Harboefonden, Independent Research Fund, the Danish Cancer society, and the Capital Region of Denmark. / HER2 IHC and IHC and FISH was conducted by Agilent Technologies. / Screening of HER2 in the HERES trial is supported

by Roche Diagnostics.

Project Partners

(1) Departments of Oncology & Pathology: Rigshospitalet Copenhagen, Odense, Aalborg, Aarhus Denmark / (2) Department of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde and Naestved, Denmark / (3) Center for Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen, Denmark / (4) The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research - University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark / (5) Research Department Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany

Contact Details

Kristian Egebjerg, MD, PhD student Dept. of Oncology, Rigshospitalet Blegdamsvej 9 DK-2100 København Ø T: +45 3545 8765 E: kristian.egebjerg.02@regionh.dk W: https://www.rigshospitalet.dk/ Kristian Egebjerg Morten Mau-Sørensen

Morten Mau-Sørensen is a GI cancer oncologist. His main areas of research are cancer drug development including personalised therapies based on tumor genomics and tumor circulating DNA. He is past president of the Danish Association for Cancer.

Kristian Egebjerg.- Dedicated MD and researcher specialising in oncology, with prior research experience in cardiovascular-, rheumatologic- and infectious diseases. Co-Creator and co-manager of the upper gastro-intestinal oncology research group at Rigshospitalet Copenhagen. Passionate about advancing patient care through innovative research, diagnostics, and therapies in the cross-field between pathology, oncology, and bioinformatics.

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AI tools to detect disease Artificial intelligence tools are increasingly being used to analyse medical images.

The team behind the MedEx project are developing new machine learning methods to glean information from medical images and help detect disease at an earlier stage than currently possible, as Professor Michael Kampffmeyer explains.

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An enormous number of medical

Deep learning technologies

images are generated in hospitals every day, providing a rich source of information for researchers looking to diagnose disease at an earlier stage than currently possible.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools play an increasingly important role in the analysis of these images, and provide valuable support for medical professionals. “An AI model may for instance predict the key points in an image that are typically used to compute distances, then a medical expert can check.

AI tools mainly act as guidance tools,” says Michael Kampffmeyer, Professor in the Machine Learning Group at the University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway.

As part of his work in the MedEx project, Professor Kampffmeyer is developing new machine-learning methodology to detect disease from different types of medical images. “We have done some work on MRI, CT and ultrasound images. The idea is to develop fundamental methods, which can then be applied to different settings and imaging modalities,” he outlines.

The focus at this stage in the project is on detecting lung cancer and diabetic retinopathy from medical images, with researchers using deep learning technologies to help diagnose these conditions at an earlier stage. The general idea with training a deep learning model is that some input

data is provided, with the objective ground truth, and the model learns how to map the transition from the input data to the output.

“Initially the prediction will be completely random. We then compare this prediction to the ground truth, and update the model to do a better job of learning this mapping from the input data to the output,” explains

Fig. 1: Left: Original image. Right: Visualisation of the model’s focus (highlighted in red). Rather than concentrating on the lung regions as expected for pneumonia detection, the model predominantly focuses on the text annotations indicating the hospital where the data was collected.

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Professor Kampffmeyer. These models usually work better with annotated data, which makes it easier for the technology to classify the information; now however Professor Kampffmeyer is looking to reduce the amount of annotations required. “We are trying to develop more efficient models in the sense that we need less annotated data,” he says. “This will reduce the workload on clinicians, in terms of providing us with datasets to train these models on.”

Researchers are now working to ensure that these models are highly rigorous and provide reliable results when exposed to real data.

There are many different ways in which a model can map the transition between input and output data, and Professor Kampffmeyer says it’s important to avoid taking short cuts. “For example, some hospitals have more patients with specific conditions like pneumonia. We’ve seen that models might focus on simply recognising where the data comes from in this situation, rather than solving the problem (see Fig.1 for example).

These models will then not be effective on

A next step will be to take these methods and test them in practical settings, building on insights from clinical professionals. A unit has been established to essentially act as an interface between AI researchers and the hospital in Tromsø, which will facilitate the testing and ongoing improvement of innovative new methods. “We collaborate closely with medical experts and hold regular meetings with ophthalmologists for example,” says Professor Kampffmeyer.

The ultimate goal is to apply these systems in clinical settings, and while there are still many hurdles to overcome on the machine learning and development side, Professor Kampffmeyer says progress is being made.

“We are not far off testing our method with ultrasound images. We hope to get closer to applying some of these systems,” he continues. “Alongside, we are also working on a lot of challenges on the methodology side. We are trying to make these models even less annotation-dependent and more data-efficient, while also making the explainability method more robust.”

“We have done some work on MRI, CT and ultrasound images. The idea is to develop fundamental methods, which can then be applied to different settings and imaging modalities.” real data,” he explains. The aim is to develop a rigorous methodology, while at the same time providing explainable results which can be interpreted by medical professionals. “A kind of black box approach that simply tells you whether a patient has pneumonia or not is not really enough for a doctor,” continues Professor Kampffmeyer. “You need a bit more context than simply a bald answer, especially if you want to use these AI models in more difficult settings, where a diagnosis can’t be reached simply by looking at a single image.”

The project team are developing new, inherently explainable algorithms, that provide both a prediction and an explanation of the underlying reasoning behind it, which will help build trust in these methods amongst doctors. These methods are relatively general, so can be applied on various different types of data, and Professor Kampffmeyer and his colleagues have explored other medical applications in the course of the project.

One is in screening for breast cancer, using mammogram images. “AI technology could make the screening process more efficient by identifying which people are at higher risk, then they could be invited for more frequent screening,” explains Professor Kampffmeyer.

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Other data modalities The techniques developed in the project could also potentially be applied on other data modalities beyond images, a topic that Professor Kampffmeyer hopes to investigate further in future, helping diagnose disease earlier and improving the prospects of effective treatment. Patient health records also provide valuable information for example, and Professor Kampffmeyer says this can be harnessed to help clinicians. “The aim is to use all the available information in order to help clinicians make better decisions. We want to use the data that has been recorded more effectively,” he outlines. The wider backdrop to this research is the challenge of maintaining highquality healthcare at a time of significant demographic change and rising demand, and Professor Kampffmeyer believes AI technology has an important role to play in this respect. “Hospitals are very keen to keep costs down, because they are not able to meet increased demand from patients under the current model as the European population grows older. Making effective use of AI is a necessary step to make healthcare systems more efficient,” he says.

NEXT GENERATION EXPLAINABLE MEDICAL COMPUTER VISION Next Generation Explainable Medical Computer Vision

Project Objectives

The NFR FRIPRO project MedEx aims to develop generic explainable models that can learn in the presence of limited annotated datasets, addressing the current challenges of deep learning in the medical sector. The anticipated scientific solutions will have a reach beyond the health domain and contribute to moving the state-of-the-art within the field of machine learning.

Project Funding

This project is funded by the Research Council of Norway RCN FRIPRO grant no.

315029.

Project Partners

• UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway (Coordinator) • Norwegian Computing Center, Norway

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Professor Michael Kampffmeyer UiT Machine Learning Group Department of Physics and Technology UiT The Arctic University of Norway Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019 Tromsø Norway T: +47 90602098 E: michael.c.kampffmeyer@uit.no W: https://app.cristin.no/projects/show. jsf?id=2506954 W: https://sites.google.com/view/ michaelkampffmeyer/ Professor Michael Kampffmeyer

Michael Kampffmeyer is a Professor in Machine Learning at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and a Senior Research Scientist II at the Norwegian Computing Center in Oslo. His research interests include medical image analysis, explainable AI, and learning from limited labels. Kampffmeyer received his PhD degree from UiT in 2018. He is a general chair of the annual Northern Lights Deep Learning Conference, NLDL.

15

Evidence-Based Approaches in Postoperative Pain Treatment Death Pulmonary Embolism

Re-operation

Hospital Re-admission

Acute Myocardial Infarction

Composite primary outcome within 90 days postoperatively

Gastrointestinal Ulcers

Major Bleeding

Deep Venous Thrombosis

Stroke Renal Failure

Created with some Freepik imagery.

We spoke to Professor Ole Mathiesen, who is leading the PERISAFE trial—a randomised clinical study exploring the safety and efficacy of ibuprofen for postoperative pain management following hip and knee arthroplasty. This innovative research addresses critical questions about optimising pain relief while minimising risks in the crucial postoperative period.

Surgical

interventions

cause

tissue injury and inflammation. The body’s responses to surgical trauma, both local and systemic, give rise to postoperative pain - a distressing experience for patients who’ve undergone a surgical procedure.

Postoperative pain is mediated by the activation of nociceptors in the skin, muscles, and joints, triggered by noxious stimuli and the release of inflammatory mediators.

Additionally, the surgical stress response, exacerbates postoperative pain and is associated with nausea, vomiting, cerebral dysfunction, increased infection risk, and potential organ failure. Uncontrolled postoperative pain and surgical stress can prolong hospitalisation, delay recovery, and heighten the risk of perioperative cardiac complications in major noncardiac surgeries. Effective management of postoperative pain is essential for improving surgical outcomes and ensuring a smoother, faster recovery for patients. The current approach to managing acute postoperative

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pain emphasises the use of multimodal analgesia. This strategy combines a variety of treatments, including non-opioid analgesics like paracetamol and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), local anaesthetics, glucocorticoids, and opioids when necessary. Research has shown that this approach not only reduces pain levels but also helps decrease opioid consumption and minimises opioid-related adverse effects. The treatment principle is also the golden standard for the management of postoperative pain following hip and knee replacements, one of the most frequently performed elective surgical procedures.

Each year, over 1.5 million hip and knee replacements are performed worldwide, significantly improving pain, quality of life, and functional outcomes for patients with severe osteoarthritis. Hip and knee arthroplasty surgeries are generally considered safe, with a 90-day mortality rate of 0.5% for total hip replacements and 0.4% for total knee replacements. However, older

age, multiple health conditions, and previous heart disease can increase mortality risk. The postoperative pain associated with these procedures is moderate to severe. While most postoperative pain management protocols recommend using both paracetamol and NSAIDs, there is no consensus on which NSAIDs to use, the treatment regimen, or the duration of therapy. Individual preferences or local guidelines typically guide these decisions. A recent survey of NSAID use across all Danish orthopedic departments found that ibuprofen is the most commonly prescribed NSAID after elective hip and knee arthroplasties. Also internationally, ibuprofen is one of the most used NSAIDs. However, long-term ibuprofen use in nonsurgical patients has been linked to several adverse effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney problems, and increased cardiovascular risks. An important, yet still unanswered question remains: What are the risks to using ibuprofen for short-term pain relief after hip and knee surgery? This

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inspired the work of Professor Ole Mathiesen, Zealand University Hospital, who is the primary supervisor of the PERISAFE trial - a randomised clinical multicentre trial that aims to assess the adverse effects of an eightday treatment of postoperative pain with ibuprofen in patients undergoing elective hip or knee arthroplasty surgery.

“One major question that remains is the treatment approach for patients discharged shortly after hip or knee replacement surgeries, often on the same day or the following day. In Denmark, the hospital stay is typically very short, however, patients still need pain management at home, which would generally include NSAIDs like ibuprofen. These drugs are well known in medical practice for treating general and inflammatory pain, such as in rheumatologic diseases. However, they also come with a range of potential adverse effects, especially with long-term use. It was never investigated in a large trial how patients who received a new knee or hip coped with this treatment during the first week or two after being discharged” explains Prof. Mathiesen. “To better understand the potential benefits and risks, we needed a study to investigate the effects of sending

the hospital within the 90-day period. “If the treatment was effective, more patients would be able to stay at home, whereas if it was harmful, more patients would need to return to the hospital.” he continues.

Prof. Mathiesen was initially researching postoperative pain back in 2009, as a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen.

Throughout his scientific career, he focused on developing evidence-based postoperative pain treatments, authoring many trials and reviews with meta-analyses on the subject. “When we treat patients’ pain after surgery, opioids are nearly always necessary, but they come with various adverse effects. Therefore, we aim to reduce the need for opioids by using other analgesics like paracetamol, NSAIDs, steroids, and so on. While each of these has an analgesic effect, we don’t know the benefits and risks of combining these non-opioid medications for patients. This was the research question driving a series of trials conducted in collaboration with anaesthesia and orthopedic departments, and my core collaborators Professor Janus C Jakobsen (Copenhagen Trial Unit), associate professor Troels H Lunn (Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital) and associate professor Daniel Hägi-Pedersen (Næstved-

“When we treat patients’ pain after surgery, opioids are nearly always necessary, but they come with various adverse effects.

Therefore, we aim to reduce the need for opioids by using other analgesics like paracetamol, NSAIDs, steroids, and so on.” patients home with NSAID treatment during the first-week post-surgery. The relevance of this research is substantial, as it involves a significant patient population—around 25,000 patients annually in Denmark alone” he elaborates further on the objectives of the PERISAFE trial. The PERISAFE trial will enroll 2,904 participants scheduled for hip and knee arthroplasty who will be randomly assigned to receive either 400 mg of ibuprofen three times per day or an identical placebo tablet for eight days postoperatively, with followup occurring 90 days after surgery. This high number of participants is only achievable due to an extensive national collaboration between orthopedic and anaesthesia researchers at 10 hospitals throughout all five Danish Regions, and an effective central coordinating unit headed by Christina CW Laursen, MD, PhD student and primary investigator on PERISAFE. The trial aims to assess both the benefits and potential harms of the treatment by tracking incidences of ten core serious adverse events in patients participating, and also days spent outside

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Slagelse-Ringsted Hospitals).” explains Prof.

Mathiesen. In the PANSAID randomised trial conducted across six Danish hospitals, he and his team discovered that combining ibuprofen and paracetamol significantly reduces morphine consumption in the first 24 hours following total hip arthroplasty.

Furthermore, the researchers conducted the randomised controlled DEX-2-TKA trial investigating the effects of dexamethasone as an analgesic adjuvant in patients after total knee arthroplasty. They found that two doses of dexamethasone added to a multimodal pain treatment effectively reduced morphine consumption and postoperative pain. More recently, the researchers conducted the RECIPE trial - a randomised controlled trial conducted across nine Danish hospitals, which included 1060 participants. They found that multimodal treatment combining paracetamol, ibuprofen, and dexamethasone in adults undergoing total hip arthroplasty resulted in the lowest morphine consumption and had the most favourable adverse event profile of the possible non-opioid combinations.

PERISAFE Serious adverse events of ibuprofen after elective primary total hip and knee arthroplasties

Project Objectives

The PERISAFE trial aims to assess the benefits and potential harms of an eightday postoperative ibuprofen regimen in patients undergoing elective hip and knee arthroplasty. This study will provide critical insights into the safety and efficacy of short-term NSAID use for postoperative pain management.

Project Timeline

The trial will conclude in less than two years, ending in April 2025.

Project Funding

The PERISAFE project is funded by grants from Sundhedsdonationer, part of a private Danish health insurance organisation, Independent Research Fund Denmark, The Zealand Region DK, The Danish Medical Association Research fund, and Shipowner Per Henriksen and Wife’s Fund.

Project Partners

The PERISAFE trial is one of the projects in Collaboration for Evidence-based Prctice & Research in Anaesthesia (CEPRA), a national research group with more than 100 researchers and 25+ hospitals.

See more on www.cepra.nu

Contact Details

Professor Ole Mathiesen, PhD Consultant Centre for Anaesthesiological Research Department of Anaesthesiology, Zealand University Hospital Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark Department of Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen T: +45 4732 6321 E: omat@regionsjaelland.dk W: www.perisafe.dk W: https://anaesthesiaresearch.dk Ole Mathiesen

Christina Cleveland

Ole Mathiesen is a chair professor and consultant at the Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Copenhagen and the Department of Anaesthesiology at Zealand University Hospital Køge. His research focuses on the optimization of perioperative care, particularly evidencebased postoperative pain management.

Christina Cleveland Westerdahl Laursen is a PhD student and Coordinating Investigator on the trial.

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The Johansson group at Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet.

Subpopulations of patients might benefit from a more liberal transfusion trigger.

When should patients receive a blood transfusion?

The haemoglobin level at which it is recommended that patients with a chronic cardiac disease should receive a blood transfusion has been gradually lowered over several years. Professor Pär Ingemar Johansson is investigating whether some patients would have better survival prospects if they received blood at a higher haemoglobin trigger than currently recommended.

Blood transfusion is an iconic medical intervention and is a prerequisite for most advanced therapeutic capabilities, with more than 110 million red blood cell (RBC) units transfused annually. Consequently, evidence supporting strategies for RBC transfusions in various clinical settings are pivotal. Currently, the transfusion guidelines are based on patients’ hemoglobin (HGB) concentrations where a restrictive RBC transfusion threshold (trigger) of 7.0 g/dL to 8.0 g/dL is recommended for most patient groups, including patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The guidelines are grounded in systematic reviews and meta-analyses of several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) finding no significant differences in adverse patient outcomes under a restrictive versus a liberal (HGB 9.0 g/dL to 10.0 g/dL) transfusion strategy. There is still, however, insufficient evidence to assess the safety of a restrictive transfusion strategy in patients with cardiovascular disease. In addition, Prof. Johansson questions the overarching assumption of these classical randomised trials, namely that all patients with similar HGB level have similar need for oxygen transporting capacity and, thereby, need for blood transfusion. The current trial designs include far too few patients to be able identify small, but clinically relevant, subpopulations of patients who actually would benefit from a liberal transfusion trigger.

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lesions which develop when RBC units are stored for many weeks in Blood Banks on transfusion recipient mortality. A cohort of 89.000 patients transfused with 340.000 RBC units were used to emulate randomized trials testing the comparative effect of transfusing exclusively older vs fresher RBC units on death. Prof. Johansson found that transfusion of RBC units stored for one and two weeks were associated with > 10 percent higher survival rates compared to being transfused exclusively with ‘older’ RBC units, translating into many thousands of deaths annually. These results contradict the findings of the randomized clinical trials conducted to date and also highlight their limitations in terms of identifying small but clinically important differences in patient outcome.

Chronic heart disease Evidence supporting transfusion strategies are pivotal, Photo by Thomas Bertelsen.

To overcome these limitations, and provide evidence-based transfusion triggers that also take into account patient heterogeneity in the need for oxygen transporting capacity, Prof.

Johansson is introducing causal inference methodologies using real-world data in a new Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF)backed project. This approach was previously used by Prof. Johansson to investigate the potential harmful effects of the RBC storage

As part of his role in the DFF-backed project, Professor Johansson is now looking at the treatment of patients with chronic heart disease. Similarly to the storage problem, there have been a number of randomized control trials involving more than 21,000 patients on this topic looking at different transfusion triggers – the haemoglobin level at which a physician decides that the patient needs a transfusion of red blood cells. “These trials have been negative – meaning that no difference has been found between the restrictive and the liberal

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Transfusion of Red Blood Cells is a lifesaving treatment, Photo by Thomas Bertelsen.

triggers in any patient profiles. The problem is that these clinical trials have been too small to identify any potentially clinically relevant differences between the triggers in subpopulations of the patients,” outlines Professor Johansson. This is a topic that he plans to probe further in the project.

“Haemoglobin triggers have been lowered for many years, based on these randomized controlled trials, showing no difference between a high and a low haemoglobin level,” he continues. “I don’t think that that is correct for all patients because there is a high degree of heterogeneity between individual patients, likely also in the need for oxygen transporting capacity.”

A larger clinical trial with more data could allow researchers to dig deeper and uncover some of this heterogeneity, a topic central to the DFF-backed project. The hypothesis here is that there is a sub-population of patients with cardiac diseases that would have better survival prospects if they received blood at a higher trigger than the current guidelines recommend. “The reason for focusing on patients with cardiac disease is that anaemia, in these patients, has long been recognised to be an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events including death. This hypothesis is what I would like to test, using the causal inference approach,” explains Professor Johansson.

Uniquely, the causal inference methodology allows researchers to use real-world observational data, enabling the analysis of a much larger group of transfused patients with anaemia and cardiac disease than is practically possible using the classical randomised controlled trial design. Another unique feature of the causal inference methodology is that several randomised clinical trials can be emulated in parallel using the same data set.

“Hereby, I can take the observational dataset

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More than 110 million RBC units are transfused annually, Photo by Thomas Bertelsen.

“Haemoglobin triggers have been lowered for many years, based on randomized controlled trials, showing no difference between a high and a low haemoglobin level. I don’t think that that is necessarily correct for all patients however, because there is a high degree of heterogeneity between individual patients.” from Copenhagen, where we have around 50,000 anaemic cardiac patients, and test if there are subpopulations of these patients that benefit from a particular trigger different to that recommended under the current guidelines,” continues Professor Johansson.

“We are using already existing data from Danish health registries, electronic patient records (EPIC) and the Blood Bank transfusion system to conduct this study.”

This provides researchers with a wealth of real-world data from which Professor Johansson and his colleagues can look to build a deeper picture. An individual patient with a certain severity of cardiac disease will not necessarily respond to a transfusion in the same way as another with a similar health status, while some patients may have other co-morbidities, another topic of interest in the project. “Patients with other co-morbidities

The causal inference approach allows us to use real-world data and to conduct several trials in parallel using the same data set.

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EMULATED RANDOMIZED TRIALS USING REALWORLD DATA Emulated Randomized Trials using Realworld data – Optimal and Personalized Red Blood Cell Transfusion Strategies for Hospitalized Chronic Patients

Project Objectives

The project tests if a sub-population of patients with cardiac diseases would have better survival prospects if they received blood at a higher trigger than the current guidelines recommend. An emulated clinical trial in anaemic cardiac patients is done using the causal inference approach, that allows to use real-world observational data.

Project Funding

Funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) 1,930,032 DKR

Project Partners

• Prof. Per I Johansson, Head of Transfusion Medicine in the Capital Region Blood Bank at Rigshospitalet (Project Leader) • Prof. Christian Hassager, Dept. of Cardiology at Rigshospitalet • Professor in Biostatistics Per Kragh Andersen, Dept. of Public Health, University of Copenhagen

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Pär Ingemar Johansson Rigshospitalet, Department of Clinical Immunology, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark T: +45 35 45 20 30 E: per.johansson@regionh.dk W: https://gchsp.dk/en/cag/cag-center-forendotheliomics/ W: https://www.rigshospitalet.dk/english/ Pages/default.aspx

Pär Ingemar Johansson

alongside chronic cardiac disease may have a need for a higher transfusion trigger. That is one of the things that we hope to find out in this project,” continues Professor Johansson.

Current guidelines The current guidelines are that patients with a chronic cardiac disease should receive a blood transfusion when their haemoglobin level is somewhere around 7-8 grammes per litre, now Professor Johansson plans to explore the impact of different triggers. The trial has been designed, all the data has been secured, and Professor Johansson is now looking to move forward with the research. “We are currently finalising the programming of the algorithms

is a particular sub-group of patients who would benefit from receiving transfusions at a higher haemoglobin trigger, then it would also be important to identify them so that clinical staff could respond effectively, another topic that Professor Johansson plans to address. “We hope to identify biomarkers that pinpoint these patients, so that they can then receive a transfusion that is more precisely tailored to their own needs than they do today,” he outlines. This could help dramatically improve recovery and thereby reduce healthcare costs, which is a prominent issue across Europe. “It’s mainly older people who receive transfusions. If they are transfused at the right trigger then you

“Improving survival rates following blood transfusions, even by relatively small amounts, translates into a lot of financial savings on an annual basis, at the country level.” that will be run, and we expect to start running the analysis early in 2025,” he says.

The aim is not necessarily to find evidence supporting the underlying hypothesis behind the research, but rather to provide a greater degree of clarity on the effectiveness of transfusions at different triggers. “If our results show that the current transfusion triggers are the best for all patients then that would be an incredibly important result. That would support the existing guidelines, which would be extremely positive,” says Professor Johansson. “Equally, if we find that there are sub-groups of patients who would benefit from a different trigger, then I think that would also be very important.”

This could eventually become part of new treatment guidelines in future, saving patient lives and potentially helping to reduce the cost of healthcare. If researchers find there

would reduce hospital costs enormously,” stresses Professor Johansson. “Improving survival rates following blood transfusions, even by relatively small amounts, translates into a lot of financial savings on an annual basis, at the country level.”

It can be difficult to challenge the existing transfusion protocols, but clear evidence of benefits to patients would provide a powerful argument for a new approach. These findings could be translated into practice, and Professor Johansson is keen to share his findings more widely. “I am the head of the transfusion service in the Capital Region of Denmark, which soon will include the Eastern part of Denmark,” he says. “We have held discussions, and plan to inform the Danish health authority and the Danish medicines agency about this trial, and we will share our findings when we have results.”

Pär Ingemar Johansson is Professor in Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. He is a founding member of the International Trauma Research Network and serves as an advisory board expert at the European Medicines Agency.

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MultiHome: Transforming the Home Renovation Market in Bulgaria The MultiHome project, funded under the LIFE programme, is revolutionising residential renovation in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv region by establishing an integrated home renovation service.

We spoke to Teodora Marinova, Managing Director of Quadro Synergy, a consultancy specialising in EU funded research and innovation projects and business planning.

Many residential properties in the Plovdiv region meet only low energy efficiency standards. The MultiHome Service Hub offers a single access point for expert advice and full guidance throughout the renovation process, helping homeowners implement energy-efficient measures. It supports residents at every stage from identifying upgrades and securing financing to coordinating subcontractors and delivery. The service encompasses both single- and multifamily buildings, as well as energy communities.

While grants have been allocated to support some renovation efforts, the effect remains limited. “In Bulgaria, we are at the stage of transitioning away from a system that is purely dependent on grants, as this is unsustainable for the market,” explains Marinova. “We are exploring new business models, fostering novel partnerships, and preparing stakeholders for this transition.”

Analysing local value chains “MultiHome has designed packages ranging from basic measures like window and insulation replacement to advanced solutions with renewable energy and nearlyzero standards, offering homeowners coordinated, high-quality work from multiple actors as a package deal,” Marinova clarifies.

As part of their work in the project, Quadro Synergy has performed value chain analysis for each of the package offers, mapping out the renovation process steps and identifying the key market actors, service and financial flows. “This analysis also helps identify the innovative roles renovation business actors may play and explore potential new business and financial models, such as on-bill financing or pay-for-performance contracts”, says Marinova.

“Constructive dialogue and collaborative investment strategies are critical to advancing the residential building renovation market.”

Stakeholder Engagement is Key to Making Progress Effective communication between stakeholders is crucial to advancing the energy-efficiency of a region’s residential building stock. This issue is central to Quadro Synergy’s work in the MultiHome project, which is engaging citizens, local municipalities, businesses, and financial institutions, through a range of activities.

“Our effort is to address information and communication gaps, overcome common barriers such as a lack of awareness and trust in novel approaches and ensure that each actor’s perspective informs the development of the renovation offers,” explains Marinova.

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Shifting Perspectives Many homeowners may only be aware of conventional funding mechanisms, such as grants which cover the entire cost of renovating a property. However, Marinova highlights that innovative instruments are emerging, including blended finance, guarantee and revolving funds.

“Our aim is to ensure homeowners are wellinformed about the latest trends and consider the full range of financial options available, including their own contribution,” she says. She emphasises that fostering a shift in mindset is vital to driving change within the community.

“We also want to discuss the evolving framework with key institutions such as banks, emphasising their role in the development of preferential green loans and deployment of specialised credit

lines, gathering their feedback on priority areas for collaboration,” continues Marinova.

Towards Innovative Business and Financial Models For new business models to flourish, strong political will to transform markets is essential.

“While this shift is in progress, effort is also required to deepen the understanding of all stakeholders and encourage active, collaborative thinking,” Marinova stresses. “We are facilitating dialogue in which local agencies, governments and financial institutions deliberate on potential risk-sharing and risk mitigation mechanisms, while businesses define and adapt their roles.”

MultiHome: Stakeholder Cooperation Service Hub and Platform for Accelerated Home Renovation in Plovdiv Region Coordinated by: Energy Agency of Plovdiv (EAP) Partners: Municipality of Plovdiv (PLV), Plovdiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Quadro Synergy (SYN), Union of Homeowners’ Associations (CAC) Objectives: Multihome aims at establishing a multi-stakeholder cooperation model for integrated home renovation of single- and multi-family buildings that supports the implementation of ambitious energy efficiency and RES actions. The service hub is operated by the Energy Agency Plovdiv, backed up by 18 local municipalities and branch organisations.

Quadro Synergy Ltd. is leading the EU communication activities, and the business and financial modelling tasks in MultiHome.

The MultiHome project is co-funded by the European Union under Grant agreement No 101120815.

Learn more at: multihome-project.eu Contact details: E: office@quadrosynergy.eu W: quadrosynergy.eu

Teodora Marinova is the Managing Director of Quadro Synergy, with over 20 years of experience in European project development and management.

Her focus is on projects in the fields of bioeconomy and energy, and she has worked extensively with European scientific institutes, businesses, and policymakers to foster interdisciplinary collaborations and dynamic knowledge transfer.

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Illustrations depicting two possible configurations of a varied modular system A

Photovoltaic panels

E

Heating Output System

B

Heat Pump Unit

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Control Unit

C

Water Tank

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Building Power Meter

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Hydraulic Separator

MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING - Water To Water - Centralised Easy implementation in existing buildings with different terminals The WTW+TES system (C) and heat pump system (B), powered by PV solar panels (A), heats radiant panels (E) and allows for easy implementation in both new and existing heat pump systems. A hydraulic separator (D) connects to support extra energy needs, while solar and building power meters (G - F) optimise efficiency.

A

SINGLE HOUSE - Water To Water - Centralised Easy implementation in new or existing heat pump system The WTW+TES system (C) and heat pump system (B), powered by PV solar panels (A), heats radiant panels (E) and allows for easy implementation in both new and existing heat pump systems. A hydraulic separator (D) connects to support extra energy needs, while solar and building power meters (G - F) optimise efficiency.

G

A

G

E

C

F D B

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B

Transforming Residential Energy Systems Across Europe The ITS4ZEB project aims to revolutionise energy systems, led by partners from academia and industry, including experts from Eurac Research, Innova Energie, Innova Srl, Panasonic Marketing Europe GmbH, Studio Fieschi & Soci Srl, Thermalink, and the University of Padova.

The global demand for energy has surged by 19% since 2010, with over half of this increase attributed to the building sector.

Fossil fuels still account for 80% of energy consumption, contributing significantly to climate change. In response, the European Union (EU) has set ambitious goals to reduce CO₂ equivalent emissions in an increasingly drastic manner. Projects like ITS4ZEB are crucial to achieving these targets by encouraging the use of natural fluids, such as hydrocarbons, and promoting renewable energy sources.

Buildings, particularly residential ones, are some of the contributors to energy consumption. Traditional heating and cooling systems rely heavily on fossil fuels and electric current drawn from the grid, leading to high carbon footprints.

The ITS4ZEB project addresses this by introducing cutting-edge technologies designed to optimise energy use and reduce dependency on non-renewable resources.

Breaking Down the Technology An important asset of the project are the heat pumps and their integration with latent storage systems. But what are they? Professor Giulia Righetti explains, ‘Heat pumps are devices that transfer thermal energy from one location to another, allowing us to achieve highly efficient heating and cooling with a reduced primary

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energy consumption.’ Heat pumps used in ITS4ZEB are designed to draw energy preferrable from renewable sources, such as wind and photovoltaic (solar) panels. The integration with tailored thermal energy storages ensures that buildings can harness clean energy for their thermal needs when this is available along the day, and store it as heat for later use.

In fact, these pumps also incorporate a key innovation; these heat pumps are designed to run and store thermal energy inside latent storages when electricity is generated from renewable sources and there is no demand from the user. Latent energy storages involve absorbing and releasing large amounts of heat in a reduced volume with respect to sensible storages at a pretty constant temperature, making the process more compact and efficient.

These storages are based on Phase Change Materials (PCMs). ‘These materials, during their phase change process between solid and liquid, and vice versa, exchange latent heat that can be used when required by the user. Currently, many PCMs are available with different transition temperatures and chemical origins. Choosing the right one is not easy, as each material has its pros and cons’. she explains. While organic materials were initially considered, the project shifted to using salt hydrates, which are composed of

water and salt, are cheaper and provide better heat transfer properties. Although these materials can be slightly corrosive and can have some stability issues, the ITS4ZEB team has developed solutions to manage these issues within the storage tanks.

Moreover, studying innovative solutions, the project aims to improve the speed at which PCMs can store and release heat. This advancement ensures that latent energy storage systems can meet both high-demand and low-demand periods effectively.

Additionally, it is possible to store heat at different thermal levels by using tanks with different PCMs. This allows the same solution to interface with various needs and different terminals, such as radiant floors, radiators, etc. This adaptability supports ITS4ZEB’s goal of providing modular and scalable energy solutions suitable for both new and retrofitted structures.

To maximise system efficiency, ITS4ZEB employs advanced control algorithms that ensure optimal interaction between the heat pump, the thermal storage unit, and the PV panels, reducing energy waste and enhancing overall performance.

Refrigerants play a crucial role in heat pumps by facilitating the transfer of thermal energy. Traditional refrigerants often have high global warming potential

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(GWP), posing risks to the environment.

The ITS4ZEB project addresses this by using propane (R290), a natural refrigerant with minimal environmental impact. This choice reflects a broader trend in sustainable development: the prioritisation of materials and technologies that reduce ecological harm. By adopting R290, ITS4ZEB aligns with european climate commitments aimed at phasing out high-GWP substances.

Panasonic is currently investing in and innovating a full range of units using propane.

Overcoming Challenges While the ITS4ZEB project showcases promising technologies, it has faced several challenges. One major hurdle has been the selection of suitable PCMs. These materials vary widely in their properties, and no single material meets all the ideal criteria.

The team had to balance trade-offs such as cost, availability, safety, stability over time, and performance.

Another challenge was designing storage tanks that are both efficient and practical.

Professor Giulia Righetti notes, ‘One of the critical design challenges is to develop storage tanks that can store sufficient energy to meet thermal demands without becoming too large or cumbersome.’ By experimenting with different materials and configurations, the project aims to

Panasonic’s existing installation and support networks support the success of these pilot installations, while the project is also developing essential documentation. This includes preliminary versions of user, installer, and service manuals, field test forms that define expected functionalities, and training materials designed specifically for plant designers.

Professor Giulia Righetti emphasises, ‘These preparations, including manuals and training, are essential to guarantee the success and smooth operation of the pilot installations.’

The project’s partners, including technology leaders like INNOVA and Panasonic, are responsible for monitoring and optimising the performance of these systems. By validating the technologies in real-world settings, ITS4ZEB aims to accelerate their path to market readiness.

The project aligns with the EU’s broader decarbonisation goals by promoting energy self-consumption and reducing grid dependency. If successful, it could serve as a model for sustainable architecture and climate control solutions worldwide.

The pilot installations also provide critical data for refining the system’s design and functionality. Insights gathered from these deployments will guide future improvements, ensuring that the technology remains adaptable to evolving energy demands and users profiles.

“One of the critical design challenges is to develop storage tanks that can store sufficient energy to meet thermal demands without becoming too large or cumbersome.” develop storage solutions that are both lightweight and capable of storing more than 7 kilowatt-hours of energy.

Additionally, sourcing PCMs in large quantities posed difficulties due to limited market availability. To address this, ITS4ZEB established collaborations with material suppliers to improve production scalability.

These partnerships ensure that future implementations of the technology can be both cost-effective and widely accessible.

Implementation and Impact The ITS4ZEB project is currently in its pilot phase, with installations planned across 10 European countries. These locations have been carefully chosen to represent diverse climates, building types, and installation practices influenced by local cultural contexts.

The selection process focused on several key criteria: ensuring coverage of different climatic zones, incorporating diverse cultural backgrounds among installers and designers,

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A Vision for the Future The ITS4ZEB project represents more than just technological innovation; it embodies a shift towards more sustainable and resilient communities. By integrating renewable energy sources, advanced materials, and intelligent control systems, the project offers a blueprint for zero-energy buildings that can thrive in diverse climates and urban settings.

Furthermore, ITS4ZEB highlights the importance of collaboration across sectors. By bringing together researchers, manufacturers, policymakers, and end-users, the project fosters a holistic approach to sustainability.

This collaborative framework can serve as a template for other initiatives seeking to address global energy and climate challenges.

As energy challenges continue to grow, initiatives like this project demonstrate that solutions are within reach. Through collaboration, research, and innovation, we can pave the way for a future where sustainable living is not just a goal but a reality for all.

LIFE iTS4ZEB Integrated Thermal energy Storages for Zero Emission Buildings

Project Objectives

The project aims to deliver to the market a product that integrates heat pump (HP) and PCM TES technology, enabling ready-touse energy storage even in already existing installations. It features capabilities that easily detect self-consumption of PV energy, maximising the amount of energy that can be produced and consumed on-site. Additionally, it allows for demand response for smart grids without compromising comfort and ensures appropriate purchasing and maintenance costs.

Project Funding

The LIFE22-CCM-IT-LIFE ITS4ZEB Project is co-funded by the European Union’s Life Program. Project 101113714.

Project Partners

• EURAC RESEARCH • INNOVA ENERGIE • INNOVA SRL • PANASONIC • THERMALINK • STUDIO FIESCHI & SOCI • UNIVERSITÀ DI PADOVA https://its4zeb.eu/partner/

Contact Details

Professor Giulia Righetti Associate Professor Dipartimento di Tecnica e Gestione dei Sistemi Industriali - DTG STRADELLA SAN NICOLA, 3 - VICENZA T: +044 4 998 777 E: giulia.righetti@unipd.it W: https://its4zeb.eu/ Professor Giulia Righetti

Professor Giulia Righetti is an Associate Professor at the University of Padua. With over 100 published scientific articles, she has contributed to numerous research projects, including seven European projects.

Her work focuses on energy optimisation in refrigeration, particularly two-phase heat transfer, natural refrigerants, and phase change thermal storage systems.

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UrbanLIFEcircles: A New Blueprint for Biodiversity in Cities

Urban grove in Tartu.

Photo: Mana Kaasik.

We spoke to Mirjam Võsaste, Urban Nature Coordinator at the Tartu City Government, and her team, who, through the urbanLIFEcircles project, are pioneering a more biodiversity-friendly approach to urban planning. Their efforts aim to restore green connectivity, revitalise habitats, and engage citizens in creating thriving, nature-rich cities.

Biodiversity—the variety of life that sustains our planet—is essential to the health of ecosystems, and cities are no exception. Urban areas, often perceived as ecological deserts, can in fact support rich biodiversity, providing habitats for plants, animals, and even pollinators like bees and butterflies. Green urban spaces make cities beautiful, but they can also provide necessary ecosystem services such as regulation of air and water quality, combatting the urban heat island effect, and improving the mental health and wellbeing for citizens. Yet, as cities expand, natural habitats are lost or fragmented, leaving urban biodiversity under increasing threat. This has farreaching implications, as thriving ecosystems are crucial for managing environmental challenges and adapting to climate change. The urgency to address biodiversity loss is emphasised in the IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which has found that populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles have declined by an average of 68% since 1970. This alarming trend is a witness to the fragility of ecosystems and a call for action. According to this report, the degradation of biodiversity threatens nature’s ability to provide essential ecosystem services, including clean air and water, food production, and natural resources. Additionally, biodiversity loss poses a risk to economic stability. Over half of the global GDP is dependent on nature and its services and sectors which form the backbone of the world economy such as agriculture, food, and construction, are especially vulnerable. In response, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 outlines a bold vision to stop biodiversity loss in urban areas. This strategy calls on cities to prioritise green infrastructure—such as urban forests, parks, meadows, and tree-lined streets–

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Cattle grazing in an Aarhus meadow.

Photo: City of Aarhus.

while improving connectivity between green spaces. Another strategy to support ecosystems is to adopt biodiversity-friendly practices such as reducing excessive mowing. However, turning these goals into real-life practices has been challenging.

To address these challenges, the urbanLIFEcircles project offers a systematic approach to transforming urban greenery, placing biodiversity at the heart of city planning.

Led by Tartu, in collaboration with Riga and Aarhus, the project aims to restore connectivity and enhance ecosystem health across urban

Tartu’s Green Spaces The City of Tartu plays a central role as the project’s coordinating partner, while researchers from the university contribute through planning, monitoring, expert advice, and communication.

The city is focused on the practical side of the project, like creating new habitats, adopting biodiversity-friendly management practices, building urban nature trails, and collaborating with stakeholders such as gardening and management companies. Together, they are promoting ideas like growing more local plants for city greenery and respecting the needs of biodiversity when maintaining urban green spaces. “A big part of the project is also about working with people—getting citizens involved in hands-on activities that directly benefit nature while engaging with different stakeholders to introduce a new way of thinking about urban ecosystems. It’s about creating change, not just on the ground, but also in the mindset of the city and its people” the researchers say.

“UrbanLIFEcircles is about creating change, not just on the ground, but also in the mindset of the city and its people”. areas. “This project comes from the realisation that, even though urban ecology research has, for decades, provided a wealth of knowledge on biodiversity in cities and what needs to be done to support it, we’re not seeing these changes happen much in practice. Tartu University has top-level ecologists—both botanists and zoologists, and we wanted to use this expertise to make a difference in our hometown and bring ecological knowledge out of the academic world and into real life”, explains Mirjam Võsaste, a plant ecologist and Urban Nature Coordinator at the Tartu City Government.

The urbanLIFEcircles project represents a bold transformation of urban green spaces in Tartu.

Where parks once featured neatly mowed grass and carefully spaced trees, the city is now embracing a more natural, biodiversityfocused approach. In some places, grass is allowed to grow, and mowed less frequently, and diverse local plant species are introduced to enrich the soil and create habitats. Some areas have even been reimagined as forest-like environments, a significant shift from traditional urban landscaping. This transformation has sparked mixed reactions among Tartu’s

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residents. While many praise the project for promoting biodiversity and even express interest in applying the ideas to their own gardens, others resist the changes, criticising the new landscapes as unappealing. “Often, the backlash comes from subjective ideas of beauty,” the researcher notes. The team has developed strategies to balance ecological benefits with visual appeal to bridge this gap. By choosing plants that bloom in different seasons and finding balance between different mowing regimes, they aim to make biodiversity-friendly spaces more accessible and attractive. Putting up educational signs is also another way to help residents understand the purpose of these changes, and answer questions like “Why is this here? Why is it needed?” ​​One of the most remarkable findings of the urbanLIFEcircles project has been the swift response of insect biodiversity to changes in plant composition. Traditional urban parks, dominated by neatly mowed grass, offer limited resources for pollinators. However, as soon as diverse plants—whether native or cultivated varieties—were introduced, butterflies started returning to city-centre parks. ”The need for habitats like these is very high for insects, as they often lack good opportunities even outside cities due to the prevalence of industrial and agricultural lands that do not support biodiversity. By creating these spaces, cities can act as refuge sites for local species, providing much-needed habitats. This idea is supported by scientific research, which shows that urban areas can serve as biodiversity refugees rather than ecological traps” the researcher shares. Early results are showing the benefits of these interventions. In areas where mowing was reduced or new plants and meadows were introduced, both the diversity and abundance of pollinators increased significantly. For example, initial monitoring revealed 12 species of butterflies in mowed areas compared to 24 species in unmowed areas—double the diversity. Additionally,

these changes contribute to reducing the urban heat island effect, with temperatures in less frequently mowed areas being noticeably lower. Cities have the potential to serve as biodiversity havens while simultaneously addressing pressing environmental challenges like climate change.

A Collaborative Approach to Biodiversity Restoration A particularly innovative aspect of the project is its collaboration with private citizens and apartment associations. The urbanLIFEcircles project provides small grants in all three cities to private households and apartment buildings to enhance biodiversity in their own gardens. This initiative supports the creation of urban meadows, small water bodies, and habitats for species like hedgehogs and birds.

This is one of the first programmes in Europe focused specifically on biodiversity-friendly gardening on private land. “Cities usually only manage public land, but a large part of urban green space is private gardens, and we often don’t know what’s happening there. This is our first attempt to promote biodiversity in these areas and highlight their importance,” the researcher adds.

The project also actively engages citizens through volunteer opportunities. Residents are invited to join in activities such as planting diverse species, sowing and collecting seeds, or participating in traditional manual mowing events in city-centre parks. These events are open to individuals, schools, kindergartens, and even local companies, creating a strong sense of community involvement. “Citizens can participate through their own gardens or by volunteering with us throughout the year,” she concludes. The urbanLIFEcircles project demonstrates that cities have the potential to become biodiversity havens while tackling critical environmental challenges like climate change. The project sets an inspiring example of how urban areas can reconnect with nature.

Urban meadow creation in Riga. Photo: Sergey Skopincevs.

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urbanLIFEcircles Introducing adaptive community based biodiversity management in urban areas for improved connectivity and ecosystem health

Project Objectives

The urbanLIFEcircles project seeks to systematically integrate biodiversity into city landscapes by reducing mowing, introducing diverse native plants, and fostering communitydriven solutions. Through partnerships among Tartu, Riga, and Aarhus, the project aims to demonstrate how urban areas can become vital ecosystems that support local wildlife and help mitigate environmental challenges.

Project Funding

The urbanLIFEcircles project has received funding from the LIFE Programme of the European Union under grant agreement No 101074453.

Project Partners

Lead partner: Tartu City Estonia: University of Tartu, Tallinn Technical University, Kino NGO, Rohetiiger Foundation Denmark: City of Aarhus Latvia: Riga City, Latvian Fund for Nature

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Mirjam Võsaste Tartu City Government Urban Nature Coordinator Tartu City Government Raekoja plats 1a (town hall) 50089 Tartu, Estonia T: +372 53056477 E: Mirjam.Vosaste@tartu.ee W: https://tartu.ee/en/urbanlifecircles Mirjam Võsaste

Mirjam Võsaste is a plant ecologist and works at the Tartu City Government as Urban Nature Coordinator. Her interests are everything related to urban nature – how to make cities sustainable, bring back biodiversity and transform the urban green areas for everyone.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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Transboundary Action to Save Mediterranean Shearwaters Fishing hook found in seabird colony, Birdlife Malta.

We spoke with Project Manager Manya Russo from BirdLife Malta. This cross-border effort unites scientists, policymakers, and fishermen to safeguard Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters.

By addressing invasive rats on land and reducing seabird bycatch at sea, the project aims to secure a safer future for these vulnerable species across the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions.

Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters, two pelagic seabirds that spend most of their lives on the open ocean, are among the most threatened birds in the Mediterranean. They forage exclusively in the marine environment and only come ashore to breed. On land, their single egg and slow growing nestling are particularly vulnerable to predation by nonnative predators such as rats.

At sea, these birds risk becoming entangled in fishing gear—a phenomenon known as bycatch.

The transboundary LIFE PanPuffinus! project unites researchers, policymakers, and fishers from several countries to tackle these dual threats and improve the conservation status of these seabirds across the Mediterranean and along Portugal’s Atlantic coast.

Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan), have a global population estimated at roughly 16,000 to 18,000 pairs, with about 28-35% of the global population found in the project sites.. This species is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) is found mainly and breeds exclusively in Spain’s Balearic Islands and is considered Europe’s most endangered seabird, with only around 25,000 individuals remaining.

Because both species depend on the survival of breeding adults, even small increases in mortality can destabilise entire colonies.

Scarybird Flávia Carvalho.

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International seabird conference in France, Alexandra Caron-Strehlow.

Launched in 2020 and expected to run until at least 2025, the LIFE PanPuffinus! initiative is led

by BirdLife Malta in collaboration with Birdlife and government partners in Malta, Greece, France, Spain, and Portugal. Project Manager Manya Russo explains that their effort focuses on two main pillars: controlling invasive rat populations at key nesting sites and introducing effective bycatch mitigation measures at sea. “We’re collaborating across multiple regions, with each partner working in its own context but sharing the same objectives,”

“We’re collaborating across multiple regions, with each partner working in its own context but sharing the same objectives.” she says. “On land, we produce biosecurity plans and carry out scientific rat control to ensure protected areas are managed effectively. At sea, we work with fishers to create solutions and reduce the accidental catch of these birds.”

Much of the onshore work is not only about controlling rat populations but also about establishing protocols to keep predation at colonies low. “Our biosecurity documents provide governments and agencies the tools to

Predated egg found in seabird colony in Malta, Birdlife Malta.

set up systematic protocols for rat control,” she explains. “They’re practical guides for long-term management. Constant monitoring is needed to ensure efforts are effective. .” The project also tests for rodenticide resistance in local rat populations.

“We examined local rats to see whether they’re developing resistance to the rodenticides we’re using. This was a small part of the project, but important for understanding whether alternative strategies might be needed” she adds.

Mitigating Seabird Bycatch At sea, the challenge of bycatch is equally critical. Shearwaters forage near fishing vessels, and their interactions with gear are often underreported. Many fishers either do not see the accidental capture of a bird as significant or are reluctant to report such incidents for fear of repercussions. This gap in reliable data makes it difficult to assess the true risk to both Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters. To address this, the project team is collecting data from fishers on seabird bycatch and affected species, through the use of questionnaires and onboard observations.

Fishers are encouraged to maintain a logbook. By doing this, fishers contribute essential data on the species, timing and locations of bycatch events.

Large-scale data analysis and tracking have provided further insights into the birds’ foraging behaviour. In a study led by BirdLife Malta’s Martin Austad and colleagues, time-depth recorders were deployed on Yelkouan shearwaters in Malta and Greece. The study, which recorded over 16,000 dives, revealed that these birds dive more deeply and frequently than previously assumed. The researchers also observed that

Yelkouan shearwater with hook attached, Vero Cortes.

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their foraging activity peaks at dawn and dusk.

This has important implications for night-setting practices for fishing gear—if operations begin too early or finish too late, the risk of bycatch may inadvertently increase. Complementing these studies is a risk-mapping initiative detailed in a report led by project partner Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) . By combining current seabird distribution data from GPS tracking with fishery-activity information from satellite AIS, vessel monitoring systems, and local surveys, scientists have identified potential interaction points between fishing operations and the main foraging zones of both shearwater species. Russo explains, “The challenge is verifying whether these spatial overlaps lead to mortalities.. Nonetheless, the modelling helps direct observer coverage and identify target fleets, and encourages the adoption of deterrents like the ‘Scary Bird’ or the use of weighted lines that sink faster, leaving birds with less time to get entangled.” The “Scary Bird,” a visual deterrent placed near fishing gear, is one of several innovative measures being trialed. Other approaches include using contrast panels to make nets more visible and using a rope and buoy trailed behind a boat to act as a deterrent. . Early feedback from fishers has been cautiously optimistic, particularly as these measures do not appear to affect fish catches negatively. The ultimate aim is to compile these methods into a comprehensive Mitigation Toolkit—with guidelines available in multiple languages—that can be widely adopted by fishers, fishery managers, and policymakers.

Uniting Research and Policy Although the project has already produced promising results, Russo stresses that longterm success depends on influencing policy and widespread adoption of bycatch reducing strategies. “This project is about demonstrating that concrete, scientifically tested solutions exist,” she says. “But for these measures to be applied nationwide, they must feed into policy action plans and regulatory frameworks. Simply collecting good data isn’t enough—governments must recognise the problem, enact sensible regulations, and support fishers who adopt these measures.” In several partner countries, bycatch action plans are being drafted, and local

Fieldworker abseiling to reach seabird colony, Birdlife Malta.

LIFE PanPuffinus!

Improving the conservation status of endemic Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters by ensuring safe land and sea

Project Objectives

authorities are integrating LIFE PanPuffinus! data and recommendations into these plans. In Malta, although an official bycatch plan has yet to be established, the project has set the groundwork by pinpointing when and how seabird–fisher interactions occur. At first glance, rat control on land and bycatch mitigation at sea might seem like separate issues, yet both are critical for the survival of breeding adults. Whether a shearwater returns at night to feed its chick or dives at dawn in search of prey, each successful journey is vital to maintaining the colony’s viability. By integrating local engagement, transnational research, and policy advocacy into one cohesive programme, LIFE PanPuffinus! offers a model that could be replicated elsewhere in the Mediterranean.

Looking ahead, Russo is keen to expand the project’s impact. “The next challenge is to convince more fishers to test these measures and to urge more policy-makers to incorporate them into official regulations,” she explains.

“Our hope is that after 2025 or 2026, every partner country will have a clear framework in place so that bycatch reduction and invasive predator management become standard practice rather than isolated pilot projects.”

LIFE PanPuffinus! has already demonstrated that practical, science-based conservation solutions can mitigate the dual threats facing these endangered seabirds. Through systematic predator control on land and innovative bycatch deterrents at sea, the project is laying the groundwork for a future where both Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters can thrive. By bridging the gap between research, policy, and community collaboration, this initiative shows that even small, targeted actions—when implemented across borders—can make a significant difference in safeguarding Europe’s most vulnerable seabirds.

The LIFE PanPuffinus! project seeks to protect Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters by implementing systematic rat control protocols at key nesting sites, while pioneering practical, science-based methods to minimise seabird bycatch in fishing operations. Through collaborative research, policy engagement, and stakeholder training, the project strives to establish a robust framework that can be adopted regionally to ensure the long-term survival of these endangered seabirds..

Project Funding

The €3.45 million project, which has started in 2021 and will run till 2025, is part-financed 60% by the European Union’s LIFE programme.

Project Partners

• Birdlife Malta (BLM), Malta • Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA), Malta • Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS), Greece • Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), Greece • Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO), France • Sociedad Española de Ornitología (SEO), Spain • Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves (SPEA), Portugal

Contact Details

Project Manager, Manya Russo LIFE PanPuffinus!

BirdLife Malta V.O. 0052 57/28 Marina Court, Triq Abate Rigord, Ta’ Xbiex XBX 1120 T: +356 21347645 E: info@birdlifemalta.org W: https://lifepanpuffinus.org/ Manya Russo

Manya Russo holds BSc in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Malta and an MSc in Conservation Biology from the University of Kent. She has occupied technical and managerial roles in international consultancies and NGOs across Europe and the Middle East.

Currently, she manages BirdLife Malta’s LIFE PanPuffinus! project.

Talk given during the shearwater boat trips, one of the project’s engagement activities, Birdlife Malta.

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Understanding interactions between proteins and phytochemicals With more people moving towards plant-based diets, grasses can play a valuable role as a source of sustainable protein. We spoke to Mette Lübeck and Simon Gregersen Echers from Aalborg University in Denmark about their research into the interactions between proteins and phytochemicals, and how inhibiting some of them could help improve protein quality.

Green plants, such as clovers and grasses, synthesise different kinds of phytochemicals when they are cultivated.

They provide protection against various different threats, such as infectious diseases, but phytochemicals can also produce certain aromas and smells. These phytochemicals interact with proteins when the plant is harvested for its protein, yet the impact of these interactions on protein quality is not currently well understood. “Some of these phytochemicals may be beneficial, others less so, and some may be actively harmful.

That is something that is not really very well studied,” outlines Mette Lübeck, Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at Aalborg University in Denmark. As Principal Investigator of a project backed by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, Professor Lübeck is now looking at these interactions in clovers and grasses and seeking to understand their impact on protein quality.

“We chose to work with clover grass blends as they’re cultivated widely in Denmark, and across the Northern hemisphere,” she says.

Phytochemicals These plants are sustainable sources of nutritionally valuable protein, providing an alternative to meat-based products, a prominent issue today with plant-based diets growing increasingly popular. However, when grass is used to make juice, phytochemicals are released from vacuoles in the plant and come into contact with proteins. “Some biochemical reactions take place when this squeezing happens, like the browning effect that you see on an apple when it is exposed to oxygen in the air. There are also oxidations of phytochemicals, and sometimes some of these phytochemicals also bind to the proteins,” explains Professor Lübeck. The project team, led on a day-to-day basis by Tenure Track Assistant Professor Simon Gregersen Echers, is now studying these interactions, looking to both prevent the harmful interactions - or limit their impact - and also harness the positive aspects of beneficial interactions. “We want to study these interactions, and to investigate whether they have a positive or negative impact. The

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Green biorefining of clover grass typically works at large scale. The team’s ambition is to establish a production at industrial scale in the coming years.

two main species that we want to study in depth are red clover and ryegrass,” continues Professor Lübeck.

The initial step in the project was to perform in-depth mapping of metabolites and proteins in these plants, which could then be subjected

able to identify tens of thousands of peptides, which are then effectively put back together.

“We use computing power to build proteins from the bottom up,” continues Assistant Professor Gregersen. “We identify different proteins and get lots of information about

“We want to study these interactions between phytochemicals and proteins, and to investigate whether they have a positive or negative impact on protein quality. The two main species that we want to study in depth are red clover and ryegrass.” to detailed analysis and investigation by researchers. A technique called bottom-up proteomics, which uses mass spectrometry, is being applied in the project to essentially identify – and quantify – all the different proteins in the plants. “In bottom-up proteomics we add some enzymes that cut up the proteins into smaller pieces, called peptides. We then measure these peptides, as they are easier to handle than large, intact proteins,” explains Assistant Professor Gregersen. A typical sample consists of thousands of different proteins, and after the addition of the enzymes, researchers may be

them, including their amino-acid sequence, their size, and other properties. We can also quantify them, and figure out which proteins are more abundant than others.”

Researchers have also identified the main phytochemicals present in red clover and ryegrass, and are now looking at how they interact with proteins. “We take one phytochemical at a time, add it, then see if there are any molecular interactions between the main proteins and a particular phytochemical.

We simply find out how much of a particular phytochemical is present in the leaf,” outlines Professor Lübeck. These phytochemicals

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can be divided into different types, with researchers following a bottom-up approach to design relatively simple model systems.

“We don’t know if particular isoflavonoids or carotenoids play a role in protein modifications.

We have identified the five most prominent isoflavonoids in red clover, but we don’t know whether any of them play a larger role than others,” says Professor Lübeck.

This is a topic researchers plan to probe during the project, alongside identifying which phytochemicals play a more general role in modifying proteins. This could then open up the possibility of adjusting processing parameters or even modifying the plant itself, thereby preventing those interactions that have detrimental effects. “We are interested in seeing if we can prevent these negative reactions. We are looking into how certain oxidation reactions can be prevented, and at what kinds of molecules act in these reactions,” says Professor Lübeck. It has not been possible to study a wide variety of plant species within the scope of the project, so Professor Lübeck and her colleagues are focusing their attention on red clover and ryegrass, which they hope will provide a solid foundation for further research.

“We hope to gain some clear indications that this bottom-up approach to developing model systems is the right approach to studying phytochemicals and their interactions with proteins,” she continues.

RuBisCO A lot of attention in the project is focused on a protein called RuBisCO, which plays an integral role in photosynthesis and is therefore considered the most abundant protein in plants, and indeed on earth. Because of this abundance, and its exceptional nutritional and functional properties, RuBisCO is the main initial protein of interest in the project.

“The amino-acid profile of RuBisCO is very well-suited to human dietary requirements.

It closely resembles the amino-acid profile that you can find in animal proteins,” explains Assistant Professor Gregersen. The ability to extract RuBisCO in its native form would be highly valuable, providing a sustainable source of high-quality protein, a goal that the project team are working towards. “We

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PhyPro Phytochemical Protein Modification – Friend or Foe?

Project Objectives

In PhyPro, the team scales everything down to better control each process and study molecular details. Here, green juice is produced using a conventional juicer (in their laboratory).

have developed a process to remove some unwanted proteins, while retaining the nutritionally valuable ones. RuBisCO is the main goal, but we cannot separate it entirely, so it comes with some additional proteins,” says Professor Lübeck.

“We want to understand which proteins we have removed, and which are retained.”

The long-term ambition is to prevent some of the adverse modifications using processing techniques, which will enhance the nutritional quality of grasses and increase their attractiveness as a source of protein for use in foods. Professor Lübeck plans to pursue this avenue of research further in future, alongside more applied investigation, with the aim of bringing more grass-based proteins to the commercial market. “We are also working on further grass-based projects, where we extract food-grade protein and study the functionality.

We are looking to make prototypes, so that in future we can bring more grass-based proteins to the market,” she outlines. “We have filed a patent on this process, and we have established a spin-off company to try and commercialise it.

So we are working on this field of clover grass in a very broad sense, from a very fundamental understanding of phytochemical protein modifications, to a more applied dimension with societal impact.”

Clover grasses are emerging as an environmentally beneficial and sustainable protein source for animals and humans also containing many bioactive compounds.

However, interactions between proteins and bioactive molecules may deteriorate the protein quality as a food ingredient. PhyPro aims to understand these interactions using advanced molecular analysis, create models to study them, and developing strategies to sustainably inhibit unwanted interactions.

Project Funding

The PhyPro project is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark | Technology and Production sciences: DKK2,834,328.00

Project Partners

• Prof. Reinhard Wimmer (same affiliation), Aalborg University • Assoc. Prof. Julia Keppler, Wageningen University

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Prof. Mette Lübeck, Section of Bioresources and Process Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark T: +45 9940 2589 E: mel@bio.aau.dk W: https://vbn.aau.dk/en/projects/ phytochemical-protein-modification-friendor-foe Prof. Mette Lübeck Prof. Simon Gregersen Echers

Mette Lübeck is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at Aalborg University in Denmark. Her research interests include the development of sustainable biorefining concepts using agricultural biomasses to create oil-based alternatives and animal-free food/feed.

Simon Gregersen Echers is a tenure track Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at Aalborg University.

His research focuses on applying mass spectrometry-based characterisation to develop sustainable protein-based food ingredients.

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Why do older people struggle to learn new languages?

Older people often find it difficult to learn a new language; is this primarily due to biological aging, or are other factors also at play? We spoke to Professor Ocke-Schwen Bohn about his research on perceptual flexibility among older people, and whether they still retain the capacity to learn aspects of a new language well into their retirement.

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Our everyday experience suggests that

Identification training

it becomes more difficult to learn a new language as we grow older, with the children of immigrants often gaining fluency fairly quickly for example, while their parents tend to struggle for longer.

While this has commonly been believed to be due to changes in the brain as we age, evidence suggests brain plasticity doesn’t actually decline over time as much as had previously been thought, and now Professor Ocke-Schwen Bohn aims to build a fuller picture of this topic in an Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF)backed research project. “We are working on the question of whether difficulties in picking up a new language are primarily due to biological aging, or whether other factors are also at play,” he outlines. The project team is working with Danish adults between the ages of 60-75 with relatively limited fluency in foreign languages, who have been recruited from the local community. “These are healthy, active people.

We aim to investigate whether chronological age prevents this group from learning a new language,” explains Professor Bohn.

This research is centered specifically on the ability to learn the phonetic aspects of a language, meaning the perception and production of speech sounds. The project participants are all native speakers of Danish, which has a very rich vowel inventory, and researchers are looking at their ability to learn and identify sounds not found in Danish, such as the contrast between ‘s’ and ‘z’ (Danish has no ‘z’ sound), or the four tones of Mandarin Chinese (where a syllable like ‘ma’ has quite different meanings depending on the pitch contour with which it is produced).

“We’re doing auditory perceptual training, where participants hear a sound and click on the button that they believe corresponds to the sound. If they press the incorrect button it turns red and the sound is played again. We held ten 15 minute sessions over a three week period,” says Professor Bohn. The results of this cohort were contrasted with a control group who didn’t participate, and researchers have found that this training did

indeed help people to distinguish between unfamiliar sounds.

A further strand of research in the project involves looking at peoples’ pronunciation of what are called minimal pairs, words which sound similar but have distinct meanings, such as ‘peace’ and ‘peas’, or ‘sue’ and ‘zoo’.

This allows researchers to probe the ability of older people to not only distinguish between different sounds, but also produce them in their own speech. “Can people also produce these differences?” asks Professor Bohn. A lot of research in this area has previously focused on younger people, now Professor Bohn aims to draw comparisons with these earlier results.

“It’s previously been found that training regimes can help people to differentiate between sounds, but we only have evidence on this up to the age of about 30,” he outlines. “We know that the linguistic system can be reorganised up to the age of about 30, now we want to find out whether this is in fact possible in older people as well. We don’t really know what happens as you get older in this respect.”

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PERCEPTUAL FLEXIBILITY Perceptual Flexibility in Old Age: Effect of Training on Speech Perception

Project Objectives

The project team is investigating whether the increased difficulty older people experience in learning a new language is caused by age-related changes in the brain, or whether other factors are involved.

Researchers are investigating the ability of older Danish people to learn the speech sounds are not used in their native language.

Project Funding

Research supported by a grant from the Independent Research Fund Denmark.

Contact Details

The project team is working to build a fuller picture in this area, with researchers probing whether chronological age prevents people from learning certain aspects of a language.

While it might be hypothesised that seniors take more time to learn a subject than younger people, Professor Bohn says that in fact the evidence suggests otherwise. “The training trajectory for juniors and seniors is nearly identical for the first sound contrast that we looked at,” he says. This finding holds

people still retain the ability to absorb new information and are not automatically on a path of irreversible cognitive decline. “We want to say to older people that they can still learn new things,” he stresses. While the project’s research has focused primarily on phonetics, Professor Bohn believes that seniors could also learn other aspects of language. “We can reasonably expect that other things are also learnable for seniors, beyond phonetics,” he says.

“We are working on the question of whether difficulties in picking up a new language are primarily due to biological aging, or whether other factors are also at play.” wider importance in the context of our ageing population, and the issue of how people can continue to live fulfilling, active and independent lives well into their retirement.

“There are many healthy seniors who remain active beyond 70. They are curious, they want to learn something new, and they have the time to do it,” continues Professor Bohn.

“The results from our project so far show us that we can encourage older people to learn new languages. It can be done, age does not prevent that.”

Language learning Many of the different things that we learn on an everyday basis are essentially the result of repeated exposure, which helps embed them in our own mental landscape.

This is particularly true of language learning, and Professor Bohn says the project’s findings so far show that older

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The project’s research is ongoing, with Professor Bohn and his colleagues still looking to dig deeper into questions around perceptual flexibility in older people. So far two studies have been completed, one on identifying ‘s’ and ‘z’ and another on tone training, while a further study on audio-visual training is set to begin soon. “Many speech sounds contain not just auditory information, but also visual information, which is a topic of great interest in the project,” explains Professor Bohn. For instance, the first sound in ‘thin’ and in ‘fin’ are auditorily very similar, but visually quite distinct. “There is a student in our group who is very interested in what this does to people with hearing problems, when you train them visually on speech sounds,” continues Professor Bohn. “My hope is that this research will continue into the future, as there is a lot of interest in this work, particularly in the context of healthy aging.”

Principal Investigator, Prof. Dr. Ocke-Schwen Bohn Professor of English Linguistics Department of English, Aarhus University DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark T: +45 20992083 E: ocke.bohn@cc.au.dk W: https://cc.au.dk/en/phonetic-flexibilityin-old-age W: https://ebooks.au.dk/aul/catalog/ book/322

Professor Ocke-Schwen Bohn (left) PhD student Birgitte Poulsen (centre) Post-doc Sidsel Holm Rasmussen (right)

Ocke-Schwen Bohn is Professor of English Linguistics at Aarhus University in Denmark, a position he has held since 1996.

He is active in several areas of research, including phonetics and psycholinguistics, speech perception and production, and bilingual memory.

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The research is based on integrating approaches from various disciplines with one another. In Stage 1, the team conducted extensive ethnographic research on the socio-spatial dynamics in the studied neighbourhoods.

New light on community dynamics

Researchers in the EmergentCommunity project are investigating neighbourhood relations and how people co-exist with each other in today’s diverse, dynamic urban environments. We spoke to Principal Investigator Eeva Puumala about how the project’s interdisciplinary approach can help shed new light on community dynamics.

A community can be formed in many different ways, for example by people living in the same street who come to know each other, establish friendships and share resources, or around daily routines like walking the dog, running errands or visiting the park. Communities can also be based on a traditional understanding of identity or cultural background, all factors which may then influence how we interact both with those inside our networks, as well as those outside them. “All of these factors play a certain role in how people form their sense of belonging within a city, within the area that they live in,” says Eeva Puumala, Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Social Sciences at Tampere

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University. As Principal Investigator of the ERCbacked EmergentCommunity project, Puumala heads an interdisciplinary team of researchers investigating how people live together in today’s diverse, highly complex urban landscapes.

“We want to look at what co-existence and community can mean in societies and cities that are home to socio-economically diverse populations, where intersectional inequalities around ethnicity, class, gender and age are also present,” she outlines.

Puumala and her team are looking at how communities matter, and how they gain their importance in daily life. “Communities can work in different ways, both in terms of people forming attachments, but also in

establishing lines of separation,” she says.

“In some of the neighbourhoods we have looked into we have found that communities are so tight, and people have built such a strong sense of connection to their local communities and environments, that it actually can prevent them from feeling a broader sense of belonging to the city, not to mention wider society.”

The project team are investigating people’s everyday experiences, through which they aim to gain deeper insights into how social bonds and boundaries are formed and how people coexist with each other. While some communities can be based on common interests like sport or music, they may also be formed around shared

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Based on thematic analysis of the collected data, in stage 2, they scripted and filmed 360-degree videos that were used to collect psychophysiological data and affective ratings on everyday emotions. This way, the project bridges psychological insights with knowledge on lived experiences and practices of meaning-making with broader societal developments. Laboratory set-up photograph by Jonne Renvall/ Tampere University.

resentments or frustrations with existing social and economic structures and the inequalities people see around them, which can then deepen their sense of marginalisation. “In cities, there are both populations and neighbourhoods that suffer from stigma,” acknowledges Puumala.

This issue is central to the project’s work, with Puumala and her team looking at the forces that hold societies together, and also those that can cause division and deepen a sense of alienation and marginality in some communities. “In policymaking, it is often suggested that more action needs to be taken to develop stigmatised neighbourhoods to better integrate them within the broader urban fabric,” she continues.

“Sometimes these responses from the authorities are seen as being inadequate, or people living in these areas perceive them as not addressing the right issues.”

EmergentCommunity The research is focused on urban neighbourhoods in Finland, Sweden and France, with Puumala and her team seeking to probe how people live together, as well as

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how tensions and conflicts arise. Ethnographic data has been collected from nine cities, with the focus largely on Helsinki, Malmö and Marseille. “The main bulk of data has been collected in these three cities, while the others are essentially points of contrast, which help us distinguish between city-specific points and more general points,” explains Puumala.

Based on statistics and policy documents, researchers first identified socio-economically diverse urban neighbourhoods in these cities.

They wanted to interview people from a broad cross-section of society, rather than focus on a specific group. “In the study areas we interviewed people that we met on the street, in cafes, community centres and urban public spaces, from different local communities.

We worked hard to engage with people who identify with diverse groups and communities, in order to get a comprehensive insight into the issues that are present in the everyday,” continues Puumala. “The guiding principle was that if a group was mentioned, we would look for people who identified with that group, to hear their perspective.”

The project team have done extensive fieldwork and conducted altogether 341 interviews, asking people about their everyday experiences and probing their views on a wide variety of topics, from daily routines to how people use public spaces and how their neighbourhoods and cities are changing. In addition, the team delved into the socio-spatial dynamics in these areas and the conditions of the built environment. While each of these cities has their own specific features, the topics of social problems and spatial divisions, as well as mundane forms of caring and solidarity, are common to different research sites. Criminal activities, gang-related violence or avoiding encounters with certain people affected how people used their surrounding environment and made sense of change. “Importantly, our focus on the everyday encouraged people to also reflect on how they created connections and sustained peaceful coexistence. This means that our research is not confined by securitydriven and problem-oriented debates, but exposes the ambivalence that is central for coexistence”, says Puumala.

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EmergentCommunity Coexistence and conflict in the age of complexity

Project Objectives

The EmergentCommunity project (ERC StG) explores how social and political changes affect coexistence. It produces knowledge on the possibilities and challenges to peaceful coexistence in the everyday life of diversifying cities. It maps potential avenues and tools to address emerging cleavages, such as affective polarisation, experiences of alienation, and marginality.

Project Funding

The EmergentCommunity project is funded by the European Union (ERC StG 946012).

Project Partners

• Human Information Processing Laboratory (HIP lab), Tampere University, Finland.

• MAGICS, Finland

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Eeva Puumala Senior Research Fellow Faculty of Social Sciences Tampere University Kalevantie 4, 33100 Tampere Finland T: +35 8 503137047 E: eeva.puumala@tuni.fi W: https://www.tuni.fi/en/research/ coexistence-and-conflict-age-complexityemergentcommunity W: https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/ events/erc-annual-conference-2023research-diversity : @emergent.community Eeva Puumala

Eeva Puumala is a senior researcher in the Unit for Social Research at Tampere University. Her research interests are focalised on questions of coexistence, community-making, diversity, and everyday life in the city. She applies an interdisciplinary perspective to develop new approaches to understand social change in contemporary cities and societies.

Virtual reality environments This ambivalence and its potential for both bringing people together and driving them further apart, is a major topic of interest in the project. Puumala and her team developed a way to study everyday emotions and people’s emotional responses to mundane scenarios using 360º videos and virtual reality technology. “These videos are based on a thematic analysis of our ethnographic data and interviews that we conducted,” she outlines.

As the research participants viewed the videos their emotion-related psychophysiological responses were measured and eye-tracking data collected. Afterwards, they were asked to name the emotion they experienced and how strongly they felt that emotion, before being interviewed on the experience. All in all, more than 200 people took part in this stage of data collection from Helsinki, Malmö and Marseille. “Through this we tried to understand whether and how people’s responses to the same events differ and

avoid or not encounter. “In the naturalistic, everyday settings of the videos, people can become more aware of how they respond to different situations,” says Puumala. While it has been suggested that virtual reality environments can be used to help change attitudes, our own personal prejudices and stereotypes are likely to continue to play a major role in our interpretations. Puumala says the project’s research can contribute to a deeper understanding of what socalled social VR can and cannot do, and the initial research results are promising in this respect. “If we are not aware of people holding a different understanding of the world, very different beliefs, it is difficult to encourage any kind of change,” she points out. “Information about automatic reactions and emotional experiences in everyday life, and the different meanings that are assigned to these experiences, paves the way for a much more nuanced reflection on how virtual reality could be used.”

“We want to look at what co-existence and community mean in societies and cities that are both diversifying, and where intersectional inequalities around ethnicity, class, gender and age are present.” how their interpretations are formed,” says Puumala. “We want to increase understanding of how lines of division develop and around what themes and topics. How can solidarity or empathy between people be encouraged?

Integrating insights from diverse disciplines and bringing various methodologies together in the research design enables us to take a detailed look at what is happening in cities in terms of coexistence.”

The 360º videos prompt people to reflect on their own interpretations while engaging with situations that they might normally

This is a topic Puumala and her team want to explore further, and there are some plans in this direction. For now however, their more immediate priority is to complete their analysis of the vast amounts of data that have been collected. Overall, the research team aims to contribute to wider debates around population relations and urban development.

Through their interdisciplinary approach, Puumala and her team hope to build a deeper picture of how people live together on a daily basis. “We want to understand community dynamics on a more detailed level,” she says.

The EmergentCommunity team from the left: Anna Sofia Suoranta, Bruno Lefort, Eeva Puumala, Samu Pehkonen, Johanna Hokka, and Ruhoollah Akhundzadeh. Missing from the photograph are: Karim Maïche, Ebru Șevik, and Heini Saarimäki.

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Photograph by Jonne Renvall/ Tampere University.

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Harnessing the Wind: The Future of Renewable Energy

For centuries, humans have harnessed the wind, from ancient mills to modern turbines. As Europe accelerates its renewable energy transition, breakthroughs in turbine technology, offshore wind farms, and energy storage are redefining efficiency. As demand grows, innovation is key to making wind power more reliable, scalable, and sustainable.

By Nevena Nikolova

T

hroughout history, humans have constantly sought means to harness the forces of nature. Among these natural forces, the wind has long fascinated us. In ancient Persia, towering windmills made of reed and clay were used to grind grain. Centuries later, medieval Dutch engineers refined these simple structures into the iconic wooden windmills that shaped commerce and transformed landscapes.

Sailors, too, depended on the wind to propel their ships across uncharted waters, forging trade routes that enriched civilizations and expanded empires.

As science progressed, traditional methods of harnessing wind power gave way to more advanced machinery. By the early modern

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era, engineers were experimenting with innovative materials and mechanical designs to maximise wind energy capture. Traditional mills evolved into modern turbines, with wooden sails replaced by aerodynamic blades crafted from steel and composite materials.

Each breakthrough brought us closer to converting fleeting gusts into a steady, renewable energy source. Today, in a world increasingly defined by climate challenges and rising energy demands, wind power has emerged as a leading sustainable solution. Thanks to cutting-edge designs, offshore platforms, and innovative energy storage technologies, humanity’s enduring fascination with the wind continues—this time, driven by engineering expertise and global commitments to a cleaner future.

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A Pillar of the Global Clean Energy Transition

Repowering Ageing Wind Farms

In recent years, wind energy has gained unprecedented recognition as nations strive to meet ambitious climate goals and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Sustainable energy engineers and climate scientists working to cut emissions now see wind power as a crucial component of a modern, resilient energy system. A clear indicator of wind power’s growing importance is the surge in public and private investments, along with the rise of specialised technology firms focused on improving turbine design and deployment strategies. With these resources, the wind energy sector has become a dynamic industry, attracting experts from engineering, data science, project finance, and beyond.

This broad-based support has accelerated the adoption of advanced turbine technologies, from sensor-equipped blades that adjust in realtime to changing wind conditions, to AI-driven prediction tools that merge weather forecasts with turbine performance data. Offshore wind farms in deeper waters are another key innovation, where floating platforms can capture more consistent gusts. By testing these advancements in diverse locations, ranging from remote coastlines to rugged highlands, researchers are refining best practices for integrating wind energy into modern power grids. Thanks to these efforts, wind energy is no longer a niche industry; it has become a cornerstone of global clean energy strategies, poised for even greater achievements in the coming years.

As wind power solidifies its role in the global shift to renewable energy, Europe has positioned itself as a leader in turbine engineering and deployment. The continent’s research institutions, energy companies, and policy frameworks have aligned with a shared mission: to enhance wind technology, making it more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. This collective ambition is evident in cross-border collaborations, well-funded research initiatives, and state-of-theart demonstration projects that push the boundaries of what wind turbines can achieve.

One of the most pressing discussions in the wind energy sector today revolves around ageing turbines. As some of Europe’s earliest wind farms near the end of their operational lifespan, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers are debating whether simply decommissioning these older turbines is the best approach. An alternative strategy known as “repowering” is gaining traction, replacing outdated turbines with high-efficiency models at the same location. Much like identifying the telltale signs of a wind farm’s decline, repowering seeks to understand why older turbines lose efficiency and how modern technology can restore or surpass their original performance.

It is well known that turbine components, including blades, gearboxes, and other critical hardware, experience gradual wear and tear over time. This degradation reduces efficiency and increases maintenance costs. Historically, some operators opted for minor refurbishments or partial upgrades, but these quick fixes rarely addressed the root causes of performance decline. Repowering takes a more comprehensive approach. By installing taller towers, improving blade aerodynamics, and refining control systems, repowered wind farms can often double their energy output without expanding their footprint. The benefits go beyond increased electricity generation, newer turbines can also reduce noise, minimise visual impact by consolidating multiple smaller turbines into fewer, more powerful ones, and simplify long-term maintenance. However, navigating local regulations, securing land-use permits, and conducting environmental assessments remain significant challenges, as these factors vary widely across different regions.

Repowering initiatives focus on diagnosing and addressing structural and operational weaknesses in ageing turbines. Leading European research institutions, including Fraunhofer IWES in Germany, DTU Wind Energy in Denmark, and CENER in Spain, are studying the fundamental causes of turbine degradation. Researchers are analysing

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everything from microscopic blade fractures to fluctuations in wind flow over decades of operation. Their goal is to determine the most effective strategies for refurbishing, retrofitting, or replacing these turbines to ensure wind farms continue generating clean power for years to come.

At the same time, wind energy companies across Europe are collaborating with policymakers to develop clear guidelines on repowering timelines, permitting procedures, and financial incentives.

In Galicia, Spain, the regional government has mandated that wind farms older than 25 years must be repowered within 18 months of reaching that threshold. According to María Jesús Lorenzana, the region’s Minister for Economy and Industry, five of Galicia’s 25 oldest wind farms have already started voluntary repowering, while the remaining 20 must submit upgrade proposals soon. A prime example of this initiative is the Zas wind farm, operated

by EDP. The site replaced 80 outdated 300 kW turbines with just 10 modern 2,400 kW turbines. While the installed capacity remains the same at 24 MW, energy production has more than doubled—from 52.8 GWh per year to over 100 GWh, enough to power 30,000 homes. Lorenzana further emphasized that replacing nearly

800 older turbines across these wind farms with approximately 120 newer models will not only reshape Galicia’s landscape but also help lower electricity costs for residents. In 2023, wind energy accounted for 38.1% of Galicia’s energy mix, highlighting how such initiatives can significantly strengthen the region’s renewable energy profile.

Pushing the Frontiers of Wind Energy Wind power has driven much of the change to renewable energy in Europe, but engineers and scientists are turning their eyes to look beyond traditional turbines to find the next big opportunities within the sector. New technologies in the area of offshore wind farms, notably floating farms, are allowing the harvesting of electricity at greater ocean depths where the speed of the wind is greater and the currents are steadier. Concurrent with this are emerging technologies like high-altitude wind systems, which exploit untapped wind resources by using aerial turbines at greater heights. These technologies signal a revolution in the way wind energy is captured, stored, and integrated into the electricity grid.

One of the most encouraging advancements today is floating wind farms at sea. Conventional offshore wind farms rely on bottom-fixed turbines anchored to the seafloor at a maximum of 50-60 metres deep.

Though effective, this limitation restricts wind farm placement to shallow coastal waters, excluding vast offshore areas with superior wind conditions.

Floating turbines solve this issue by employing buoyant platforms with

“Repowering wind farms can double energy output without expanding their footprint.”

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mooring lines, allowing deployment in waters exceeding 100 metres in depth. This not only grants access to stronger and more consistent wind resources but also reduces competition for valuable coastal space.

A prime example of this innovation is the Kincardine wind farm off the coast of Scotland. Developed as a pilot project, Kincardine consists of several floating turbines mounted on semi-submersible foundations at depths of 80 metres. The turbines are secured to the seabed with dynamic cables that adjust to ocean currents and waves while maintaining stability. Projects like Kincardine demonstrate that floating wind farms have the potential to compete with, or even outperform, traditional offshore installations, offering a blueprint for the future expansion of wind energy.

Beyond floating wind farms, researchers are also exploring airborne wind energy systems that capture wind at higher altitudes, where it is more powerful and reliable. One example is Kitepower, a Dutch initiative that uses tethered kites equipped with onboard generators to harness wind energy. These kites soar to altitudes of 200-300 metres, where wind speeds are more consistent, producing electricity while using fewer materials than traditional turbines. Unlike conventional wind farms, which depend on large fixed towers, airborne systems are mobile and easily deployable, making them particularly suitable for remote or temporary energy applications.

A critical challenge in wind energy development is efficiently storing and distributing power. Since wind energy production is inherently variable, dependent on when and how strongly the wind blows, researchers are turning to advanced storage solutions such as liquid air energy storage (LAES). This method allows surplus wind energy to be stored by compressing and cooling air into a liquid state. When energy demand increases, the liquid air is reheated and expanded to generate electricity, feeding it back into the grid. This technology has the potential

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to stabilize energy supply and reduce reliance on fossil fuel backups.

Floating wind farms, airborne turbines, and next-generation energy storage technologies are redefining the possibilities of wind power.

By extending wind energy beyond traditional infrastructure, these innovative technologies are paving the way for a scalable and resilient renewable energy future in Europe.

Europe’s wind aspirations are no longer merely a question of adding more turbines—they are about getting the entire system to work more efficiently. Wind is already a cost-effective and scalable clean energy source, but its deployment is confronted with a root issue: the wind is not blowing at a consistent pace. In contrast to fossil fuels that can burn at will, the wind is inherently variable. Turbines produce a surplus of electricity that the grid cannot accommodate on certain days while other days’ demand outnumbers supply. With no means of storing the excess electricity or redistributing the electricity across the border without loss of efficiency, the potential of the wind is wasted.

The Role of Energy Storage Solving the issue of intermittency is at the forefront of the next round of the development of wind power. Policymakers and experts in Europe are focusing on pairing wind power with next-generation technologies of electricity storage to provide the means to retain the surplus electricity generated at windy times to supply back into the grid at peak demand times. Battery storage, hydro pumping storage, and next-generation technologies like liquid air energy storage (LAES) are providing the means to stabilise supply and to avert waste. LAES, for instance, involves the compression of cooled air into liquid state at times of surplus electricity to then expand the liquid back into gas to spin the turbines to generate electricity at times of need. In the infancy stages of this solution is the potential of scalability with the potential of very long-duration storage.

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Battery storage, hydro pumping storage, and next-generation technologies like liquid air energy storage (LAES) are providing the means to stabilise supply and to avert waste.

Hydrogen production is also a robust solution that is emerging into the forefront. Excess electricity can supply to electrolysis plants that split the water into hydrogen and oxygen. The generated hydrogen can then be stored and reversed back into electricity at a later date, put to industrial uses, or fuelled into transportation systems.

Denmark is the pace setter with its large off-shore farms that are directly powering green hydrogen production. The Energy Islands plan of the country off the shores of the North Sea is a prime example that can serve to set the benchmark by which the two can interact at a continental scale.

The North Sea: A Hub of Collaborative Wind Initiatives While wind-rich nations like Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands have made significant strides with their off-shore efforts, the next step is regional scale-up by means of large-scale regional coordination.

The North Sea is being increasingly treated like a shared asset that can provide electricity to not merely a country but a region at large.

An alliance of nations is making efforts to build a connected off-shore electricity grid that facilitates electricity to travel without a hitch across the border. With shared assets and infrastructure, the effort avoids redundancy, saves cost, and maximises overall effectiveness.

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Offshore wind farms off the shores of the North Sea, such as the Danish-Belgian ventures, are being built with integration at their forefront. Instead of being standalone ventures, the farms will feed into centralised hubs that supply electricity to various countries. It is a simple concept: if the Scottish coastline is windy while the Dutch coastline is not, electricity can simply be switched to where the need is greater. It also increases the strength of the energy supply by lessening the need to burn fossil fuels and turn to external providers of electricity.

Transforming Wind Power into a Resilient Energy System Europe’s transition to wind is no longer about merely increasing the number of turbines—it’s about making clean energy a year-round, reliable electricity supply. Storage, transmission technologies, and cross-border coordination are the keys to the clean energy of the future. With the linkage of the wind farms to the systems of energy storage and regional networks, Europe is taking the path to a clean energy supply that is plentiful and reliable. Challenges remain—cost, infrastructure, and the structures of regulation—but innovation and coordination are continuing to supply the means by which clean energy is not simply powering independent nations but is securing the entire continent’s energy future.

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Learning from wind energy controversies: listening to the noise Denmark has played a pioneering role in the development of wind energy and it generates a large proportion of the country’s electricity, yet noise from turbines can cause controversy. Researchers in the Co-Green project are looking at the issues around wind farm noise and how local communities can be better included in project planning, as Dr Julia Kirch Kirkegaard and Daniel Frantzen explain.

Figure 1: Dynamics of technification and politicisation in wind energy.

Regulatory Frame Noise from wind turbines must not be more than 44 dB for “ordinary” noise and 20 dB for “low frequency noise”

Technical Frame Sound is to be controlled: • Standards • Modelling • Wind tunnel tests • Manufacturing Techniques to ensure regulations are met

The wind energy sector accounts for the generation of over half of the total electricity consumed in Denmark, while the country is also an international leader in the development of turbine technologies, as well as in integrating wind power into the energy system. There is broad support for wind energy across the Danish population. “Most people in Denmark are pro-renewable energy and pro-wind, but they might argue that there are genuine issues with individual wind farms,” says Daniel Frantzen, a researcher at the Danish Technical University (DTU) working on the Co-Green project, an initiative backed by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF). The noise associated with wind turbines is a prominent concern, an issue at the heart of the project. “Why is it that we see a lot of controversy over wind turbine noise?” asks Julia Kirch Kirkegaard, Professor at the Department of Technology, Management and Economics at DTU.

Co-Green project As head of the project, Professor Kirkegaard is looking into the root causes of increased

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Planning Frame Environmental Impact Study: Map with calculated noise contours and people’s houses

public resistance to wind farms, with the wider aim of improving communication between local communities and technical experts. Wind farm development, and wind energy generally, is often regarded as a highly expert and techno-scientific process, which is regulated through policies,

Community Responses • “What is a dB?” • “Why is noise calculated not measured?”

• “I am different – I am sensitive to noise.”

• “Who set the regulations?”

• “The standards don’t reflect what I hear.”

This can cause resentment and stimulate opposition to a development, which often centres around the issue of noise, the impact of which is difficult to measure objectively. While developers can take noise measurements and run models, this may not reflect the actual experiences of

“When developers think about noise only in very technical, physical terms, it doesn’t necessarily match the daily reality of people’s lives. Noise can disrupt people’s lives and activities, it has a cumulative impact.” regulations, and planning law. “We refer to this governance mode of the energy transition as ‘technification’”, explains Professor Kirkegaard.

However, this technical information does not fully reflect the way that lay people and communities are affected by the presence of wind farms, who often respond by describing their everyday experiences. “There is a clash of values, a struggle we refer to as ‘politicisation’,” continues Professor Kirkegaard. (Figure 1)

the people affected. “When developers think about noise only in very technical, physical terms, it doesn’t necessarily match the daily reality of people’s lives. Noise can disrupt people’s lives and activities, it has a cumulative impact,” points out Professor Kirkegaard. A wide variety of factors may affect the way people experience noise.

“For example, it’s well-established in the literature that if you benefit economically from wind farms then you will be less

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dB(A)

Distance

SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE Acceptance

HEALTH Annoyance

TECHNICAL

dB(A)

Annoyance

Justice

Fairness Planning Proceedure Sound

Isolate the noise and simplify

Identify the noise and recognise other factors

Engagement

Green Transition

Visual Impact

Many aspects to ‘acceptance’ that need to be understood together

Figure 2: Different understandings of noise – and how noise research looks at different things (illustrated through shifting dependent and independent variables).

bothered by the noise they generate,” says Frantzen. “It’s also been found that people who find wind turbines visually intrusive, who believe they don’t fit in the landscape, will perceive them as more noisy.”

The project team has reviewed many strands of scientific literature and interviewed not only local community members, but also a number of experts, aiming to build a deeper picture of the issue. They found that the various scientific disciplines currently involved in noise research (technical, health and social acceptance) understand noise as something fundamentally different. (Figure 2) The efforts to address noise are thus different and sometimes contradictory. The isolation of the volume of a noise, as measured in dB(A), is a major factor in technical and health research. “Noise doesn’t have to be particularly loud to be disruptive,” says Frantzen. The characteristics of wind turbine noise are also an important consideration.

“Wind turbine noise has a particular rhythm

that makes it more distinctive to some people, and that can make it more disruptive than other, more stable types of noise,” says Frantzen. “Things may also change in the surrounding landscape, so it adds up to a complex overall picture.”

A second strand of investigation centres around case studies on Danish wind farm projects at various stages of the planning process, where researchers have interviewed the actors involved, including local politicians, planners, developers and concerned citizens. The latter group includes people who have become engaged in controversies about wind farms, and while some opponents may be motivated by narrow concerns, Professor Kirkegaard says it is misleading to characterise them all in this way. “We’re trying to show that it’s more complicated than that. Opponents of wind farms often have good ideas about how things could be done differently and how local people could be involved,” she

stresses. However, it is often relatively late in the planning process that these alternatives are heard, meaning they are often formally dismissed, leading citizens to search for new means to block projects. (Figure 3) Many municipalities do carry out early strategic planning processes for renewable energy before specific projects are considered, but Frantzen says people are often not aware that these processes are under way. “Often citizens only become aware of energy planning in their municipality when things become very concrete,” he says.

“But once a very concrete project has been announced, you can’t change a lot due to the nature of planning law.”

Community engagement There is a high degree of consensus in the literature that community engagement should begin at an earlier stage than is currently the case, giving local people more time to make suggestions. However, there is

Figure 3: Citizens moving from attempts at participation to modes of resistance.

1. Citizens trying to participate in the formal planning process, but finding it hard to express their concerns.

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2. Citizens proposing alternative projects.

However these alternatives tend to be dismissed in formal planning.

3. Frustrated by how little they can affect the planning process, citizens search for ways to cancel projects – e.g. by finding protected birds.

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CO-GREEN Co-Green Controversies in the green transition: The case of wind turbine sound and its politicisation

Project Objectives

The project investigates the many different ways in which wind turbine sound is understood and the various types of expertise that try to explain it. We use this deeper understanding of sound to examine how sound from wind turbines is often politicized and problematized in wind power deployment and sometimes leads to controversy and delayed projects. On the basis of experimenting with innovative ways of communicating and ‘co-creating’ a common understanding of wind turbine “soundscapes”, the project creates fertile ground for a better involvement of citizens in the green transition.

Project Funding

This project is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark DFF.

Project Partners

Tom Cronin and Sophie Nyborg, DTU Wind and Energy Systems

Contact Details

Julia Kirch Kirkegaard Professor Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Akademivej, Building 358 DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark T: +45 93511431 E: jukk@dtu.dk W: https://wind.dtu.dk/projects/researchprojects/co-green Julia Kirch Kirkegaard Daniel Nordstrand Frantzen

Julia Kirch Kirkegaard is a Professor in the Center for Human-Centered Innovation, at the Danish Technical University (DTU). Her PhD is from Copenhagen Business School, and she specialises in valuation studies, within the field of Science & Technology studies.

not a lot of agreement on how to conduct community engagement, another topic that researchers are exploring in the project.

“We want to experiment with the notion of co-creation. We plan to hold co-creation workshops for an energy community. This is about community-based energy, where people can co-own and use their own system, then integrate it into the broader electricity grid,” says Professor Kirkegaard.

Community-owned companies may be more likely to garner local support, but it’s also important to consider the wider picture, with climate concerns, the biodiversity crisis and conflict in Ukraine all increasing pressure to speed up development. “The issue is how to develop wind farms quickly,” says Frantzen.

The wind sector is likely to remain a major part of Denmark’s energy mix well into the future, yet more effective consultation between experts and local communities is central to maintaining public support. This is not simply a question of providing numbers and graphs on how noisy wind turbines are, as that doesn’t capture the reality of their impact. “We’ve seen in the past that the ‘technified’ strategy of letting science and technology give us the numbers doesn’t really end the controversy over wind turbine noise,” stresses Professor Kirkegaard. The hope is to find collaborative ways to discuss differences and identify compromises in the ongoing development of the wind energy sector. “There are plans for energy islands in the North Sea and around the Baltic. These will be huge facilities, with offshore hubs to connect multiple wind farms, enabling the distribution of very large amounts of

electricity over very long distances, first to Germany, and potentially also to Sweden and Poland,” says Professor Kirkegaard.

There is also potential for any excess wind energy to be used to mitigate the environmental impact of hard-to-abate sectors, like aviation, public transport and agriculture. Excess wind energy can be converted, so it is stored in hydrogen molecules and other types of fuels through Power-to-X technologies, which opens up new possibilities. “These fuels can then be used in heavy transport vehicles. This means we can now put even more value on wind power, because the excess wind power can now be put to use in other ways,” explains Professor Kirkegaard. While this would seem to strengthen the case for further development of wind energy, Professor Kirkegaard says it is important to consult with affected communities and take local concerns into account. “Energy companies need to be mindful of local concerns and navigate carefully,” she acknowledges.

“That’s something that we are contributing to through our work in the project.”

This could help build local support for wind farms at an early stage in development and prevent problems later on. Where people feel they haven’t been consulted, they may move to outright opposition, and seek ways of stopping a development, a situation researchers hope to prevent. “If we can get more people involved in figuring out what kinds of solutions we should have and where should they be placed, then we would probably have fewer of these big local conflicts, where projects are delayed for many years or even cancelled completely,” says Frantzen.

“We refer to this governance mode of the energy transition as ‘technification’”

Daniel Nordstrand Frantzen is a sociologist. He recently submitted his PhD thesis at the Department of Wind and Energy Systems, DTU. In this he explores ‘valuation struggles and compromises’ regarding wind energy in Denmark.

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EU Research

Nature-Based Solutions by Drinking Water Supply Company PWN We spoke to Ruud van der Neut, senior drinking water engineer and project manager, and researcher Tim de Groot about the LIFE WATERSOURCE project - led by PWN. Their work focuses on pioneering nature-based solutions to strengthen the ecosystem of Lake IJsselmeer, ensuring sustainable drinking water and resilience against climate change, salinization, and emerging contaminants.

PWN is the primary drinking water supplier for

Climate Buffer Lake IJsselmeer

the province of North-Holland. Over 70% of the drinking water which is produced by PWN has as source water from Lake IJsselmeer. This source is increasingly under pressure due to climate change, leading to more frequent extreme weather events such as drought, heavy rainfall, and extreme heat waves (KNMI 2023). These conditions impact both the quantity and quality of the water in Lake IJsselmeer. Predictably, the likelihood of scenarios where the annual average water becomes too saline for the drinking water production, like the dry summers of 2018 and 2022, is increasing.

Future projections (2050) anticipate salinization events every 8 years and water shortages every 5 years, according to the stress-test for the IJsselmeer area in 2021 (Pouwels et al 2021).

Furthermore, the surface water of Lake IJsselmeer poses challenges to purify due to the presence of suspended solids and organic material in the water, as well as the increase in contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), like pesticides, PFAS, microplastics and pharmaceuticals. Also, the likelihood of water quality deterioration (such as algal blooms) due to a combination of climate change and insufficient ecological resilience is increased. On top of this, PWN can expect an increase in customers of 300.000 households due to new housing projects. To address these challenges, initiative-taking climate adaptation measures are essential.

The Klimaatbuffer IJsselmeer (KIJ) project, or ‘Climate Buffer Lake IJsselmeer,’ proposes a system of deep-water storage basins surrounded by a natural purifying landscape to support PWN’s drinking water production. These interconnected basins, approximately 25 meters deep with variable water levels, serve to pre-purify water and

final treatment step using bank filtration in which a — typically applied along rivers but here integrated within a still-water basin — exemplifies a nature-based solution to enhance water purification efficiency. The KIJ concept integrates these natural pretreatment methods, although their full potential and optimal configurations remain to be explored.

“The LWS project proposes a groundbreaking approach to ensure a secure, sustainable drinking water future for North-Holland, aligning human activity with broader ecological goals by using nature-based solutions where possible and technical solutions where necessary.” increase storage capacity, giving PWN greater flexibility in selectively sourcing high-quality water from Lake IJsselmeer.

Sediment from the basin excavation will be used to create this surrounding purifying landscape, which enhances local ecology and contributes to additional water filtration. The gradual land-to-water transition around the KIJ boosts biodiversity in Lake IJsselmeer and can possibly offer recreational spaces for the community in the future. The natural purified water is stored in the deep-water basins, where a

Demonstration Project: LIFE WATERSOURCE Part of this exploration is the LIFE WATERSOURCE (LWS) project.

Demonstrating the Climate Buffer Lake IJsselmeer concept is essential to ensure a secure, climate-resilient drinking water supply for North-Holland according to senior drinking water engineer Mr Van der Neut, water quality engineer and project manager.

With climate change introducing greater variability in water availability, salinization, and emerging contaminants, a small-scale

Water inlet towards a purifying landscape.

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Demonstration Project LIFE WATERSOURCE A test landscape for the natural pre-treatment of Lake IJsselmeer water To ensure a reliable drinking water supply in the future, PWN aims to strengthen Lake IJsselmeer, its main water source. With the Climate Buffer Lake IJsselmeer, we want to develop a large natural purification area. Before scaling up, we conduct small-scale research through the LIFE WATERSOURCE demonstration project. This helps us understand how to make the area work best, for both people and nature. We are happy to show what we are researching and how we do it.

1. Inlet Structure We pump water from Lake IJsselmeer into the research area.

3. Two Purifying Landscapes The water is divided between two purifying landscapes with different characteristics, vegetation, and maintenance strategies. This helps us determine which works best. a. River Landscape A meandering landscape with dense vegetation of purifying plants. b. Marsh Landscape A shallow, diverse wetland with many shorelines and elevation differences, creating more space for ecology.

1

2 2. Mussel Zone The water flows past mussels growing on ropes. They filter particles such as algae and bacteria. A natural super-filter!

3a

5. Bank Filtration An important step in the natural purification process is bank filtration.

Pre-treated water slowly percolates through a layer of special sand, removing the last particles and bacteria. We test three methods: one within the river landscape and two at the end of the purification process.

The results are compared.

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3b 4 Fish Siphon A fish siphon passage allows fish to swim in and out of the purification landscape. We study whether this improves their spawning behaviour, as fish prefer to spawn in shallow waters with dense vegetation.

We monitor which fish pass through and whether young fish thrive in the area.

test is needed to validate the effectiveness of nature-based solutions as pretreatment for drinking water before wider adoption.

The LWS project - a one-hectare demonstration site incorporating mussel zones, purifying landscapes, constructed wetlands, and bank filtration —provides a controlled environment to rigorously test and refine these natural techniques The use of nature for pre-purification is particulary exciting as it represents a new, sustainable approach for drinking water treatment.

According to Mr De Groot, researcher on this project, the demonstration is particularly exciting as it represents a controlled environment where innovative techniques can be rigorously tested and fine-tuned for fullscale implementation. Data collected during the demonstration will provide critical insights for future projects, helping to integrate naturebased solutions into drinking water.

The LWS project proposes a groundbreaking approach to ensure a secure, sustainable water future for North-Holland. According to Mr De Groot and Mr Van der Neut, this shift is not only about safeguarding drinking water but also about aligning with broader ecological goals, ensuring that human activity uses nature-based solutions where possible, and technical solutions where necessary.

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4. Purification through Helophyte Filters After passing through the purifying landscapes, the water undergoes extra treatment in helophyte filters where purifying plants grow. Their roots absorb nutrients like nitrogen, while the sand filters out small particles. We test two flow methods and compare the results.

Operation and Function of LIFE WATERSOURCE The LWS demonstration focuses on understanding and optimizing natural purification processes under realistic and variable environmental conditions. As Mr De Groot explains, the influence of different retention times, maintenance regimes, and seasonal factors on water quality improvements within various nature-based systems will be studied.

The data collected will feed into a digital twin—a dynamic, virtual model continuously updated with monitoring data. This digital twin enables predictive modeling, scenario testing, and potential replication. It supports real-time operational adjustments for the LWS system while informing future largeAnalyses of the water quality.

scale implementations, ensuring they are both robust and adaptive.

Operationally, LWS replicates and enhances natural filtration pathways in ways that support both water quality and ecological integrity. Mussel zones, for instance, remove suspended solids and algae, while helophyte marshes, submerged vegetation, and mudflats capture nutrients and organic matter. At the same time, these features create habitats for a diverse range of aquatic life and encourage a broad spectrum of flora and fauna to thrive. Constructed wetlands, with a horizontal and vertical flow, are designed to enhance purification and target dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen compounds, and micropollutants. Lastly, a bank filtration step provides a final polishing phase, improving the microbial stability of the water by removing potential fecal-derived microbial contaminants associated with fauna present in the purifying landscapes.

Together, these interventions align seamlessly with the Climate Buffer’s vision: improving robustness of incoming water thereby reducing chemical inputs, enhancing ecological resilience, and ensuring that water management strategies remain closely tied to the natural processes that underpin a sustainable future.

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Cooperation with other European countries Collaboration is a cornerstone of the LWS initiative, and its partnership with Spanish organizations highlights the benefits of international cooperation. Partners like Aquatec and Cetaqua (water technology institute) and Aigües de Barcelona (drinking water company) bring valuable expertise in water management and ecological solutions.

By pooling knowledge and resources, the project leverages diverse perspectives to refine methodologies and enhance outcomes. This cross-border partnership

project promotes sustainability while lowering costs on the long term. The demonstration phase will provide valuable insights into the scalability of nature-based solutions, setting the stage for the full-scale implementation of the Climate Buffer Lake IJsselmeer initiative.

By harmonizing human needs with ecological stewardship, it offers a blueprint for sustainable water management that can be replicated worldwide. This project can provide the most valuable insights for regions grappling with similar challenges, demonstrating the power of innovation, collaboration, and ecological harmony.

“The demonstration phase will provide valuable insights into the scalability of nature-based solutions, setting the stage for the full-scale implementation of the Climate Buffer Lake IJsselmeer initiative and promoting

sustainability while lowering long-term costs.” also fosters innovation and ensures that the project’s findings have broad applicability across Europe. According to the Spanish partnership exemplifies how shared goals and collaborative frameworks can lead to stronger, more effective solutions.

Project Expectations The LWS project is expected to deliver transformative outcomes says Mr Van der Neut. By reducing reliance on chemical treatments and enhancing biodiversity, the

The LIFE WATERSOURCE project is supported by the EU LIFE Grant, a funding mechanism designed to promote environmental and climate action projects across Europe. This subsidy underscores the project’s potential to serve as a model for sustainable water management solutions, not only for NorthHolland but also for regions facing similar challenges. The EU’s financial backing also reflects the significance of collaboration and innovation in addressing environmental challenges at a continental scale.

How Can We Improve the Drinking Water Supply in North-Holland?

Drinking water company PWN has three key objectives that address the urgent need for change in water management practices.

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T o reduce the demand for drinking water by encouraging more efficient use. This includes reassessing the role of drinking water in industrial applications and exploring alternatives to minimize unnecessary consumption.

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To increase the region’s capacity for water purification and production to meet growing demands. By leveraging innovative methods, the project seeks to enhance the efficiency and resilience of water treatment processes.

•

T o focus on increasing storage capacity combined with strengthening the ecosystem. This involves integrating natural pre-treatment methods that use ecological processes to purify water. The Climate Buffer Lake IJsselmeer and therefore the demonstration project LIFE WATERSOURCE are contributing to the third objective.

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LIFE WATERSOURCE Demonstrating a Climate-Resilient Drinking Water Source, Adopting Nature-Based Solutions

Project Objectives

The LIFE WATERSOURCE demonstration showcases innovative nature-based solutions for the pre-treatment of Lake IJsselmeer water to ensure its suitability as a sustainable drinking water source. The project integrates multiple components, including mussel zones, purifying landscapes, constructed wetlands, and bank filtration. LIFE WATERSOURCE aims to demonstrate sustainable, scalable solutions for water resource management in the Netherlands and beyond.

Project Funding

The LIFE WATERSOURCE Project is cofunded by the European Union’s Life Program. Project 101113621.

Project Team Members • Ing. Ruud van der Neut • Dr. Tim de Groot • Dr. Koen Zuurbier • MSc. Anne Swank • MSc. Myrthe Fonck

Contact Details

Dr. Tim de Groot T: +316 574 207 50 E: tim.de.groot@pwn.nl W: https://www.pwn.nl/watersource Ing. Ruud van der Neut T: +316 512 594 94 E: ruud.van.der.neut@pwn.nl W: https://www.pwn.nl/watersource Dr. Tim de Groot

Ing. Ruud van der Neut

Dr. Tim de Groot is a researcher at PWN, focusing on water and naturerelated projects. His expertise includes biogeochemical processes in natural environments, particularly their role in water quality and climate change resilience.

Ing. Ruud van der Neut is a senior drinking water engineer and project manager at PWN. His expertise as an engineer includes monitoring and safeguarding the quality of (drinking) water with a focus on contaminants of emerging concern in water sources and water treatment steps.

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Reviving Rivers: How Science is Transforming Water Management We interviewed four key contributors to the LIFE WATEROIL project: Assoc. Prof. Huseyin Yemendzhiev (Burgas “Prof. d-r Asen Zlatarov” University), Nicola Secchi PhD (Eurovix S.p.A.), Yoana Angelova (Burgas Municipality), and Venelin Marinov (LUKOIL Neftohim Burgas JSC). They shared insights on the project’s challenges, innovations, and future potential.

In Burgas, Bulgaria, nestled near the

potential for industries to become part of the solution to global water challenges, rather than contributors to the problem.

Mandra-Poda protected area, a groundbreaking initiative is changing the landscape of water management and environmental conservation.

The LIFE WATEROIL project, launched in 2021, is a collaboration between industry leaders, municipalities, and academia aimed at reducing freshwater consumption, emissions, and pollution. Led by LUKOIL Neftohim Burgas JSC, the leading partner in this initiative, the project is shaping a future where biodiversity thrives, air quality improves, and industrial processes harmonize with the environment.

Innovative Engineering for Cleaner Processes

Bioreactor in Eurovix’s laboratory.

The Freshwater Challenge Freshwater scarcity is a pressing global issue, exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and industrial growth. Burgas, a rapidly developing industrial hub in Bulgaria, is no exception. With industries requiring vast amounts of water for processes such as crude oil desalting, the pressure on natural water resources like the Mandra Dam is immense. This strain not only jeopardizes the availability of fresh water for local communities but also poses a severe threat to the surrounding ecosystems, where wetlands and biodiversity are already vulnerable.

The problem is compounded by inefficient water management practices, which often lead to wastage and contamination of existing resources. According to Prof. Yemendzhiev, “Decreasing the consumption of fresh water is not just a local problem; it’s a global imperative. What we do here has implications for industries and ecosystems worldwide.” His words highlight the interconnected nature of

LIFE WATEROIL Scientific Conference participants.

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water scarcity, where local solutions have the potential to inspire global action.

The LIFE WATEROIL project, driven by LUKOIL Neftohim Burgas JSC as its leading partner, offers a beacon of hope through its innovative approach to water reuse. At its core is the integration of a closed-loop system that treats and recirculates water from a hydrocracking unit, making it reusable in industrial processes.

This system not only reduces dependency on fresh water from the Mandra Dam but also sets a precedent for sustainable water management.

The results speak volumes: an impressive annual saving of 420,000 cubic meters of fresh water—equivalent to the annual consumption of thousands of households—and a significant reduction in environmental impact. By reusing treated water, the project has also cut CO₂ emissions by up to 1,529 tons annually, showcasing how water conservation and emission reduction can go hand in hand. Beyond the numbers, this initiative demonstrates the

At the heart of the project lies a series of engineering solutions. One such innovation is the construction of a closed pipeline system to transport wastewater. Traditional open systems often emit harmful compounds like hydrogen sulfide, contributing to poor air quality and unpleasant odors. By transitioning to a closed system, the team reduced hydrogen sulfide emissions by over 94%, improving both environmental conditions and community well-being.

Nicola Secchi PhD, highlighted another key component: enzyme-microbiological bioactivators. “These bio-activators break down considerable part of the harmful compounds in wastewater before entering the central wastewater treatment plant,” he explained. This process, coupled with an upgraded aeration system at the treatment facility, not only improves efficiency but also saves more than 50% of the electricity used by the aeration system.

Venelin Marinov, the LIFE Wateroil Project Manager at LUKOIL Neftohim Burgas JSC, emphasized the company’s role in leading and coordinating these innovative solutions.

“Our commitment to sustainability drives every aspect of the project. By leveraging our industrial expertise, we’ve been able to pioneer solutions that align economic development with environmental responsibility,” he said.

Biodiversity monitoring of the protected area will continue during the next 3 years.

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One of the most inspiring expected outcomes of the LIFE WATEROIL project is its impact on the Mandra-Poda protected area, a crucial wetland habitat. The project’s integrated measures are improving water quality, allowing local ecosystems to recover and flourish. Monitoring these will continue at least 3 years after the completion of the Project.

“Our findings showed that reduced pollutant levels directly correlated with improved biodiversity,” Prof. Yemendzhiev said. “We now see species thriving where they hadn’t been observed for years. This is one of the most tangible successes of our efforts.”

These findings underscore the project’s holistic approach. It’s not just about reducing emissions or saving water; it’s about restoring a natural equilibrium that supports life.

obstacle became an opportunity to refine our approach and achieve better results.”

Venelin Marinov added, “The success of this project is a testament to the power of collaboration. As the leading partner, LUKOIL Neftohim Burgas JSC brought together industry, academia, and local authorities to deliver impactful solutions that can be replicated elsewhere.”

A Future Vision for Sustainability As the LIFE WATEROIL project approaches its conclusion in December 2024, its legacy is already shaping the future. The team presented their findings to representatives of local and national authorities, scientific community, industrial associations and other stakeholders at a final event on November 29, showcasing the project’s achievements and scalability.

“The project’s integrated measures are improving water quality, allowing local ecosystems to recover and flourish.”

Educating and Engaging the Community Beyond its environmental and technical successes, the LIFE WATEROIL project has made significant strides in public engagement and education. Through a partnership with the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), the project launched initiatives like “Falling in Love with Wetlands,” reaching over 1,300 students with lectures and fieldwork. Students built birdhouses, restored observation platforms, and participated in exhibitions, fostering a deeper connection with local ecosystems.

Secchi believes these efforts are essential for long-term impact. “It’s crucial to involve the community, especially young people.

They are the ones who will carry this work forward,” he said.

In addition, mobile exhibitions such as “Peek into the Water” brought water conservation awareness to over 1,000 visitors, demonstrating the value of protecting aquatic ecosystems.

These programs ensure that the project’s benefits extend beyond immediate environmental gains to cultivate a culture of sustainability.

Challenges and Lessons Learned Implementing a project of this scale comes with its challenges. Rising costs, logistical constraints, and adapting old infrastructure to new purposes tested the team’s resolve. For instance, constructing the closed pipeline system required innovative use of decommissioned pipelines to keep costs manageable.

“These challenges forced us to think creatively,” Prof. Yemendzhiev remarked. “Each

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When asked about what comes next, Ms. Angelova highlighted the importance of expanding these solutions. “We hope to see these innovations adopted by other industries and municipalities. The technologies and the methodology for detection and measurement of malodors are adaptable and can make a significant impact elsewhere too.”

Secchi also pointed to the ongoing refinement of bio-activators as areas for future research, aiming to further reduce environmental footprints and enhance efficiency.

A Blueprint for Global Change The LIFE WATEROIL project stands as a beacon of what’s possible when science, industry, and community come together to tackle pressing environmental challenges.

By integrating innovative engineering, biodiversity restoration, and public engagement, the project has achieved a rare balance between industrial efficiency and ecological health.

“This project proves that industry and nature can coexist,” Prof. Yemendzhiev concluded. “It’s not about choosing one over the other; it’s about finding a balance that benefits both.”

As industries worldwide grapple with the twin challenges of growth and sustainability, the lessons from LIFE WATEROIL offer a compelling roadmap. From reducing water and energy consumption to reviving wetlands, the project showcases the power of science to build a more harmonious relationship with our planet.

LIFE WATEROIL Process water treatment unit for better river basin management (LIFE20 ENV/BG/001042)

Project Objectives

The LIFE WATEROIL project aims to demonstrate a sustainable water treatment approach of relevance to high water-demanding industries.

The goal is to decrease the emission of pollutants and improve the ecological condition of the Mandra-Poda water basin through exploitation of alternative water sources and the application of a more effective wastewater processing technology. Furthermore, the project aims to show the viability of substituting fresh water with treated water.

Project Funding

The LIFE WATEROIL project has received funding from the LIFE Programme of the European Union.

Project Partners

https://neftochim.lukoil.com/en/ NeftohimBurgas/Neftohim

Contact Details

Venelin Marinov Project office manager LUKOIL Neftohim Burgas JSC Project office Sustainable Development & LUKOIL REACH Center LIFE WATEROIL Project Burgas 8104 Bulgaria T: +35 9 5511 5607 E: LifeWateroil@neftochim.bg W: https://neftochim.lukoil.com/en/ NeftohimBurgas/NeftohimBurgas Venelin Marinov, Yoana Angelova, Nicola Secchi PhD, and Assoc. Prof.

Huseyin Yemendzhiev (left to right)

Venelin Marinov holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and Management from the Burgas “Asen Zlatarov” University and is currently Project office manager “Sustainable Development – LUKOIL REACH CENTRE – LIFE WATEROIL”.

Yoana Angelova is Chief expert “Strategic development”, Burgas Municipality. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Philology Sciences and a Masters Degree in Political Affairs, subject “European Integration” from university “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, Veliko Tarnovo.

Nicola Secchi PhD is Scientific Director of Eurovix. He has a PhD in Agricultural, Forestry and Food Production Science and Biotechnology, with expertise on the bioconversion of agro-industry by-products to produce innovative products.

Associate Professor Huseyin Yemendzhiev is a Biotechnologist with Engineering qualifications and a PhD in Microbiology. He is currently working at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, Burgas “Asen Zlatarov” University.

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Sustainable management and regenerative agriculture for vines Conventional agricultural management techniques have led to the loss of organic matter in soil, limiting its ability to support plant growth and act as a carbon sink. The VitiCaSe project team are investigating how sustainable management techniques could lead to the removal of more CO2 from the atmosphere, as Gabriele Mongardi and Simona Palermo explain.

The use of tillage as a means of preparing and managing soil for crop cultivation leads to the loss of organic matter, reducing the capacity of soil to retain water and stock nutrients to support plant growth. When soil is tilled, organic matter is more exposed to atmospheric oxygen, then it undergoes a transformation. “It mineralises, it goes back to being carbon dioxide (CO2), and it is released into the atmosphere. This process is linked to the tillage of soil,” explains Gabriele Mongardi, an Education and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) specialist at Image Line, an Italian SME which provides digital solutions for the agriculture sector. Changing weather patterns are also affecting the quality of soil, says Mongardi. “Heavy rainfall events concentrated over short periods of time can cause significant soil erosion, particularly on agricultural terraces, leading to an overall loss of water,” he outlines.

VitiCaSe project As technical coordinator of the VitiCaSe project, an EU-backed initiative bringing together eight partners from across Europe, Mongardi is now working to address these issues through the implementation of more sustainable management techniques in vineyards in Italy and France. While soils in many cultivated areas have only a low amount of organic matter, plants can sequester CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and then transform it into biomass, a topic that Mongardi and his colleagues in the project are now exploring. “We are investigating how to cultivate plants – in this case vines – in a way that can encourage the sequestration of CO2 from the atmosphere. This biomass can then be stored in the soils,” he says.

“We are looking to leave the soil relatively undisturbed, with only minimal tillage or even none at all, while we are also exploring the use of cover crops and other sustainable management practices.”

The idea is that these practices could help slow down the loss of organic matter in soil, shifting the balance to encourage the sequestration of carbon and enhancing the long-term prospects of the wine sector.

The project team started by assessing the

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CREA staff sampling soils at Ruffino vineyards in Veneto.

soil conditions at four farms in Italy; three in Tuscany and one in the Veneto region.

“We have taken soil samples at these farms, assessing the level of organic matter, the carbon content, and we have estimated a starting point,” says Mongardi. This provides a kind of baseline, then researchers can look to assess the impact of different sustainable management techniques on levels of organic matter, work which will continue beyond the end of the project’s four year funding term. “We want to assess the impact of these techniques over the long-term. The accumulation of organic matter occurs over quite extended periods, so we plan to continue monitoring this beyond the conclusion of VitiCaSe,” continues Mongardi.

Researchers are also working on mathematical models designed to give a more rapid picture of how different management techniques affect organic content levels, which will be validated by comparing their output with data from the fields. A further digital tool bringing together data on soil, local climate and the impact of different management techniques is under development, which Mongardi says will help farmers plan for the future. “We want to help farmers understand how – and how much

– they can improve the soil if they adopt and implement sustainable management techniques,” he explains. This is currently quite difficult to assess, and sampling soil in fields is expensive, issues that the project team are addressing. “We are trying to develop different ways to measure levels of organic carbon content in soil, using models and data from various sources. In particular, we are working to collect data on vineyard cultivation, such as fertilisation, green manure and tillage, automatically from farm management information systems (FMIS).

We hope that this will lead to a reduction in the overall cost of measuring organic carbon content,” says Mongardi.

Sustainable management This is part of the goal of demonstrating that sustainable management practices not only improve soil conditions, but are also economically viable, which is a key consideration for farms. Increased levels of organic matter can boost the productivity of soil, while certification that carbon has been sequestered means farms can access carbon credits, opening up new business possibilities. “These carbon credits can then cover the higher costs of managing vineyards

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in a sustainable way. We are trying to spread these practices, which will result in higher quantities of carbon sequestration and carbon removal,” outlines Mongardi. The initial plan is to implement the system in four farms in Italy, but Mongardi says that it could be applied more widely in future. “We expect to involve other farms, mainly in France. We plan to collect data in places with varying climatic conditions, to validate the output of the tool, and see if this approach can work in different conditions,” he says.

The project partners also include CREA, the main Italian research body dedicated to agrifood supply chains, supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests (Masaf), who are heavily involved in mapping soil organic matter and developing the model to calculate carbon stocks. At the heart of the project are the farms themselves and the people who work there, who ultimately are the ones who will apply these sustainable practices. “We have been directly involving farmers in decisions around what to do in the fields. Because it’s

“We are investigating how to cultivate vines in a way that can encourage the sequestration of CO2 from the atmosphere. This biomass can then be stored in the soils.

Digital tools will be developed to support regenerative viticulture.”

The project is still at a relatively early stage however, and the current priority is to implement the different management practices at the pilot farms. These farms were all committed to sustainable agriculture even before participating in VitiCaSe, and Mongardi says many in the wine sector are keen to explore the potential of more sustainable practices. “There is a lot of interest in more sustainable ways of producing and growing vines among many wine-growers,” he stresses. The project’s work represents an important contribution in this respect, with close cooperation between the partners key to bringing together the different strands of research and delivering environmental benefits.”Our project has a multi-actor approach, we are following a collaborative, cooperative approach among the partners. At Image Line, we are working on the technical and digital component,” says Simona Palermo, the overall coordinator of the project.

CREA staff with Castello di Albola agronomist in Tuscany.

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their fields, their vines, their business. We can’t follow a top-down approach, rather it has to be collaborative,” stresses Mongardi. This is crucial to building positive relationships with farmers and promoting the wider adoption of more sustainable management practices.

“We found that farms were very much ready to look at more sustainable practices when we were developing the project proposal,” continues Mongardi. Pilot Farms involved in the project are Castello di Albola, Ruffino and San Felice Wine Estates. Finally, Carbon Credits Consulting is in charge of the processes aimed at certifying carbon credits, while the farmers’ association UPA Siena and the tech company EZ Lab France are collaborating in the promotion and adoption of the project results in Italy and France respectively.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

LIFE VitiCaSe Viticulture for Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration

Project Objectives

LIFE VitiCaSe aims to enhance carbon sequestration in vineyard soils, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support climate change mitigation. The project adopts an integrated approach that considers all the phases of the process, from the study of the various sustainable soil management practices, to the measurement of impacts with the support of digital tools, up to the generation and sale of carbon credits certified. The project aims also to simplify the process of certifying the quantities of sequestered carbon and thus create a new business model linked to Carbon Farming.

Project Funding

The LIFE VitiCaSe Project has received funding from the European Union’s Life Program. Project 101113620.

Project Partners

https://www.life-viticase.eu/en/progetto

Contact Details

Simona Palermo, Project Coordinator Gabriele Mongardi, Technical Project Manager Image Line T: +39 0546 680688 E: info@life-viticase.eu W: https://www.life-viticase.eu/en Simona Palermo, Gabriele Mongardi, Matteo Munaro, Cristiano Spadoni (left to right)

Simona Palermo, Project Coordinator, holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences and brings over 20 years of experience in research, innovation, and agrifood partnerships, overseeing the project’s overall direction.

Gabriele Mongardi, Technical Coordinator, is an agronomist with expertise in agricultural innovation and digitalisation.

He manages the integration of technical components from project partners, ensuring the effective execution of activities. He is joined by Matteo Munaro, a smart farming specialist, who ensures the alignment between field activities and the development of the carbon farming digital tool.

Cristiano Spadoni, a journalist with extensive experience in agricultural communication and marketing, member of “Accademia dei Georgofili”, leads the project’s communication and dissemination efforts. He promotes the project’s progress and ensures visibility through AgroNotizie, Image Line’s online agricultural magazine, engaging the broader agrifood community.

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The water treatment plant – detailed view on ultrafiltration membranes.

A modern water management system for zoos A reliable supply of water is essential to the daily operation of a zoo, and recent droughts across the EU underline the need for effective management. We spoke to Dr Tomáš Lederer and Dr Petr Kvapil about the work of the LIFE4ZOO project in developing a modern water management system that enables zoos to re-use water from within the site, helping improve resource efficiency.

A reliable supply of water is essential to the day-to-day operation of a zoo, yet at the same time zoos also have to be aware of their impact on the surrounding environment, as well as wider concerns around sustainability, water scarcity and climate change. Recent droughts across Europe underlined the need for zoos to manage their water supply efficiently and effectively, an issue that Dr Tomáš Lederer and the team behind the LIFE4ZOO project are working to address. “Our aim is to ensure that zoos have access to a reliable supply of high-quality water,” he says. The project brings together several partners to develop a loop system (circular water management system), which is designed to both provide a reliable supply of water to different areas of a zoo and also reduce wastage. “There is one loop in the system in the Zoo Liberec that circulates a large amount of relatively clean water, to protect animal welfare,” explains Dr Petr Kvapil, Managing Director of the Photon Water technology group, one of the project partners. “The second loop is designed to ensure refreshment and replenishment of the water in the first circuit.”

The animals will drink only treated water from the first loop, in which the amount of pollutants has been reduced by around 90 percent. Researchers have monitored water sources in the areas around animal husbandries, and relatively low concentrations of certain pollutants have been found. “We found quite low concentrations of organics (COD) phosphorus and nitrogen for example, importantly lower than in urban wastewater. We have identified the major pollutants present in the water, including

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microbiological and chemical contaminants,” outlines Dr Lederer. These pollutants will be removed at two main stages; the first is an (artificial) engineered vertical wetland to remove the main, most important contaminants.

“Organic pollutants and ammonia nitrogene will be removed in the wetland,” continues Dr Lederer. “Then we have a final water treatment step based on membrane filtration, and sanitation, to remove biological contamination.

With the final membrane treatment, we will be able to provide high-quality water. We also have to apply sanitation, because we plan to use this loop for many animal husbandries.”

This system has been developed in collaboration with Liberec zoo in the Czech Republic where it will be installed and demonstrated, with the project team aiming

to enhance water resilience and enable re-use, prominent issues not only for zoos but also many other attractions and organisations. Naturebased solutions like the engineered wetland have an important part to play in this respect, helping to optimise the efficiency of water use, which Dr Lederer says has wider positive environmental effects. “A large proportion of the water in the zoo will be reused, so the total amount of water discharged into urban sewer systems will be reduced,” he explains. “The aim is to provide a reliable supply of good quality water to the different areas of a zoo.”

The system is designed to help zoos effectively become self-sufficient in terms of overall consumption, enabling them to re-use water from within the zoo and avoid using valuable drinking water, in turn reducing costs. The day-

A view from above – multistage water treatment plant with several filtration and sanitation units.

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LIFE4ZOO Water Resource Management in Visitor Attractions – FIT4USE Water Recirculation Technology

Project Objectives

Our main goal is to move from the traditional linear water consumption model to the innovative FIT4USE concept for water circulation.

This method will allow for the repeated use of less polluted water instead of its single use. This “water circulation” will allow Liberec Zoo and Barcelona Zoo to use water repeatedly. This will bring operational savings, lower load on sewage systems and multiple synergies leading to better use of water and energy.

Project Funding

The constructed vertical wetland combined with water accumulation. In detail - taking a sample from the elephant enclosure.

to-day operation of the system will also require a reliable supply of energy, another issue that Dr Kvapil and his colleagues are addressing in the project. “We need energy to operate the water treatment plant and the pumps, to distribute water all over the zoo,” he acknowledges.

Researchers know how much energy the LIFE4ZOO system will require, and solar panels have been installed on the roof of the entrance to Liberec zoo, a partner in the project where the technology will be trialled. “We have calculated

it can be adapted and modified to suit local circumstances. “Different animals produce different types of contaminated waters, with varying concentrations of pollutants.

Testing the system will provide very valuable information for designing the sizing of future system in any animal husbandry area, zoolike facility, farm, botanic park, urban area or industrial park,” says Dr Kvapil. “We performed multiple pilots prior to the project, now we are working to install a full-scale system.”

“The project brings together several partners to develop a circular water management system, which is designed to both provide a reliable supply of water to different areas of a zoo and also reduce wastage.” that the solar panels should provide the energy required to operate this water circulation system, with some left in reserve,” continues Dr Kvapil. “The most intensive period of water use is in Summer, during the main season of the zoo, which is when we can expect to generate more energy from the solar panels.”

A pilot system will also be installed at Barcelona zoo in 2025, another partner in the project, where the climate is very different to Liberec. The zoo in Barcelona has similar size as the one in Liberec, (13 hectares - ha), and Dr Lederer says the system will work along similar lines. “Our partners at the University of Girona and University of Barcelona have a strong interest in nature-based solutions, in using wetland systems to remove pollutants and their combination with novel membrane technologies. The first step will be developing a wetland, then the second will be membrane filtration, with sanitation,” he outlines. This system will be mobile, with the possibility of moving it to different animal husbandries, while researchers are also considering how

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This transnational cooperation project is funded by the European Union LIFE program under grant agreement no. 101114509 LIFE22-ENV-CZ-LIFE4ZOO

Project Partners

• T echnical University of Liberec, CXI TUL (CZ) • University of Girona, UdG (ES) • University of Barcelona, FSUB (ES) • Liberec Zoo, (CZ) • Barcelona Zoo, (ES) • Photon Water Technology, (CZ)

Contact Details

Dr Tomáš Lederer Lead Researcher Technical University of Liberec Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation Department of Environmental technology Bendlova 1409/7, 460 01 Liberec T: +420 730 160 329 E: tomas.lederer@tul.cz W: https://life4zoo.cz/ W: https://cxi.tul.cz/ Tomas Lederer Petr Kvapil Eva Doležalová

Full-scale system This work is nearing its conclusion, and the project team are now looking to test and refine the system installed in Liberec, looking to optimise its effectiveness. The system has been implemented in a step-by-step process, with rigorous tests conducted at each stage, and researchers now aim to show that the water is safe for animal consumption. “We’re now in an implementation phase,” continues Dr Kvapil.

While the project’s research has been focused on zoos, Dr Kvapil believes the water management system developed in LIFE4ZOO could also be applied more widely, including in other visitor attractions keen to improve their resource efficiency. “The water recirculation system is a general idea for multiple types of industries.

A zoo can be thought of in a way as like a city within a city, so the potential applicability is quite wide,” he says. “For example farms face similar challenges to those faced by zoos. We are discussing the potential application of our research with farms, as well as some industrial parks and other organisations.”

Dr Tomas Lederer is a lead researcher in the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation at the Technical University of Liberec. His research interests include biotechnology, wastewater treatment and the decontamination of polluted sites.

Dr Petr Kvapil is Managing Director of Photon Water, a company based in Liberec, Czech Republic. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Provence, École des Mines d’Alès in France.

Dr Eva Doležalová obtained PhD in chemistry. Her field of interest shifted to science communication. Eva is an experienced science communication specialist with a strong background in public relations.

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Transforming Carbon Capture in Cement Production Tackling climate change requires bold innovations, especially in industries like cement, which accounts for 5% of global CO₂ emission. We spoke to Dr. Chenxi Zhang, Dr. Colleen Varaidzo Manyumwa, Dr. Carsten Jers, and Prof. Ivan Mijakovic, who are pioneering a groundbreaking carbon capture method inspired by coral reefs.

Cement production is a cornerstone of modern infrastructure, underpinning the construction of buildings, bridges, and roads. However, this essential industry comes with a significant environmental cost.

The production process involves heating limestone in kilns at temperatures exceeding 1,400°C, a process that not only consumes large amounts of energy but also releases vast quantities of CO₂ as a chemical byproduct of the reaction. Globally, the cement industry accounts for roughly 8% of total CO₂ emissions, with Europe alone contributing approximately 300 million tonnes annually.

The scale of the problem is immense, as emissions from cement production surpass those of entire countries. For instance, if the cement industry were a nation, it would rank as the world’s third-largest emitter, following only

China and the United States. Traditional carbon capture and storage (CCS) methods have shown promise in reducing these emissions but face challenges due to their high costs, energy demands, and logistical complexities.

This has led researchers to explore transformative solutions that not only curb emissions but also capitalise on the captured CO₂, repurposing it into valuable products.

Such innovative approaches are crucial to reducing the environmental impact of cement production while aligning with the global push for sustainability and a circular economy.

Biomineralisation Inspired by Corals Nature often provides elegant solutions to complex problems. Coral reefs, for example, absorb CO₂ from seawater and combine it with calcium ions to form calcium carbonate

(CaCO₃), which builds their skeletons. Inspired by this natural process, scientists at DTU Biosustain have developed a bioengineering approach to capture industrial CO₂ emissions and convert them into stable mineral carbonates, suitable for use in cement production.

At the heart of this innovation is the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA). This biological catalyst accelerates the hydration of CO₂ into bicarbonate, a critical step in forming CaCO₃. In the laboratory, researchers have engineered bacteria to produce CA on its surface or as secreted enzymes at high efficiency. When applied to industrial settings, this biological catalyst transforms CO₂ from flue gases into solid carbonates, effectively recycling harmful emissions into a usable resource.

Industrial Power Plant

Bioprocessor

CO2 containing flue gas produced by industrial plant

Bioprocessor with bacteria producing CAs

CO2 capturing process via bacterial-driven biomineralisation.

Stable carbonates produced CaCO3

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The proposed system integrates into existing cement production facilities. Flue gases containing CO₂ are directed into a bioreactor containing engineered bacteria.

These microorganisms, armed with CA enzymes, facilitate the rapid conversion of CO₂ into CaCO₃, thus mimicking coral-like biomineralisation. The resulting mineral can then be reintegrated into the cement production process, reducing both emissions and the need for limestone mining.

This closed-loop system offers a dual benefit: it captures CO₂ emissions generated by cement plants while producing a key raw material for cement manufacturing. This not only lowers the industry’s carbon footprint but also contributes to the circular economy by valorising a waste product.

manufacturers, and policymakers will be crucial to overcoming these barriers.

Dr. Carsten Jers, a senior researcher involved in the project, highlights the importance of practical collaboration for bringing this innovation to industrial use. “Collaboration with industries and the development of bioreactors will play a key role in applying this technology effectively,” he explains.

Such partnerships are essential for scaling the process from laboratory research to industrial facilities, enabling its integration across various sectors.

When asked about the next steps for the technology, Dr. Colleen Manyumwa emphasises the importance of scaling up and diversifying raw material sources. “We’re looking at various industrial side streams as

“In the laboratory, researchers have engineered bacteria to produce CA on its surface or as secreted enzymes at high efficiency. When applied to industrial settings, this biological catalyst transforms CO from flue gases into ₂ solid carbonates, effectively recycling harmful emissions into a usable resource.”

The global market for CO₂ utilisation is booming. Currently valued at $3 billion, it is projected to grow to $10.3 billion by 2032, driven by demand for sustainable building materials and bio-based products. CaCO₃ itself is a high-value commodity, essential for industries ranging from construction to biomedicine. The cement sector, which dominates 40% of the CO₂ utilisation market, stands to gain immensely from adopting biomineralisation technologies. By providing a scalable solution for CO₂ capture and reuse, this innovation positions itself as a game-changer for industries seeking to meet stricter emissions regulations while remaining economically competitive.

Challenges and Future Steps Like any transformative technology, biomineralisation faces hurdles on the path to commercialisation. High temperatures and contaminants in industrial flue gases pose challenges for enzyme stability and efficiency. To address this, researchers are working on engineering more robust bacterial strains and enzymes capable of withstanding these harsh conditions.

Scaling up from lab experiments to industrial applications requires significant investment in bioreactor design and process optimisation.

Collaborations between research institutions, cement

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potential calcium sources to make the process even more sustainable,” she adds. This focus on alternative inputs aligns with the team’s vision of a greener, more circular economy.

With the right support, this technology has the potential to revolutionise not only the cement industry but also other sectors reliant on CO₂-intensive processes.

A Greener Tomorrow with Biomineralisation As the world edges closer to critical climate thresholds, the urgency for innovative, scalable solutions continues to grow.

Biomineralisation represents a promising approach, leveraging cutting-edge science alongside nature’s mechanisms to address a pressing challenge. By capturing CO₂ and repurposing it into building materials, this technology has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of cement production.

While cement production will always entail a climate cost, advancements like those developed at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability highlight a path toward meaningful reductions.

Biomineralisation offers a way to mitigate emissions and foster sustainable practices within an industry historically known for its environmental toll, paving the way for a less carbon-intensive future.

BACTERIALLY INDUCED CALCIUM CARBONATE Bacterially induced calcium carbonate precipitation to reduce carbon dioxide emission from industrial waste gases

Project Objectives

Developing a bio-based solution to combat climate change by capturing CO2, a major greenhouse gas, and converting it into calcium carbonate (CaCO3), a valuable material widely used in the building industry.

The project focuses on optimising costeffective CO2 capture and scaling up biomineralisation for a sustainable, largescale impact on CO2 reduction.

Project Funding

This project is funded by Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond and The Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Contact Details

Colleen Varaidzo Manyumwa Postdoc DTU Biosustain Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability Danmarks Tekniske Universitet Søltofts Plads Building 220 , Room 423F 2800 Kgs. Lyngby E: covama@biosustain.dtu.dk W: https://www.biosustain.dtu.dk/ W: https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/persons/colleenvaraidzo-manyumwa : https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wZkuVn54DMY

Left to right: Colleen Manyumwa, Carsten Jers, Chenxi Zhang, Ivan Mijakovic

Colleen Manyumwa, a bioinformatician and postdoctoral researcher at the Technical University of Denmark, specialises in structural biology, and biotechnology innovations.

Carsten Jers, a senior researcher at the Technical University of Denmark, focuses on molecular biology, on bacterial protein modifications and enzyme engineering.

Chenxi Zhang, a PhD student at the Technical University of Denmark, specialises in engineering cell factories for protein expression and purification.

Ivan Mijakovic, a professor at Chalmers University and Technical University of Denmark, specialises in bacterial signaling, regulation, and cell factory engineering.

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New solution for the fridges of the future The EU F-Gas regulation sets out new restrictions on the use of hydrofluorocarbons in refrigerators. Researchers in the LIFE-TURBOALGOR CO2 project aim to show how an innovative solution can improve the energy efficiency of refrigerating plants and reduce their environmental impact, as Maurizio Ascani explains.

The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as refrigerants in fridges was banned under the Montreal Protocol in 1987, and regulations have since grown increasingly stringent, as efforts to limit the environmental impact of the sector have intensified. Beginning 2024 the EU updated its regulations on the use of f-gases, greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, accelerating the shift towards natural refrigerants. “CO2 is now the most important refrigerant under the new regulations,” says Maurizio Ascani, Innovation Technology Manager at Turboalgor, an Italian SME which specialises in developing patented expansion devices as efficiency tools for refrigeration systems. This move towards a new type of refrigerant will also require changes in the actual fridges, a topic Ascani is addressing as part of his work on the LIFE-TURBOALGOR CO2 project. “CO2 has completely different features to those of older refrigerants,” he explains. “In the past Turboalgor developed a turbocharger to increase the energy efficiency of refrigeration systems operating with HFC. The main difference is that CO2 works at a very high level of pressure - it has a much higher density. Because of this physical difference, it is necessary to move from a conventional turbocharger to a device that can work even with fluids at high pressure and high density.”

Through the FREEEX brand, a device called a Free Piston Expander (FPE) has been developed by the team at Turboalgor to meet these requirements, together with a Fluid Control Unit (FCU), which is designed to reduce the amount of energy typically required to operate a refrigerator. The FPE performs a dual function, as both an expander and a compressor, which reduces the workload on the existing compressor within a refrigerator.

“There is always a compressor in a refrigerator to compress the refrigerating fluid, which requires a supply of electricity. The amount of electricity consumed is proportional to the level of compression,” outlines Ascani. While the main compressor in a fridge consumes electricity in the normal way, the compressor within the FPE operates on energy recovered from a novel thermodynamic cycle developed in the project. “We introduced significant

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Image generated by Briefing srl using Midjourney AI.

modifications to the thermodynamic cycle to recover energy and improve efficiency.

So energy is recycled from inside the refrigerator,” explains Ascani. “This means that the FPE doesn’t rely on electricity as the primary source of energy, it uses recycled energy.”

FPE is managed, is entirely new, and Ascani and his colleagues at Turboalgor are keen to explore the wider potential of both devices. “Patents have been filed for both the FPE and the FCU,” he says. A few prototypes of the FPE have been developed, and researchers are developing a range of products to meet different needs. “The goal in the LIFE-TURBOALGOR CO 2 project is to move from a single prototype to a point where we have a range of products. We want to produce FPEs for different types of refrigerators, related to their power level and temperature,” says Ascani. “We aim to develop three types of FPEs, modifying the size of the free piston in each. The three devices are geometrically similar, but with different sizes and volumes. They can be used either alone, or in parallel.”

Researchers are working to develop the three types of refrigerators, with different

“We introduced significant modifications to the thermodynamic cycle to recover energy and improve efficiency. Energy is recycled from inside the thermodynamic cycle of the refrigerator.”

Free Piston Expander The concept of a FPE has previously been explored in the scientific literature, but the project team are breaking new ground by exploring its potential application in refrigeration units. The FCU meanwhile, the unit by which the operation of the

levels of cooling capacity, which will then be installed on-site at a customer of one of the project partners, EPTA SPA. This will provide invaluable information about the practical operation of the FPE and its impact, complementing data from the internal tests that have already been conducted. “These

Parallel system: 15 kW Free Piston Expander.

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Experimental trend of energy saving and cooling capacity increase.

LIFE-TURBOALGOR CO2 Project Objectives

The main objective of LIFE-TURBOALGOR CO₂ is to demonstrate the technical feasibility and commercial viability of an innovative solution to significantly improve the energy efficiency of transcritical refrigeration plants using CO₂ as a fluid.

The solution, which consists of a new patented thermodynamic cycle with two heat exchangers, a Free Piston Expander (FPE) and a Fluid Control Unit (FCU), guarantees • an increase in energy efficiency of up to 19%.

• an increase in cooling capacity of up to 42%.

- addressing the technological barriers that have so far limited the adoption of CO₂ refrigeration systems.

Project Funding tests will provide us with new information from the field,” outlines Ascani. The project team are also working to calculate the environmental impact of the device and assess its impact on energy efficiency. “On one side the device helps reduce electricity consumption, but on another additional raw materials are required to produce it,” continues Ascani. “One outcome of the project will be an assessment of the total impact of the device, which is expected to lead to energy savings of 19 percent. The impact of the materials used in development is important, but it is negligible in comparison to reductions in energy consumption.”

Refrigeration plants This research is targeted at larger refrigeration plants / heat pumps rather than domestic units, as they offer a quicker return on the initial investment in terms of energy saving and running costs. The cost of installing the device in a domestic refrigerator is roughly similar to putting it in a large refrigerating plant, so Ascani says the upfront cost can be recovered more rapidly in the latter case.

“With plants of 10 kW or more, a return on the initial investment can be achieved in the space of 1-2 years,” he outlines. Economic considerations were also prominent in the decision around how to integrate the FPE into a refrigeration plant. “We have decided to integrate the FPE during the assembly of the refrigerator rather than to integrate it into an existing plant,” says Ascani. “This is largely because the FPE can be integrated during the assembly of a plant with negligible additional costs. Whereas if you decide to upgrade an existing plant, it is necessary to halt operations, cut pipes and connect the FPE, which leads to further costs.”

The ultimate objective in the project is to prove the effectiveness and commercial viability of the FPE and help reduce the

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environmental impact of refrigerators. While the primary focus at this stage is larger refrigeration systems, Ascani believes this FPE solution could eventually be applied more widely as the costs of production change. “In terms of the economics, the point at which this solution is viable is likely to change as a function of the cost of electricity and various other parameters. We expect that limit will move to a lower range in future,” he says. The more immediate priority is to optimise the FPE however, with Ascani and his colleagues in the project still preparing and modifying the product range. “In a few weeks we will start with tests at EPTA where the FPE has been installed. The goal is to have a few FPEs integrated in refrigeration plants by the end of the project,” he outlines. “We have also started with marketing work, and recently attended the Chillventa refrigeration event in Germany to publicise this research and the potential of this solution.”

Turboalgor is co-funded by the European Union LIFE22-CCM-IT-LIFETURBOALGOR CO2/101113796.

Project Consortium

The LIFE consortium, coordinated by TURBOALGOR, is composed as follows: • TURBOALGOR SRL • EPTA SPA • C3 CONCRETE CUBE CERTAINTY S.R.L. • NOESIS SRL

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Turboalgor Loc. Cimacolle, 464 - 06056 Massa Martana (PG) - Italy T: +39 075 8955 1 E: maurizio.ascani@turboalgor.it W: https://www.turboalgor.it/en/press/thelife-project W: https://www.turboalgor.it/en/freeex

Maurizio Ascani

Test bench electrical power 100 kW.

Maurizio Ascani is Innovation Technology Manager at TurboAlgor, an Italian SME which specialises in developing refrigeration systems, with responsibility for product innovation. He holds deep expertise in vacuum and refrigeration technology, as well as systems integration and energy efficiency.

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Illustration cod photographs: Erling Svensen

Polar Cod and Zooplankton

A peek beneath the surface of Arctic sea ice

Sea Ice Algae

Sea ice ridges account for a large proportion of the overall Arctic sea ice volume, yet more attention in research has historically been focused on the thinner level ice. We spoke to Dr Mats Granskog and Dr Oliver Müller about their work in analysing samples from sea ice ridges collected during the MOSAiC polar expedition, with the aim of gaining deeper insights into their role.

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A significant proportion of the overall

MOSAiC polar expedition

Arctic sea ice volume is comprised of ridges, which can be thought of in a way as a pile of lego bricks, much of which is submerged below the ocean surface. Usually sea ice is formed of a fairly level sheet, but when ice floes collide big blocks are created, which pile up in a large, random maze. “That creates a very different type of ice mass, and potentially a unique habitat for flora and fauna,” says Dr Mats Granskog, a Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Polar Institute. As part of his work in the HAVOC project, Dr Granskog is investigating the importance of these sea ice ridges and the role they play in providing a protective environment for certain iceassociated flora and fauna. “In the project we are primarily interested in what’s happening in the underwater part of sea ice ridges, as that’s the primary habitat for the biology we are looking at,” he outlines. “There’s a kind of maze of ice blocks, with water running in between.”

These sea ice ridges have not really been the focus of much attention in research, as a lot of time and resources are required to investigate them. More studies have been conducted on the level ice, which is relatively thin and homogenous, and so easier to study than sea ice ridges. “The more deformed parts and the sea ice ridges haven’t really been studied as intensively,” says Dr Granskog. This is an imbalance Dr Granskog is working to address in the HAVOC project, in which he and his colleagues are analysing samples collected from sea ice ridge environments during the MOSAiC polar expedition (led by the German Alfred Wegener Institute), which drifted across the central Arctic Ocean (AWI) between September 2019 and October 2020. “The plan with MOSAiC was to collect data in all seasons and so develop a deeper understanding of what’s happening in the Arctic and what’s driving the changes that we’re seeing,” he explains.

The HAVOC project was designed to take part in the MOSAiC expedition, which gave Dr Granskog and his colleagues the opportunity to gather physical and biological samples from sea ice ridges over a longer period. There are only few studies that investigated sea ice ridges, but those few examples suggest that ridges are hot-spots for biological life. “These sea ice ridges create habitats, like water-filled voids between ice blocks, which are protected from the currents,” says Dr Oliver Müller, a postdoctoral researcher working on HAVOC. Researchers collected samples from sea ice ridges at certain time points over the course of the MOSAiC expedition, aiming to build a fuller picture of the flora and fauna which can be found in them at different times of the year. A variety of sampling procedures were used in HAVOC, with researchers gathering not just water and ice samples at different depths of the ridge, but also catching organisms and particles associated with the ridge. “We used sediment traps, which

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are cylinders that collect sinking material. If more biological activity is associated with a ridge, you would also expect more things to be released and seep out, like small organisms and organic matter,” explains Dr Müller. “There was a collaborating team from AWI that operated a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). We designed a small sampling device that was taken with the ROV to the ridge to collect biological material.

It also used bio-optical sensors to estimate the level of biological activity.”

This provides a solid foundation for researchers in the project to investigate sea ice ridges and gain deeper insights into their ecological role. The original hypothesis was that sea ice ridges provide a kind of protective environment for flora and fauna, as they are quite thick and have a more complex structure

working on the biological and physical data that was collected. A lot of post-fieldwork analysis has been conducted and with the lab-based work now largely complete, the current focus of Dr Müller’s attention is on data analysis. “We’re essentially putting these pieces of the puzzle back together, linking physical data with biological processes that we’ve measured,” he outlines. In order to identify and understand the ecological connections, researchers have to first analyse a lot of different types of samples; now Dr Müller is working through the data, which is a big task. “There are huge amounts of data, including some really novel sequencing data. This provides a very detailed, genomic fingerprint of the biological community inside these ridges,” he continues.

“We are primarily interested in what’s happening in the underwater part of sea ice ridges, as that’s the unique habitat for the biology we are looking at. There’s a kind of maze of ice blocks in these ridges, creating pockets

of water, protected from the outside.” than the thinner level ice that melts in summer.

“The thinner level ice would melt earlier in the season, and these ridges would then be able to give the ice-associated flora and fauna a refuge,” explains Dr Müller. It is however challenging to monitor the abundance of flora and fauna within sea ice ridges, as these ridges are very heterogenous and it’s difficult to follow the same single ridge for a sustained period. “You might at first find a spot which has a lot of abundance, and then the next time you find a spot which has less, just because of the diverse nature of these ridges. However, there are some indicators that we can measure,” continues Dr Müller.

Data analysis The MOSAiC expedition itself concluded in October 2020, and researchers are currently

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The physical data from the project has also been rigorously analysed, leading to a deeper understanding of how sea ice ridges function and evolve over time. The next step then will be to connect this work to the ecosystem and biological dimension, which Dr Granskog hopes will stimulate further investigation into sea ice ridges. “We hope to help build a research community. There are still many unresolved questions in this area, especially with respect to biological activity and the role of sea ice ridges in the Arctic system,” he outlines. The project’s research could also hold wider relevance to the development of climate models. “Ridges are not very well described in current climate models, yet evidence suggests that they are quite important in this respect,” continues Dr Granskog.

HAVOC

Ridges - Safe HAVens for ice-associated flora and fauna in a seasonally ice-covered Arctic OCean

Project Objectives

To better understand the role of sea ice ridges in the Arctic Ocean, given they might be the last sanctuary for ice-dependent organisms, when the thinner sea ice around the ridges melts away. While ridges constitute a major part of the sea ice volume in the Arctic Ocean, we know very little of their role in shaping the physical environment and as a habitat.

Project Funding

Research Council of Norway, H2020 ARICE DearICE and Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg.

Project Partners

Norwegian Polar Institute (Norway), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway), UiT – The Arctic University of Norway (Norway), University of Bergen (Norway), NORCE Norwegian Research Centre (Norway), Akvaplan-Niva (Norway), The University Centre in Svalbard (Norway), and Alfred Wegener Institute (Germany).

Contact Details

Project Principal Investigator Mats Granskog, Ph.D, Senior Researcher, Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway E: mats.granskog@npolar.no W: https://www.npolar.no/en/projects/havoc/ Salganik, E., Lange, B. A., Katlein, C., Matero, I., Anhaus, P., Muilwijk, M., Høyland, K. V, & Granskog, M. A. (2023).

Observations of preferential summer melt of Arctic sea-ice ridge keels from repeated multibeam sonar surveys. The Cryosphere, 17, 4873–4887. https://doi. org/10.5194/tc-17-4873-2023

Dr Mats Granskog Dr Oliver Müller

Dr Mats Granskog is a Senior Research Scientist at the Norwegian Polar Institute. His research interests include the Arctic sea ice mass balance, physical-chemical-biological coupling in Arctic sea ice and upper ocean, and marine optics. He is also a fellow at the HanseWissenschaftskolleg (Delmenhorst, Germany).

Dr Oliver Müller is a post-doctoral researcher in the marine microbiology group at the University of Bergen. Alongside his work on the HAVOC project, he is also investigating the ecosystem of the northern Barents Sea.

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New techniques to investigate erosion patterns The question of whether erosion rates increase under colder climates is the subject of intense debate in the geomorphology field. The team behind the ICED project are developing novel techniques that could shed new light on the topic, as Georgina King, Melanie Kranz-Bartz, Aditi Dave, Xiaoxia Wen and Maxime Bernard explain.

The importance of glaciers as erosion agents is the subject of intense debate, and while a 2013 study suggested that erosion rates accelerated during the Quaternary period, there is also evidence to support other viewpoints. Thermochronology techniques provide evidence of how the temperature of rocks have evolved over time, yet established methods are associated with large uncertainties, an issue the ICED project team are working to address. “We’re developing methods that provide more precise measurements of rock cooling over a time window of between one thousand and one million years, so we can see if there has been an acceleration in erosion rates during cold periods, or glaciations,” explains Georgina King, Associate Professor in the Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics at the University of Lausanne. These thermochronometers are based on using luminescence and electron spin resonance (ESR) to detect unpaired electrons in minerals such as quartz. “We use specific centres or defects in quartz minerals to get an idea of their thermal sensitivity,” says Professor Melanie Kranz-Bartz, a former post-doctoral researcher on the ICED project.

Leif Anderson, Georgina King and Xiaoxia Wen collecting a sample in Visp, Valais, Switzerland.

Thermochronometry Thermochronometry is based on the idea that once a mineral has passed a specific temperature in the earth’s crust – its closure temperature – a signal accumulates. This allows researchers to calculate an age corresponding to the time of closure and to learn more about the thermal history of a mineral. “We can convert [the cooling age] into a cooling rate, and transfer it into an erosion rate. We are looking to develop this method further – using ESR we are able to cover the entire Quarternary period, and potentially beyond,” outlines Professor Kranz-Bartz. Alongside developing the new thermochronometry method, researchers in the team are also applying it on rock samples from different regions, including PhD student Xiaoxia Wen’s work in the Western Alps. “I’ve been working mainly in the upper Rhone valley, in Switzerland, where there is a really high documented relief change. We collect rock samples at different elevations along a vertical transect, from the top to the valley bottom, and

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A gorge along the Saaser Visper river, Valais, Switzerland.

Sample VISPA22-08b.

see how the ESR signal evolves,” she explains.

“The data is consistent with that from existing, classical thermochronometry methods.”

The next stage in the project will be to implement the ESR method in a thermokinematic model, which will enable researchers to create thermal – or exhumation – histories, and build a fuller picture of past erosion patterns, with the ultimate goal of reconstructing past topography evolution. As part of his post-doctoral research in the ICED project, Dr Maxime Bernard has been working with data from around the Mont Blanc tunnel.

“We used 3-d software to invert the data and constrain the evolution of the area’s topography. Evidence seems to show that the most recent glaciations cooled the Massif quite significantly,” he says. Researchers aim to understand the influence of these glaciations on the cooling history of the Massif, while at the same time taking into account other factors which affect erosion patterns. “There are feedbacks between erosion and the climate on longer timescales, in the millions of years,” continues Dr Bernard. “By modelling and constraining erosion and the total volumes of sediment exporting carbon to sedimentary basins, we want to constrain how this ice erosion may have contributed to the further cooling of the planet that has been observed, on timescales of millions of years.”

Researchers are also able to investigate processes occurring over shorter timescales with luminescence thermochronology, and look at more spatially localised erosion patterns. Much remains to be learned about how ice reshapes topography close to mountain summits for example, and Dr Bernard says the project’s work could help shed new light. “We can try to constrain these processes on different spatial and topographical scales,” he outlines. The project team are also exploring whether this method could be applied to other minerals aside from quartz, which could allow researchers to investigate previously neglected regions. “Thermochronometric techniques have previously been applied to silicate-rich lithologies, which are really clustered in particular parts of the Alps,” explains Professor Kranz-Bartz. “I’m

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investigating whether we can apply ESR thermochronometry to carbonate minerals as well, and if we can use it to constrain rates of rock cooling and exhumation rates. It looks pretty positive so far, and we hope to gain new insights into valley formation and other geomorphological processes.”

Melanie Kranz-Bartz collects a sample above Sion, Valais, Switzerland.

A further potential application of the method is in geothermal exploration, identifying locations where geothermal fluids are relatively close to the earth’s surface. Water can circulate at depths of

“We’re developing a method that provides more precise measurements over a time window of between one thousand and one million years, so we can see if there has been an acceleration in erosion rates during cold periods, or glaciations.” case studies where we’ve been able to resolve things that can’t be measured otherwise,” says Professor King. The next step will be to heighten awareness of the technique’s potential, with plans to attend the International Conference on Thermochronology in September 2025, while further research is planned beyond the conclusion of the project. “I’m interested in dating earthquakes. The general consensus in the research community is that signals from earthquakes do not completely reset. So with the traditional way of applying luminescence or ESR for dating, we usually overestimate the time since the last earthquake activity,” explains Dr Aditi Dave, a post-doctoral researcher working on the project. “Thermal signals may provide a better way of looking at unanswered questions like the timing of past earthquakes.”

Impact of climate on mountain denudation

Project Objectives

Verifying the method The method itself still needs to be fully verified, and while there are still some challenges to overcome, Professor King is confident that it will be shown to be robust and reliable.

The data gathered so far is consistent with other thermochronometric records, and the methods could open up new investigative possibilities. “We’re starting to show some

ICED

20 kms below the earth’s surface where temperatures are always very hot, and these fluids can then come up to the surface, thanks to faults and fracture zones. “The challenge is to find out where this can happen – the faults and fracture zones have to be sufficiently permeable for these fluids to circulate,” outlines Dr Bernard.

Thermochronometry techniques could be used to detect geothermal reservoirs at depth, and to generate a kind of probability map, providing a more cost-effective way of investigating potential sites for the development of geothermal energy.

“Conventional geothermal exploration techniques are quite expensive. We can use thermochronology to conduct investigations from the surface,” continues Dr Bernard.

Sample collection in St Niklaus, Valais, Switzerland.

The ICED project seeks to explore the timing of alpine valley development through the application of a novel set of thermochronometric methods that can resolve changes in rock exhumation at the timescale of glacial and interglacial cycles.

By using methods based on trapped-charge dating (optically stimulated luminescence and electron spin resonance dating) this project will offer a more precise insight into the timing of alpine valley development and thus processes of glacial and fluvial erosion.

Project Funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 85164.

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Georgina King University of Lausanne Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDyST) Quartier UNIL-Mouline Géopolis building CH-1015 Lausanne T: +021 692 35 33 E: georgina.king@unil.ch W: https://wp.unil.ch/ice/

Georgina King, Aditi Dave, Maxime Bernard, Melanie Kranz-Bartz and Xiaoxia Wen (from left to right).

Georgina King is Associate Professor at the University of Lausanne. She develops trappedcharge dating thermochronological methods.

Aditi Dave is a postdoctoral researcher, working on methodological development of Quartz ESR thermochronology.

Maxime Bernard is a Post-doctoral researcher dedicated to investigating how glaciations reshaped mountain topographies.

Melanie Kranz-Bartz is a geomorphologist.

She is an expert in electron spin resonance and luminescence dating.

Xiaoxia Wen is pursuing a PhD in geomorphology, studying landscape evolution in the Rhône valley.

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Sowing the seeds of locally-based agriculture The agri-food sector is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, but new practices could help reduce its environmental impact. We spoke to María de Santiago and Jon Ruiz de Infante about their work in testing different production systems and exploring new, more sustainable ways of getting locally-produced food to consumers.

The agri-food sector accounts for

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a significant proportion of global carbon emissions, prompting an intense focus in research on developing new tools to reduce its environmental impact and improve sustainability. These issues are central to the CROPS4LIFE project, an EU-backed initiative based in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, in Spain’s Basque Country. “We are working to de-carbonise the local food system, and to prove the viability of shorter, locally-based food circuits,” explains Jon Ruiz de Infante, a researcher in the Environmental Studies Centre in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

One aspect of this research involves developing new production systems which will help restore the ecological health of soils and enhance their capacity to absorb CO2 .

“The systems we are developing in the project are based on regenerative agriculture,” continues Ruiz de Infante. “The wider aim is to restore the ecosystem of the soil and enable it to function as a carbon sink.”

then able to recover from the grazing phase, with the manure that the cattle has just deposited. Hens and chickens then enter the plot, and their movement helps embed the manure into the soil.”

Regenerative agriculture

Promoting local food

This means restoring the trophic chain in soil, the different microbiota that result from nutrient cycling. These trophic chains are often in a poor condition in farmland soils, in large part due to the extensive use of pesticides and fertilisers in established production models. “We are trying to restore that trophic chain in the soil. This will enable the soil to be an active organism capable of capturing carbon, and help retain nutrients for the crops,” says Ruiz de Infante.

Regenerative agricultural practices offer a route towards achieving this, with the project team investigating and testing several different production systems. “We’re looking at a system called biointensive horticulture for example, where the soil never rests. The soil is continually supporting crop production. In another system cattle move from little squares of one field to another, transporting nutrients.”

A herd of cattle may over-graze some areas while neglecting others, leading to an imbalance in the health of the soil. Under the system being tested in the project, cattle may graze in a relatively small plot for a short period before then moving on. “This plot is

A variety of crops are being grown in these plots, including cereals, beans and chickpeas, with the project team also aiming to encourage local people to consume this produce. “A recent study found that just 1 percent of the fresh food consumed in Vitoria-Gasteiz came from the local area. One of the goals of the project is to increase this proportion, and to reduce our

Testers carrying out composting practices.

CROPS4LIFE working team.

dependence on external sources of food,” says María de Santiago, also a researcher at the Environmental Studies Centre.

The aim is to get to a rate of 10 percent, while new ways of commercialising and distributing this locally-grown produce are also being investigated, taking into account the nature of modern lifestyles. It can be difficult for busy people to get to a market to buy fresh produce, so researchers are looking at new ways of getting fresh food to consumers. “We are looking at developing a digital sales platform where people buy the produce in a virtual marketplace, and the food is then distributed by bike and delivered to their home,” outlines Ruiz de Infante. While some people might be quite attached to their routines and supermarket trips, younger people today are comfortable with using these kinds of commercial channels, and they can be used to encourage people to eat more locally-grown food. “We are trying to prove that this is an economically viable means of producing and distributing food. With the aim of encouraging behavioural change in food purchasing, and to ensure the sale of food produced in these short circuits, the product is enriched with environmental information, the result of research and all the data collected in the field, and with social information on the production process.”

This includes analysis of each of the different production systems, with

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CROPS4LIFE Carbon Removal governance Outline and Periurban agriculture for Sustainable food system

Project Objectives

The project objective is to decarbonise the local agri-food system in the current context of climate change. To this end, it seeks to generate a short circuit of production and consumption of fresh food, under regenerative agriculturebased management, thus reducing the sector’s carbon footprint and improving soil health and biodiversity associated with agrosystems.

Project Funding

Funded by the Program for Environment and Climate Action LIFE 2022, under the grant agreement 101114329 LIFE22-GIC-ESCROPS4LIFE.

Bio-intensive horticulture practices.

“We are working to de-carbonise the local food system, and to prove the viability of shorter, locally-based food circuits.” researchers seeking to demonstrate that farmers can prosper using these methods.

Alongside this work, researchers are also investigating how locally-grown produce can be brought to market efficiently. “We want to show to potential new entrants that it’s possible to thrive and make profits in the agricultural sector.” This research is currently focused on the city of VitoriaGasteiz, but a broadly similar approach could be adopted in other parts of the Basque country and Spain more widely, taking local conditions into account.

Agrifood system The project is still at a relatively early stage of its four-year and a half funding term however, and attention is currently focused primarily on the agrifood system in VitoriaGasteiz, and encouraging more people to consume locally-produced food. In the first year of the project a lot of energy was devoted to organising the production model and an incubator to attract new entrants to the agricultural sector, and over the next twelve months or so researchers are going to focus a lot of attention on the digital sales Vitoria-Gasteiz agricultural landscape.

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platform. “The marketplace has been built, but it is not yet open to the general public, as the tool is being adjusted and some tests are still in progress,” says Ruiz de Infante.

“The intention is to open the marketplace in the Spring, while the production work will require committed and skilled farmers.

If we can shorten the production chain, we will start to de-carbonise the system and improve food security,” he continues.

The project’s agenda also includes encouraging new entrants to the sector and teaching them about agricultural practices. A cohort of students will learn about different aspects of farming, from working on the land to bringing produce to market. “We want to demonstrate the social and economic viability of the new farming model,” says de Santiago. However, while many people want to support local food producers, small-scale farmers do still face some legislative barriers, an issue Ruiz de Infante says will be addressed in the later stages of the project. “We want to identify those barriers and try to change certain restrictive local policies in the last two years of the project,” says Ruiz de Infante.

Project Partners

• Environmental Studies Centre (coordinator) • CoopCycle • Sustraiak Habitat Design • Javier Chaves Padilla • Eraman Coop.

• Amaterra • Neiker • Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council • Provincial Council of Alava (collaborator)

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, de Santiago, María Environmental Studies Centre of the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council T: +9 45 162696 ext. 3382 E: mdesantiago@vitoria-gasteiz.org W: https://www.vitoria-gasteiz.org/crops4life Jon Ruiz de Infante

María de Santiago

Jon Ruiz de Infante is a graduate in Biological Sciences. With experience in the research sector, I was part of the population ecology group of the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies, and in the technical sector, as an advisor in sustainability policies in the City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Currently working as environmental technician in the Environmental Studies Centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

María de Santiago is an Agricultural Engineer.

The first years of my professional career were linked to geographic information systems, mainly in hydrological planning. Since 2014, I have been involved in the development of the local Sustainable Agri-Food Strategy and have had the opportunity to discover the main challenges of the local agri-food ecosystem in relation to sustainability and climate change.

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Future Dairy: Lower Methane, Higher Sustainability Dr. Angela Schwarm and her team at NMBU lead ViableCow, a €1M, five-year initiative tackling dairy methane emissions for sustainable production. Combining cutting-edge science and global collaboration, this groundbreaking project leverages decades of expertise in ruminant nutrition to transform the dairy industry, driving significant change.

For decades, researchers focused on reducing feed energy loss from methane emissions during enteric fermentation in dairy cows. Today, however, the environmental impact of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—has garnered increased attention and funding. This contributes not only to global warming but also to feed energy loss in cows, reducing the efficiency of milk production. According to recent estimates, enteric fermentation accounts for approximately 30% of anthropogenic methane emissions globally (or around 17% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions). The ViableCow project takes an interdisciplinary approach to examine feed efficiency, immune response, and microbiome heritability, while uniquely testing combinations of proven feed additives for potential additive effects.

“If we could rank cows by their methane and carbon dioxide emissions, farmers could have a powerful tool to identify the most efficient milk producers,” Dr Schwarm explains. Such an instrument would enable farmers to optimise milk production while reducing their environmental footprint—a win-win for agriculture and the planet. This ranking system could also provide essential data for breeding programs, fostering the development of herds that are both productive and environmentally friendly.

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PhD student Hendra Nur Cahyo preparing the assay with blood from four cows under sterile conditions for ex vivo innate immune response assessment.

A Multidimensional Approach to Sustainability One of the workpackages of this project focuses on ranking cows based on their daily methane and carbon dioxide emissions, identifying high-efficiency cows that convert feed into milk with minimal loss. The team of researchers also investigates whether low methane-emitting cows exhibit compromised immune responses. Surprisingly, initial findings indicate that these cows do not show reduced digestibility or immune efficiency. It can be speculated that cows producing 20 instead of 15 kg of milk from a similar amount of feed have a more efficient energy metabolism, but it seems not to be related to the microbial efficiency or having a negative impact on the immune response. Dr Schwarm highlights this complexity, stating, “It’s crucial to ensure that environmental efficiency comes not at a cost to animal health.”

Another key aspect of the research examines how the microbial communities in cows’ rumens influence methane emissions.

Preliminary results reveal that host specificity of the ruminal microbial community following complete exchange of rumen contents could be confirmed in low but not in high methane-

emitting dairy cows. Low emitters reverted to their original microbiome and maintained low methane emissions, while high emitters that received the donor’s low-emitter microbiome continued to emit high levels of methane, without transitioning into low emitters. For basic science, the why and how behind this finding is very exciting to explore further.

Despite high emitters inheriting the microbiome from low emitters, no decrease in methane emission levels was observed, indicating limited potential for microbiome transfer at adult age to alter emissions favorably Additionally, the research team is testing the efficacy of combining natural dietary additives such as vine grape pomace and cracked whole rapeseed lipids. While these additives show methane-reducing effects individually without compromising immune response, their combination did not yield additive benefits, so they simply can be feed separately as sole methane-reducing strategies.

The project results will have implications in both basic science and application in animal breeding, emphasises knowledge dissemination to policymakers and is paving the way for adapting to the digital revolution changing the way livestock farming is organised.

Insights from Global Collaboration The project’s success is underpinned by international partnerships and collaborations. Postdoctoral researcher Dr Puchun Niu and PhD student Hendra Nur Cahyo have extended their work to leading institutions like Cornell University and UC Davis, collaborating with experts in data modelling.

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These partnerships amplify the project’s reach, ensuring access to state-of-the-art methodologies.

The project also benefits from a network of distinguished interdisciplinary collaborators as well as further team members, including immunologists Dr Ulrike Gimsa (Research Institute of Farm Animal Biology, Dummerstorf, Germany) and Dr Ruth Tamara Montero Meza (NMBU); microbiologists Dr Phil B. Pope (Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia) and Velma Tea Essi Aho (NMBU); animal scientists Adrian Omar Maynez Perez (NMBU, PhD student) and Dr Pekka Huhtanen (LUKE, Finland); breeding and genetics expert

are not yet standard practice. However, as modern information and communication technologies—such as the GreenFeed system—become integrated into livestock farming, these data will offer valuable insights for informed farm management.

In the future, when detailed emissions data are routinely available, the insights generated

by ViableCow could be used to guide datadriven decisions in farm management, helping to optimise production efficiency and support sustainability efforts. This project therefore contributes to the long-term goal of transforming dairy farming practices, aligning with emerging digital trends and future environmental monitoring requirements.

“Our ultimate goal is to create a framework where farmers can enhance efficiency and sustainability simultaneously,” Dr Bjørg Heringstad (NMBU, Geno); and modeling specialists Dr Vinicius Carneiro de Souza and Dr Ermias Kebreab (UC Davis, USA). Each collaborator and team member brings unique expertise, from advanced modeling techniques to in-depth studies of microbial communities, enabling the project’s multidisciplinary approach.

One of the key challenges identified during the project so far is the trade-off between methane emission reductions and maintaining feed efficient high-yielding cows. As Dr Schwarm notes, “If we select cows based solely on methane emissions, we risk losing some of the most efficient milk producers. Striking a balance is crucial.” This nuanced approach ensures that economic viability remains at the forefront while addressing environmental goals.

Global Relevance in the Climate Crisis While the ViableCow project is funded as a basic science initiative, its findings lay important groundwork for future applications. Today, routine on-farm measurements of methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂)

The Road Ahead While the ViableCow project has already generated significant scientific insights, our focus for 2025 will be on publishing these results. The planned outputs address both immediate and long-term challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant livestock—through nutritional strategies, digitalisation, and national inventory improvements in the short term, and through advancements in breeding, microbiome research, and animal health in the long term. The practical application of these findings will be a subsequent step that will require close collaboration among researchers, breeders, farmers, and policymakers, as well as continued innovation in feed additives and methane monitoring tools to ensure scalable, cost-effective implementation.

“Our ultimate goal is to create a framework where farmers can enhance efficiency and sustainability simultaneously,” Dr Schwarm concludes. The research group envisions a future where methane reduction strategies are not just an environmental imperative but a standard practice in dairy farming. With projects like ViableCow leading the way, the future of dairy farming looks both viable and vibrant.

ViableCow Sustainable ruminant production: Feed, microbiome and immune efficiency in low and high methane emitting dairy cows

Project Objectives

ViableCow aims to delineate interactions between feed, microorganisms, immune system and emissions that exert major influence in efficiency and sustainability of ruminant livestock production.

Project Funding

Funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) (project number: 316157)

Project Owner

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU, Norway)

Project Partners

Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN, Germany) University of California Davis (UCD, USA)

Project Team

Angela Schwarm (Professor, Principal Investigator), NMBU, Norway • Puchun Niu (Postdoc), NMBU, Norway • Velma T. E. Aho (Postdoc), NMBU, Norway • Hendra Nur Cahyo (PhD Candidate), NMBU, Norway • Adrian Omar Maynes Perez (PhD Candidate), NMBU, Norway • Phil B. Pope (Professor, Partner), QUT, Australia • Ulrike Gimsa (Professor, Partner), FBN, Germany • Bjørg Heringstad (Professor, Partner), NMBU, Geno, Norway • Ermias Kebreab (Professor, Partner), UC Davis, USA • Ruth Tamara Montero Meza (Dr, Collaborator), NMBU, Norway • Vinicius Carneiro de Souza (Dr, Collaborator), UC Davis, USA • Pekka Huhtanen (Professor emeritus), LUKE, Finland

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Professor Angela Schwarm Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) Oluf Thesens vei 6, 1433 Ås, Norway T: +47 67 23 26 17 E: angela.schwarm@nmbu.no W: https://www.nmbu.no/en/about/ employees/angela-schwarm W: https://prosjektbanken.forskningsradet. no/en/project/FORISS/316157 Professor Angela Schwarm and team

Professor Angela Schwarm, PhD, at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, studies how feed, microbes, the immune system, and emissions affect ruminant production efficiency and sustainability. She is the Principal Investigator for both the ViableCow project (RCN) and the MethanePasture project (Norwegian Agriculture Agency) and actively contributes to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases as a member of its Animal Nutrition and Animal Health Networks.

NMBU’s Norwegian Red cows grazing on pasture with methane measuring equipment (voluntarily visited by the cows) in the background.

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The right climate for sustainability education Today’s students are growing up in a time of growing concern about issues around sustainability and the green transition, including climate change and resource scarcity.

How should students be taught about these issues? We spoke to Professor Nikolaj Elf about his research into how these topics are being addressed in Danish lower secondary schools.

The current generation of students are growing up in a time of heightened ecological awareness, and topics around sustainability and the green transition are increasingly prominent in school curricula across many countries. The 1987 Brundtland report (Our Common Future) on sustainable development played an important role in this respect, helping bring the green transition into the educational foreground.

“The Brundtland report has become a central part of the educational paradigm on the green transition,” says Nikolaj Elf, a Professor in the Department of Design, Media and Educational Science at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). As Principal Investigator of a research project funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) and the Centre for Basic Education Research at SDU, Professor Elf is looking at how sustainability and the green transition are being addressed in Danish lower secondary schools, focusing on the perspectives of students, teachers and school leaders. “We want to go into classrooms and ask practiceoriented questions, such as; ‘what topics are teachers addressing in different subjects and across subjects? How are they doing it?

Why are they doing it? And how are students responding to that?’” he outlines.

Ethnographic research This represents a shift away from the previous more policy-driven, prescriptive approach, with the project team conducting ethnographic research in three Danish schools.

These three have all been certified as schools with a heightened level of awareness about the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDG), which might be expected to be reflected in teaching. “These three schools are strategically selected critical cases,” explains Professor Elf. Researchers are investigating teaching practice, and extensive fieldwork has been conducted by a PhD student and a post-doc.

“They have been observing teaching across the whole range of subjects, and have interviewed both students and teachers. That has led on to different kinds of analysis and publications, which we have then used - in part at least - for preparing a quantitative

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Interview with teacher Susanne School H, October 2021: One of the girls actually got upset at seeing the organs.

We talked to her about it afterwards. She couldn’t describe her emotions in words, but she was upset. There was no warning, but she stood like that looking at it. It wasn’t because of the shock of seeing it and finding it disgusting. She just all of a sudden began to cry. I think that it simply dawned on her that here was an animal that was dead. We talked to her afterwards and calmed her down. She came out and saw it again, and then I thought: “Well, how’s it going?”

She was the one who raised her hand to ask questions the most times and could also remember the most, and she was actually the one who wanted to go and touch it.

study, a so-called vignette study,” he continues. “This is a kind of survey, where you develop a short story describing a dilemma.

You would then be asked questions about that dilemma, and asked to reach evaluations.

For example, we’ve looked at how certain works of literature address biodiversity and the climate crisis. A poem has been selected that conveys a sense of optimism about the future, while another poem adopts a more dystopian tone that might be expected to evoke negative feelings and emotions.”

The next step was to look at the emotions and responses that these works generated.

“These qualitative and quantitative takes on the question of how, why and what we teach school students about the green transition and sustainability are at the core of the project,” says Professor Elf. The local environment may be an important factor in how teachers address the green transition and sustainability, a topic that Professor Elf and his colleagues are exploring in the project. “We have a case study about teachers in a rural school who have been teaching students about hunting and looking at the anatomy of the animal,” he outlines. “This is an interesting

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illustration of how the local setting helps to shape the kinds of resources that teachers can draw on and use in their teaching, and also how that relates to aesthetic and affective aspects of teaching about sustainability and the green transition.”

The wider aim in this research is to explore how schools are addressing the topic of sustainability, and how students are responding. While some students are deeply engaged in environmental topics, and are fired up by Greta Thunberg’s movement, others are not and take a far more sceptical stance.

“Some groups of students say they are fed up of hearing about sustainability and the climate crisis,” acknowledges Professor Elf. Changes to teaching practice could shift the balance and heighten awareness of environmental issues, suggests Professor Elf. “We’re trying to challenge the basic rationale, the focus on classroom teaching and on acquiring particular kinds of knowledge. We would argue that there’s been too much focus on intellectual approaches to teaching about sustainability and biodiversity problems,” he says. “Instead, we’d like to see sustainability and the green transition taught in a more exploratory, inquiry-oriented, problembased way. That would seem to fit quite well with the big questions around sustainability and the climate crisis.”

GREEN TRANSITION IN LOWERSECONDARY EDUCATION Green Transition in Lower-Secondary Education: A Mixed-Methods Study of Quality Teaching in Danish Schools

Project Objectives

The ambition of the project is to investigate how lower-secondary students and teachers experience the quality of teaching dealing with the green transition, and to develop new quality criteria. A conceptually clear elaboration of such criteria for quality teaching are needed to rectify the overly cognitive teaching style that dominates much contemporary green transition teaching.

Project Funding Vignette 2 randomly tested school children’s affective reaction after reading poetry thematising nature. The dystopic poem (V1) had most positive effect on school children’s feeling of activation (red) and has the most negative effect on school children’s feeling of happiness (blue, p<0,01). The romantic poem (V3) had negative effect on activation and significantly positive effect on happiness (p<0,01). V2 was the reference vignette in between.

project is contributing to a broader system of generating new knowledge to inform future education policy, based on evidence from schools. “We’re doing this in a more empirically-grounded way than was perhaps the case in the past, where it was often quite theoretical, philosophical or prescriptive,” explains Professor Elf.

“We want to go into classrooms and ask concrete practiceoriented questions about teaching around sustainability and the green transition, such as; ‘what topics are we addressing in different subjects and across subjects? How are we doing it? Why are we doing it? And how are students responding to that?”

Teaching practice This research could ultimately influence teaching practice, with Professor Elf having been asked to help rewrite the Danish curriculum for primary and lower-secondary (basic) education. Environmental issues are likely to be highlighted as one of the big challenges that should be addressed in all subjects, and the project’s findings will feed into the process, while Professor Elf and his team are also working with teachers in other parts of the education system. “We are organising conferences for teachers. The partnership for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is growing in Denmark, which has different branches, from daycare, to secondary education, right through to teacher education. We have funding now to develop learning materials for teacher education,” he outlines. In this sense the

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The project team is contributing to the literature, including a chapter for an edited volume on cross-curricula teaching, while Professor Elf is also working on a book about education and the green transition, together with researchers from across the world. With many countries (including Denmark) still far from meeting the emissions reductions targets set out in the Paris agreement of 2015, sustainability and the green transition are set to remain high on the agenda in the coming years, which will be reflected in education. “Goals around sustainability and the green transition have been inscribed in steering documents, for example for teacher education,” says Professor Elf. “We aim to contribute to the broader goal of making students more aware and knowledgeable about environmental problems in our society.”

The project is supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.

Project Participants

• University of Southern Denmark (project partner) (lead) • University College South Denmark (project partner) • UCL University College (project partner) • The Danish University of Education (project partner)

Contact Details

Principal Investigator, Professor Nikolaj Elf Faculty of Humanities Department of Design, Media and Educational Science University of Southern Denmark Campusvej 55 DK-5230 Odense M T: +45 29 60 96 38 E: nfe@sdu.dk W: www.sdu.dk/ansat/nfe W: www.sdu.dk W: https://www.sdu.dk/en/forskning/ center-for-grundskoleforskning Professor Nikolaj Elf

Nikolaj Elf is Professor in educational sciences and head of Center for Basic Education Research at the Department for the Study of Culture, University of Southern Denmark, focusing on disciplinary/subject-specific didactics.

Elf’s main research field is all aspects related to Language Arts /L1-education, focusing in particular on literature, writing, technology, multilingual education, and sustainability education. More broadly, he investigates big challenges for education on local school and systemic levels.

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Shape shifting in the battery market Silicon expands dramatically when charged with lithium, which limits its potential use in lithium-ion batteries. The METABATT project team are building up a new class of metamaterials which change their shape but not their volume when a stimulus is applied, work which holds relevance for a variety of applications, as Professor Ivano E. Castelli and Joonyeob Jeon explain.

The majority of lithium-ion batteries use

Nanostructured materials

a graphite anode, while the cathode is typically a metal oxide like NMC (LiNiMnCoO2) , or a phosphate such as LiFePO4 (LFP).

Many scientists are looking to develop new materials and improve the performance of these batteries, a topic that Professor Ivano Castelli and his colleagues in the MetaBatt project are addressing. “We want to develop materials that increase the storage capacity of batteries, while at the same time, we also want to improve interfaces, influencing stable battery operation on account of various chemical reactions and ion transportation,” he outlines. This research centres around developing metamaterials using a negative Poisson ratio to control the volume expansion of Si anode during the charging process, the properties of which are derived from their shape rather than their chemistry. “We want to achieve interesting properties not only through the atomic level, so the chemistry and the structure, but also from the way the material is shaped,” explains Professor Castelli. “In our case, it can be rods, materials that change their shape, depending on their response to the environment.”

A major motivating factor behind this work is a recognition of the limitations of silicon as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries. While silicon has a 10 times higher storage capacity than graphite, it expands by a factor of four during charging, which can cause it to crack. “This, in the long run, breaks contacts in the battery and makes it unusable,” says Professor Castelli. The project team is working to address this issue by developing nanostructured metamaterials that change their shape on the application of a stimulus, instead of changing volume. “Imagine that you will still have the same overall volume, but the shape inside will be different. We are developing a methodology to computationally design and experimentally fabricate materials with a pre-programmed response,” continues Professor Castelli. “We want to add a new degree of freedom in rational material design, where we not only change the chemistry when a stimulus is applied, but we also change the shape.”

The challenge is to maximise the storage capacity of the anode while keeping the interface stable, which will help maximise efficiency.

Artificial Intelligence, in the framework of Reinforcement Learning (RL) models, is

Lithium Ion (Li+)

being used in the project to design silicon nanostructures. Moreover, Professor Castelli and his colleagues are also using physics modelling to assess how these new materials will respond to lithiation. “We are building a combined data and physics modelling framework where we combine RL - to design the shape - with a finite element method that predicts how the material will respond to a stimulus. We want to see the point at which the material breaks for example, or whether some parts of the electrode are at risk of mechanical failure in certain circumstances,” he explains. “My work is about using the finite element method to analyse the structure of metamaterials,” outlines Joonyeob Jeon, a PhD student working on the project.

This can then inform the design of metamaterials and help ensure that the shapes developed using RL techniques are practical and feasible. It is currently very expensive and technologically challenging to make these materials chemically with silicon, so researchers are instead using a 3D-printed polymer that swells in contact with water. “Dr. Xiaoxing Xia from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is our collaborator on this, and he fabricates the structures that we predict. When we dip the

Anode

Separator

Electron (e-) Li+

Cathode

Electrolyte Li+

Li

+

Li+ Li+

Li+

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e-

e

-

Li+

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polymeric metamaterial in water, we see the shape change; when it is taken out of the water and dried, you essentially see it returning to its earlier shape. So, it’s fully cyclable and mimics what happens at the anode during the charge/ discharge process,” says Professor Castelli.

The next step will be to embed the data and physics model within the overall fabrication, which Professor Castelli believes could automate the discovery process and open up a new dimension in materials design. While most materials discovery is currently done at the atomistic level, through changes to the chemistry or the crystal structure, Professor Castelli and his colleagues are following a different approach. “What we want to do here is

The aim is to make silicon with very specific shapes, which may involve the use of different techniques. “It could be 3D printing or lithography for example, and we may need to collaborate with researchers in other disciplines,” says Professor Castelli. Looking ahead, Professor Castelli hopes to collaborate with industry, with a view to translating this research into practical applications; cost is an important consideration in this respect.

“We want to produce something affordable, but currently these kinds of nanostructures are not cheap,” he acknowledges. “This is still a bit of a niche area, it’s not currently something that we can mass produce. We are taking the first steps towards using nanostructured silicon in lithiumion batteries.”

“We want to achieve interesting properties not only through the atomic level, so the chemistry and the structure, but also from the way the material is shaped” to change the shape, “he explains. The project’s research is primarily focused on lithium-ion batteries, yet Professor Castelli believes the methodology could also be relevant to other applications that require a pre-programmed response. “We have developed a method in the project, and we can use it for many different things, from membranes to electrochemically activated mechanical metamaterials. We are essentially looking at building up a new way to design the materials we need rather than use the materials we have,” he says.

Silicon shapes The methodology itself is still under development, with Professor Castelli and his colleagues working to add further elements, which it is hoped will enable the design of more complex materials.

There are already companies commercializing Li-ion batteries based on silicon nanowires, but their capacity and safety could be drastically improved, while keeping the cost down. For his part, Professor Castelli is keen to build on the progress that has been made in the project. “We are interested in widening our collaborative networks and working with more experimental and industrial partners,” he says. This is not limited purely to research into lithium-ion batteries, as the project’s work holds relevance to a wide range of potential applications.

“Nanostructures represent a new dimension for materials discovery, and we achieve this using reinforcement learning, data, and a physicsdriven model,” outlines Professor Castelli.

“Lithium-ion batteries are one example, but we have also been thinking about others.”

Conventional silicon nanoparticles Expansion

Contraction

Multiple

(lithiation)

(de-lithiation)

Cycles

Silicon metamaterials 1) Data-driven model

MetaBatt Reconfigurable Metamaterials for Next Generation High-capacity Batteries

Project Objectives

The aim in the MetaBatt project is to develop reconfigurable metamaterials that change their shape in response to the environment, with a view to their potential application in the next generation of batteries. These nanostructures represent a new dimension in materials discovery, with potential applications in membranes and mechanical metamaterials.

Project Funding

Funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, Grant No: 0217-00111B.

Project Partners

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (USA), Dr. Xiaoxing Xia

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Professor Ivano Eligio Castelli DTU ENERGY Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Danmarks Tekniske Universitet Anker Engelunds Vej Building 301 , Room 108 2800 Kgs. Lyngby T: +45 45258206 E: ivca@dtu.dk W: https://www.dtu.dk/english/person/ ivano-eligio?id=62570&cpid=Castelli&enti ty=profile Ivano E. Castelli Joonyeob Jeon Jin Hyun Chang

Ivano E. Castelli is a Professor in the Department of Energy Conversion and Storage at the Technical University of Denmark. His group focuses on discovering new materials using computer simulations to accelerate the green transition.

Joonyeob Jeon is a Ph.D. student in the department of Energy conversion and storage at the Technical University of Denmark, focusing on SEI formation, batteries, and nano-/micro-scale material coupling simulation using advanced numerical modeling techniques.

Jin Hyun Chang is an associate professor in the department of Energy conversion and storage at the Technical University of Denmark, expert in multiscale materials modelling and development of self-driving laboratories.

=

2) Physics-driven model

3) 3D printing Charge

Discharge

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Breaking Ground in Sustainable Polymers: Solvent-Free Coatings As sustainability gains importance, researchers at DTU Chemical Engineering in Denmark are developing innovative, solvent-free coatings to transform the industry. Professor Anne Ladegaard Skov and her team are working on new silicone-based coatings with industrial applications, aiming to reduce environmental impact while enhancing performance and scalability.

By focusing on cyclic silicones and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) ring polymers, these scientists aim to create solvent-free coatings that are both high-performing and environmentally friendly. This groundbreaking work not only challenges conventional polymer synthesis but also opens new doors for scalable, sustainable industrial applications. Professor Anne Ladegaard Skov and her team, alongside with Hempel A/S as collaborators focus on creating relevant silicone-based coating containing no or less solvent than the currently available coatings.

The initial aim of the project was to create liquid coatings without the use of solvents.

Traditional coatings often rely on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to air pollution and pose significant health risks. By eliminating solvents, the team sought to minimise environmental impact while ensuring no residual stress in the materials and avoiding the release of toxic VOCs. The research revolves around developing a thixotropic system—a material that becomes less viscous under stress and returns to its original state at rest. This property is particularly desirable for coatings, as it ensures easy application and stable performance. The team’s work combines long linear polymers with cyclic polymers, leveraging their unique properties to develop advanced materials with enhanced elasticity and performance.

Innovative Synthesis A key breakthrough in the project was the development of a simple, one-pot reaction to synthesise cyclic silicones. These reactions resulted in the synthesis of both single rings and a network of rings. Initially, the focus was on single rings, as the team aimed to achieve threading, where linear polymer chains would penetrate through cyclic molecules to enhance structural integrity. However, threading did not occur as expected, which prompted a strategic pivot. Since the threading did not work as intended, the researchers decided to explore an alternative approach. They developed a network of interconnected polymer structures by combining two types of PDMS—one with

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vinyl groups and the other with hydride groups. When mixed and exposed to a platinum catalyst, these compounds react to form strong, flexible networks that provide the desired mechanical properties for coatings without needing threading.

The synthesis approach achieves impressively high yields and represents a significant improvement in scalability, making the technology viable for industrial applications. The team has also made strides in characterising these new polymer networks, a crucial step in understanding and optimising their performance.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability The environmental implications of this research are profound. By eliminating solvents, the new coatings reduce the release of harmful VOCs into the atmosphere.

Additionally, the use of non-traditional materials further enhances the sustainability of the process. These innovations align with global efforts to mitigate climate change and reduce industrial pollution.

Moreover, the scalability of the synthesis process ensures that the technology can be adopted widely, amplifying its environmental

“A key breakthrough in the project was the development of a simple, one-pot reaction to synthesise cyclic silicones. By minimising waste and improving the lifecycle of coated products, these innovations contribute to a more circular economy.”

The Challenge of Threading One of the primary hurdles in this research was the unexpected lack of threading. The researchers initially aimed to achieve threading—a process where long polymer chains penetrate through cyclic molecules to enhance the viscosity and structural integrity of the blend. However, they did not observe the desired threading behavior, which led them to shift their focus toward creating a polymer network instead.

By carefully controlling the synthesis process and refining their approach, the researchers were able to develop a viable network that maintained the desirable characteristics of the polymers without relying on threading.

benefits. The team’s commitment to sustainability is evident in their efforts to create materials that not only perform well but also contribute to a healthier planet.

The long-term environmental benefits extend beyond the direct reduction of VOC emissions. The coatings are designed to be durable, reducing the frequency of reapplications and the associated environmental costs. By minimising waste and improving the lifecycle of coated products, these innovations contribute to a more circular economy. Additionally, the ability to manufacture these coatings at scale means industries can adopt them without significant

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) ring polymer film samples.

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LIQUID COATINGS Liquid coatings without the use of solvents

Project Objectives

The Danish Polymer Centre (DPC) Group, Technical University of Denmark, 2024.

modifications to existing systems, ensuring smooth transitions and widespread adoption.

Applications and Future Directions The potential applications of these solventfree coatings are vast. Industries that require protective coatings, such as construction, marine, and automotive sectors, stand to benefit significantly. The materials are particularly suited for large structures exposed to harsh environments, such as seawater and wind.

One exciting application is in marine environments, where coatings are critical for protecting ships and underwater structures from corrosion and fouling. Traditional marine coatings often contain harmful substances that leach into the water, affecting marine ecosystems. The solventfree coatings developed by this team offer a safer alternative, ensuring durability without environmental compromise.

The next step for the researchers is to optimise the system further by incorporating fillers to achieve specific properties required for coatings. This involves fine-tuning the formulation to enhance performance while maintaining sustainability. The team is also exploring the integration of additional functional properties, such as anti-fouling and self-healing capabilities, which could revolutionise the industry further.

Challenges and Resilience Despite the significant progress, the journey has not been without challenges. The initial issue of threading posed a substantial obstacle, requiring innovative solutions and persistence. Additionally, characterising a completely new type of polymer network demanded meticulous research and experimentation.

Another significant challenge lies in bridging the gap between laboratory-scale research and industrial-scale production.

While the synthesis methods have shown promise at smaller scales, scaling up without compromising quality or efficiency requires continuous optimisation. This process involves not only refining the

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chemical processes but also ensuring that the production infrastructure can support the new materials.

Furthermore, the transition from laboratory experiments to market-ready products requires addressing regulatory hurdles. Industries adopting these materials must meet stringent environmental and safety standards, adding another layer of complexity. The team is actively engaging with industry stakeholders to facilitate this transition, ensuring compliance without compromising innovation.

Transforming Polymer Science The development of solvent-free coatings using cyclic silicones and PDMS ring polymers represents a paradigm shift in polymer science. By addressing critical environmental challenges and pushing the boundaries of material innovation, this research paves the way for a more sustainable future.

As the team continues to refine their materials and explore new applications, their work serves as a testament to the power of science and innovation in solving global challenges. The coatings industry, and indeed the broader field of material science, stands on the cusp of a revolution driven by these groundbreaking discoveries.

The journey of creating solvent-free coatings from cyclic silicones and PDMS ring polymers underscores the potential of innovative science to address pressing environmental issues.

By eliminating harmful solvents, achieving high-yield synthesis, and ensuring scalability, this research not only enhances industrial capabilities but also aligns with global sustainability goals. With further optimisation and application development, these materials promise to leave a lasting impact on industries and the environment alike.

As industries worldwide grapple with the dual challenges of performance and sustainability, the work being done in this field offers a beacon of hope. The integration of cyclic silicones into scalable, high-yield processes marks a significant milestone, one that could inspire similar advancements across other sectors of material science.

This project aims to create coatings without toxic volatile organic solvents, reducing the release of harmful substances into the environment. In pursuit of this goal, we discovered a new material with intriguing properties and have dedicated significant time to its development and characterisation. This new material shows great promise in formulating a completely solvent-free coating.

Project Funding

This project is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark under grant agreement 1127-00282B.

Project Partners

• Hempel A/S • Professor David R. Clarke, Harvard University • Professor Dimitris Vlassopoulos, Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas (FO.R.T.H.)

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Anne Ladegaard Skov, Professor and head of the Danish Polymer Centre, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark.

Søltofts Plads, 227, 122 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark E: al@kt.dtu.dk W: https://www.kt.dtu.dk/research/dpc

Anne Ladegaard Skov

Anne Ladegaard Skov is Professor of Polymer Technology at the Technical University of Denmark, where she is head of the Danish Polymer Centre. She is internationally recognised for her group’s work on silicone polymers and elastomers for advanced applications, including wound care, coatings, and soft robotics amongst others.

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Cryogenic inertial sensors.

A platform for detecting gravitational waves Gravitational waves were first directly observed in 2015 and over 100 more have since been detected. The next generation of detectors are now under development, with researchers in the SILENT project developing a platform to isolate the Einstein telescope from background disturbance and increase sensitivity at low frequencies, as Professor Christophe Collette explains.

The Einstein telescope is designed to detect gravitational waves at a higher level of sensitivity than currently possible, helping scientists identify the merger of black holes far out in space and opening up new insights into the origins of the universe. The telescope itself is set to be located deep underground when it enters operation, to minimise disturbance from ground motion of the earth. “Because of the seismic activity of the Earth some disturbances or waves are generated at the surface, which leads to a degree of motion, around the order of a micron,” explains Professor Christophe Collette, head of the Precision Mechatronics Laboratory at the University of Liege. A second major factor behind the decision to locate the instrument underground is the goal of minimising disturbance from Newtonian noise, which is caused by fluctuations in the Earth’s gravitational field. “If the distance between the mirror in the Einstein telescope and the

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mass surrounding it changes, then the force which is applied by this body on the mirror is also going to change. This in turn is going to induce some motion of the mirror,” says Professor Collette.

SILENT project. “In the project we aim to develop instrumentation and control strategies to boost the performance of the Einstein telescope at low frequencies,” he outlines. The SILENT team is developing a

“In the project we aim to develop instrumentation and control strategies to boost the performance of the Einstein telescope at low frequencies.”

SILENT project This represents a powerful set of reasons for putting the telescope underground, with two main sites currently being considered, one on the island of Sardinia and another in the area around the border between Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Controlling the movement and vibration of the telescope will help enhance its sensitivity to gravitational waves, a topic central to Professor Collette’s work as Principal Investigator of the ERC-backed

platform to essentially isolate the telescope from these sources of disturbance and so increase measurement sensitivity. “We have basically developed two platforms in the project. One is very much modular, designed with certain technical challenges in mind,” says Professor Collette. “Then, based on the lessons learned with this platform, we have developed and built a second. This platform is now in operation, it’s performing pretty effectively, and we are currently working to improve the performance.”

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Assembly of the radiative cryostat.

The platform itself is designed to support the mirrors within the Einstein telescope, which are a key part of the instrument as a whole. In current gravitational wave detectors like LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA, light is split using a beam splitter, which then travels down two perpendicular arms in a vacuum tube to mirrors, before the light bounces back and recombines.

“The interference of these two reflected beams can then be analysed to detect gravitational waves,” explains Professor Collette. While the exact design of the Einstein telescope is still to be finalised, Professor Collette says the key role of the SILENT platform will be to isolate the mirrors in the instrument. “There is nothing to isolate inbetween these mirrors, in the vacuum tube. However, the mirrors have to be extremely stable, and to achieve that we need to develop an effective suspension system,” he continues. “The SILENT platform will provide an environment which is much quieter than the ground, down to frequencies around 10 mHz. Below that, we want the mirror to move together with the ground.”

This platform is now being used in a prototype mirror called E-TEST, which will give scientists the opportunity to test and refine different technologies. The E-TEST prototype is a single, full-scale mirror, cooled down to cryogenic temperatures and isolated from seismic motion at low frequencies. “One key feature of the next

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The (not so) SILENT team at PML.

generation of gravitational wave detectors like the Einstein telescope is that they will use cryogenic mirrors which work at very low temperatures, close to absolute zero.

These mirrors will be much larger and the internal noise of the instrument will be pushed down, so the sensitivity will be increased,” outlines Professor Collette.

It is hoped this increased sensitivity will enable the next generation of detectors to detect more gravitational waves than currently possible. “About 100 gravitational waves have been detected with existing instruments since 2015, when the first was detected by LIGO,” continues Professor Collette. “We expect to measure something like 100,000 gravitational waves a year with the Einstein telescope.”

Gravitational waves The main priority with the Einstein telescope is to detect the merger of black holes, which

Installation of the SILENT prototype at PML.

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SILENT Seismic IsoLation of Einstein Telescope

Project Objectives

The EU-funded SILENT project will develop a new platform, controlled by optical seismometers, liquid inclinometers and a gravimeter. It will float in the inertial space and feature new optical inertial sensors and efficient controllers; moreover, it will allow developing accurate models of the Newtonian noise.

Project Funding

This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 866259).

Project Partners

There are a total of 16 partner institutions and private companies participating in the SILENT project. Please see the below web link for full details: http://www.pmlab.be/meet the team

Contact Details

Project Coordinator, Professor Christophe Collette Precision Mechatronics Laboratory Bât. B52/3 Active aerospace structures and advanced mechanical systems Quartier Polytech 1 Allée de la Découverte 9 4000 Liège Belgique T: +32 4 3669152 E: Christophe.Collette@uliege.be W: http://www.pmlab.be Professor Christophe Collette

Christophe Collette received an M.Sc. in physics engineering from the University of Liège in 2001 and Ph.D. degree in mechatronics engineering from the Université Libre de Bruxelles in 2007. He is currently full professor at University of Liège, and part time professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. He is founder and director of the Precision Mechatronics Laboratory (PML).

Precision Mechatronics Laboratory (PML) is developing instrumentation and strategies for actively measuring and controlling the vibrations of structures, with a particular interest for high precision control of large instruments dedicated to experimental physics, including gravitational wave detectors, particle colliders, segmented ground and space telescopes, satellites and light sources.

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generate large distortions of spacetime, as predicted by Einstein in his general theory of relativity. These extremely heavy bodies approach each other at a fraction of the speed of light, then orbit around each other, before merging and generating gravitational waves, essentially ripples in spacetime. “This is the main kind of event that will be detected with the Einstein telescope. But it will also be able to detect other types of events, like the merger of neutron stars,” says Professor Collette.

During the merger of neutron stars signals are emitted in the electromagnetic domain, which Professor Collette says opens up new possibilities in research. “We can observe these events not only with gravitational wave detectors, but also through a traditional telescope, from their electromagnetic

play an important role in increasing the sensitivity of the telescope, while Professor Collette says their research also holds wider relevance to other fields beyond astronomy.

“Vibration isolation is also necessary for other scientific instruments, like particle colliders and synchrotrons for example, as well as in medicine and microscopy. There are many fields in which vibration isolation is necessary,” he says.

The team at the Precision Mechatronics Laboratory are keen to explore these other potential applications of their research into vibration control, part of a commitment to working hand-in-hand with industry.

Quantum computers for example will require an extreme level of vibration isolation, and Professor Collette says the knowledge

“The Einstein telescope is designed to detect gravitational waves at a higher level of sensitivity than currently possible, helping scientists identify the merger of black holes far out in space and opening up new insights into the origins of the universe.” signature,” he explains. “This dual observation is called multi-messenger astronomy, and it gives us a much deeper understanding of bodies such as neutron stars. This is something that we would like to continue to do in future with the Einstein telescope.”

The Einstein telescope will help researchers to localize merger of neutron stars, and point electromagnetic telescopes accordingly. The Einstein telescope could also complement space-based instruments, which are sensitive in much lower frequency ranges than those on the ground. “It would be very interesting if we could have an overlapping window, so that we have continuous observation over a large frequency range. That is another objective with the Einstein telescope,” continues Professor Collette. The SILENT project will

gained in the project will be highly valuable in this and other respects. “Our research in SILENT is definitely transposable to other fields,” he says. The current priority in the SILENT project however is to improve the platform, looking towards its eventual application in the telescope. “We have developed the platform, the inertial sensors, and the control strategy. They are performing very well, and we are working to improve them,” continues Professor Collette. “We aim to continue to improve the control strategy, in order to make better use of the inertial sensor and improve the level of isolation at low frequencies. We are also involved in several other projects, in which we will continue to work specifically on control strategies.”

Chiara’s final touch on the interferometer.

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