EU Member States have recently approved new standards on resources and emissions which will help national authorities to lower the environmental impact of around 3 500 large combustion plants. The new specifications were developed through an inclusive, transparent and evidence-based process involving Member States, industry and environmental non-governmental organisations. The specifications set, for the first time at the EU level, limits for the emissions to air of mercury, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride from the combustion of solid fuels in LCPs. They also tighten the existing emission limits for pollutants including sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2017
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Jacques Dubochet (University of Lausanne, Switzerland), Joachim Frank (Columbia University, USA), and Richard Henderson (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, UK) for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution. Due to this type of microscopy that simplifies and improves the imaging of biomolecules, researchers can now freeze biomolecules mid-movement and visualise processes they have never previously seen, which is decisive for both the basic understanding of life’s chemistry and for the development of pharmaceuticals.
Source: https://www.nobelprize.org
Making Solar-Driven Chemistry a Reality
Solar-Driven Chemistry is a visionary concept that aims to create chemical reactions by using the energy from the sun in order to guarantee the welfare of future generations. In the follow-up of EuCheMS white paper on Solar-Driven Chemistry, EuCheMS is organising a meeting on 16 October with European national funders and EU officials in order to promote this topic as a EU-wide priority. EuCheMS will also be presenting this topic at the EU Pavilion at COP23, 6 – 17 November, Bonn. COP (conference of parties) is the annual meeting organised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Source: www.euchems.eu
EuCheMS General Assembly 2017
The 2017 EuCheMS General Assembly annual meetings took place in La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy, on the 25, 26 and 27 September. This year´s GA was marked, among other, by the signing of the position paper Research and Education Without Borders After Brexit, in which EuCheMS Members stated their support to the continued scientific collaboration between the EU and the UK. It was also noted that significant developments have been achieved within EuCheMS as well as in networking with stakeholders in past years, and many new are planned for the future of European chemistry. The General Assembly was kindly hosted by Società Chimica Italiana. Presentations are available on the indicated website.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/
Cross-border Collaboration and Portfolio Management of Research Infrastructures
Science Europe, a Brussels-based association of European Research Funding Organisations (RFO) and Research Performing Organisations (RPO), has recently released its latest workshop report on ‘Cross-border Collaboration and Portfolio Management of Research Infrastructures’. The workshop, organised in Dublin earlier this year, explored the challenges facing research funding and performing organisations to design and manage balanced research infrastructure (RI) portfolios and design effective cross-border collaborations when setting up and running joint RIs. The key points discussed during the workshop are summarised in the report.
Source: http://www.scienceeurope.org/
Applications for ERC Advanced Grants 2017: Facts and Figures
The ERC has recently released the preliminary statistics on submitted proposals for European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants 2017, whose applications closed in August. According to the statistics, the number of applicants, 2166, decreased 10% when compared with the previous year. The highest number of applications was registered in the domain of Physical Sciences and Engineering (46%), followed by Life Sciences (29%), and Social Science and Humanities (25%). 18% of the proposals were submitted by women – a slight improvement from the past years (16.5% in 2016, 17% in 2015). The ERC Work Programme has earmarked €567 million for an estimated 245 Advanced Grants in 2017. The estimated success rate in this competition is 11%. The ERC is now starting evaluation of the proposals. The selected projects will be announced in spring 2018.
Source: https://erc.europa.eu/
New Knowledge Centre on Bioeconomy
A Bioeconomy Knowledge Centre has recently been created by the European Commission to better support policy makers with science-based evidence in this field. This online platform will primarily collect, structure and provide access to knowledge from a wide range of scientific sources on bioeconomy, the sustainable production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into valuable products, fields in which chemistry is essential.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/
Steering Platform on Research and Innovation for Western Balkans
The Steering Platform on Research and Innovation for Western Balkans (SP), established in 2006, facilitates the interaction between the Western Balkan Countries, the EU member states, the candidate and potential candidate countries and other states associated to the Research Framework Programmes and the European Commission. Its main objective is to support the enhanced integration of the Western Balkans Countries (WBCs) in the European Research Area. It is a strategic body to deal with European, multilateral and regional issues of Science, Technology and Innovation policies in and with the WBCs. It acts as an information exchange centre, clearing house for joint ideas and activities, and coordination forum for needs, suggestions and proposals of the WBCs to the European Commission, the EU28, candidate and potential candidate countries and the countries associated to Horizon 2020 and vice versa. In 2017 new scheme for the support of the SP meetings was introduced, funded by the European Commission. Within this facility it is planned to organise two SP meetings in 2017 and in 2018, as well as three SP thematic meetings. For more info please see the source link below.
Source: https://wbc-rti.info/theme/16
Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance
A Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections (EU-JAMRAI) was launched this month at the French Ministry of Health in Paris. The Joint Action EU-JAMRAI aims to bring together EU Member States and international organizations, institutes, and universities in order to contribute towards solving antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and healthcare-associated infections. With more than 44 partners and 22 collaborating stakeholders from all over Europe, this Joint action will capitalize on existing initiatives and propose concrete steps to reduce the burden of AMR. Conclusions from a EuCheMS-EFMC–STOA workshop organised on this topic are available online.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/
MEPs Discuss Fipronil in Eggs
In a debate on the contamination of eggs with the insecticide Fipronil, many Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) criticised national authorities for delays in notifying the EU’s Rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) and called for the information-sharing system to be improved. Some even suggested fines for member states which fail to share crucial food safety information, while others called for truly dissuasive sanctions for fraudulent producers or suppliers of pest-control products. Fipronil, an insecticide used inter alia to kill fleas and mites, is classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as moderately hazardous. Its use in the EU is prohibited for all food-producing animals. Quality control of our food is one of the many areas where chemistry plays a major role.
Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/
New and Improved Car Emissions Tests
Since September 2017, new car models will have to pass new and more reliable emissions tests in real driving conditions (“Real Driving Emissions” – RDE) as well as an improved laboratory test (“World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure” – WLTP) before they can be driven on European roads. These changes were prompted by the Volkswagen emissions scandal, and aim to control, among other, emissions of CO2 as well as NOx and other air pollutants. According to the European Commission, three air pollutants alone, PM 2.5, NO2 and O3, are responsible for 400 000 premature deaths per year in the EU including some 70.000 directly linked to NO2.
Sources: http://europa.eu/; http://europa.eu/
2018 Erasmus+ Annual Work Programme Published
The 2018 annual work programme for Erasmus+ was published in August and outlines the structure and funding of the programme for the following year, with an overall budget of more than €2.5 Billion. Erasmus+ aims to provide to over 4 million Europeans the opportunity to gain competences and have a personal, socio – educational and professional development through studies, training, work experiences or volunteering abroad. It also fosters quality improvements, innovation, excellence and internationalisation of organisations active in education and training, youth and sport, and promotes initiatives that support policy reforms at all levels.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/
Commissioner Moedas Against Proposed Cuts to Horizon 2020
EU Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas has recently criticised, during a conference, a proposal from member states to cut almost half a billion euros out of Horizon 2020. In May, the European Commission proposed a budget of €160.6 billion for 2018. The Council answered in July, proposing a €1.7 billion reduction which would impact Horizon 2020. Moedas said that, to walk back the proposals, scientists needed to call their governments. The Commissioner also guaranteed he would make his case to ministers of science and finance.
Source: https://sciencebusiness.net/
EuCheMS 2017 General Assembly
EuCheMS 2017 General Assembly will take place on 26 – 27 September 2017 in Rome, Italy, together with EuCheMS´ Professional Networks and Executive Board meetings. The General Assembly, the governing body of EuCheMS composed of representatives from each of EuCheMS’ Member Societies and Supporting Members, meets annually and defines the general policy of EuCheMS. One of the topics will be the EuCheMS position paper Research and Education Without Borders After Brexit.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/
Solar Driven-Chemistry Meeting
In the follow-up of the publication of the white paper Solar-Driven Chemistry, EuCheMS is currently organising a meeting taking place on 15 October in Brussels. During this meeting, EuCheMS and several European funding agencies will look into the possibilities opened by this white paper with the intent to discuss and coordinate efforts in order to promote Solar-Driven Chemistry at the European Level. This paper aims to show that it is possible, and even necessary, to drive chemical reactions by the energy from the sun in order to guarantee the welfare of future generations.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/
Preparing for Employment in a Global Workforce
The workshop Preparing for Employment in a Global Workforce, co-organized by EuCheMS and American Chemical Society (ACS), took place on 20 August during the 254th ACS National Meeting & Exposition in Washington, DC. In this discussion aimed at undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and their professors, the workshop explored ways in which students can be better prepared for employment in the global market. Careers opportunities and trends were discussed from the point of view of experts from government, industry and academia with a particular emphasis on trends in the United States and Europe. ACS and EuCheMS shared results of employment surveys for chemists to help better understand the training needs of chemists worldwide.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/
Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe: Academic Staff – 2017
Eurydice has just released its latest publication “Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe: Academic Staff – 2017”. This report explores the current realities for academic staff within the changing higher education landscape in Europe. It focuses on the qualification requirements for academic staff, the recruitment process, employment and working conditions in academia, the impact of external quality assurance, and top-level strategies for internationalisation. It also includes national diagrams showing key characteristics of academic staff categories. The report is based mainly on qualitative data gathered by the Eurydice Network, covering higher education systems in 35 countries.
Source: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/
New Catalogue of Nanomaterials Used in Cosmetics is Now Online
The European Commission has recently published a catalogue collecting information received from operators (e.g. manufacturers, importers, etc.) on nanomaterials present in cosmetic products. This includes nanomaterials used as colourants, preservatives and UV-filters. The catalogue indicates the categories of cosmetic products and foreseeable exposure conditions. In the EU, operators must notify the cosmetic products notification portal (CPNP) of cosmetic products and whether they contain nanomaterials. According to the Commission, the catalogue will be updated regularly.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/
New Report on Air Pollution
The annual European Union emission inventory report 1990-2015 under the The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) shows that NH3 emissions fell by 23 % between 1990 and 2015, but increased in the EU-28 between 2014 and 2015 by 1.8 %. The other main pollutants covered by the LRTAP Convention have dropped considerably since 1990, including the three air pollutants primarily responsible for the formation of ground-level ozone (O3). Carbon monoxide (CO), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were reduced by 68%, 61 % and 56 % respectively. Around 94 % of ammonia emissions in Europe stem from agriculture, mainly from activities such as manure storage, slurry spreading and the use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers. Ammonia contributes to eutrophication — an oversupply of nitrogen — and acidification of ecosystems. It also forms particulate matter in the atmosphere which has adverse effects on human health.
Source: https://www.eea.europa.eu/
International Research Cooperation on the Atlantic Ocean
The EU, Brazil, and South Africa have recently signed in Lisbon the Belém Statement on Atlantic Research and Innovation Cooperation. Recognising that Oceans play a key role in developing national and regional economies, in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and addressing climate change, the parties state in this document their commitment towards further collaborative scientific cooperation regarding the Atlantic Ocean, and towards a sustainable cooperation on marine science, research and innovation.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/
EU Action to Combat Marine Litter
The European Parliament has recently published the outcomes of the workshop EU Action to Combat Marine Litter. This report summarises four presentations by experts and discussions which took place at this workshop held on 3 May 2017 in the European Parliament. The aim was to provide background information to the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee ’s Members and contribute to their understanding of the need to tackle marine litter and the challenges involved, with the Circular Economy Action Plan and Plastics Strategy being recognised as policy windows in addressing this form of pollution.
Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/
Organic Food: New Rules for EU Label Agreed Between Parliament and Council
New rules to increase consumer trust in organic products and promote growth of this market were informally agreed between European Parliament and Council of the EU negotiators. Among other, the new rules include strict, risk-based controls along the supply chain; imports should comply with EU standards; farmers will be obliged to apply precautionary measures to avoid pesticide contamination. The agreed text now needs to be approved by the European Parliament Agriculture Committee, the Parliament plenary and the Council before it can enter into force. Chemistry plays a fundamental role in defining and controlling thresholds of contaminants in organic food.
Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu
Open Access to JRC Research Infrastructures
As early as December 2017, researchers will be able to use the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) research facilities located in Ispra (Italy), and thereafter in Geel (Belgium), Karlsruhe (Germany) and Petten (Netherlands), thus helping to maximise the benefits of these world-class infrastructures and laboratories. Past successful cooperation with universities, research institutes and SMEs has shown that there is big interest in using JRC facilities. With this initiative, the JRC aims to spread scientific knowledge, boost competitiveness and help to bridge the gap between research and industry. The results will also feed into JRC’s mission to support EU policymaking. The calls for access to the first three laboratories are available on the dedicated portal.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/
Council Agrees its Position for the 2018 EU Budget
Earlier in July the EU ambassadors agreed the Council’s position on the 2018 EU draft budget, ahead of the negotiations with the European Parliament starting in October. The Council’s position for 2018 amounts to €158.9 billion in commitments and €144.4 billion in payments, up by 0.6% and 7.4% respectively compared to the 2017 EU budget. Payments increase significantly because the implementation of the 2014-2020 programmes is expected to reach “cruising speed” following the initial start-up period. EU’s research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 would count with €10.6 billion in commitments and €10.8 billion in payments, which is an increase by 2.6% and 5.8% respectively compared to the 2017 EU budget. Regarding Erasmus+, the proposal foresees €2.3 billion in commitments, an increase of 9.5%, and €2.1 billion in payments an increase of 13.1%.
Source: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/
Acrylamide: Vote in Favour of Commission’s Proposal to Reduce Presence in Food
Member States´ representatives voted in favour of European Commission’s proposal to reduce the presence of acrylamide in food. Once implemented, the new regulation will require that food business operators (FBOs) apply mandatory measures to reduce the presence of acrylamide, proportionate to the size and nature of their establishment.
The agreed text will now be sent to the Council and the European Parliament. The entry into force could be foreseen spring 2018. The Commission is also planning to initiate discussions on additional measures, such as setting maximum levels of acrylamide in certain foods without delay once this Regulation is adopted. Acrylamide is a carcinogenic substance that forms from naturally present free asparagine (amino-acid) and sugars during high temperature processing, such as frying, roasting and baking, particularly in potato-based products, cereal-based products, coffee and coffee substitutes. EuCheMS has submitted input to the European Commission on this topic.
Source: http://europa.eu/