Author: JRC – European Commission – HEADLINES

The JRC and the Lithuanian Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology organised two information events in for Lithuanian scientists in Vilnius on 18-19 May. Such conferences are regularly organised in countries throughout Europe.

On 18 May, a seminar for young researchers aimed at raising awareness about JRC activities and career opportunities among young Lithuanian researchers. The audience of 60 Lithuanian PhD students had the opportunity to get an insight into JRC activities in support to EU policy making as well as to discuss opportunities for collaboration with the JRC. They also had the possibility to participate in a comprehensive workshop on job opportunities at the JRC where the new multi annual recruitment plan of the JRC was presented.

The European Commission published on 18 May a report on the progress of Member States in addressing water scarcity and droughts. Despite more rainfall in southern European countries in 2009 than in previous years, greater efforts are still needed to stop and reverse the over-exploitation of Europe’s limited water resources. An effective water pricing policy, water efficiency and water saving measures are essential to ensure that Europe has enough good quality water to meet the needs of users and to face the challenges of a changing climate.

The JRC contributes to the Commission’s preparatory activities in view of the 2012 water scarcity and droughts policy review with the development of the prototype of the European Drought Observatory. The European Drought Observatory (EDO) will give access to drought information from various sources from continental overview level to national and regional level through monitoring and detection of drought events, thus contributing to preparedness and early warning on droughts in Europe.

At the third edition of the European Maritime Day in Gijón ,Spain, scientists from the JRC’s Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) will present the latest research developments for improved capabilities in maritime surveillance, with particular emphasis on information derived from satellite-based observations.

The Vessel Detection System (VDS), developed by the JRC-IPSC, is just one successful example of how satellite-based systems can help monitoring compliance with EU regulations at sea. By integrating vessels positions from different sources and comparing them with vessels detected on the satellite image, the VDS can facilitate the work of coastal guards by better targeting inspection areas. Since 2009, EU legislation foresees the use of VDS in contexts where its cost-effectiveness can be proven. From detecting illegal fishing vessels to oil spills monitoring and enhanced border security, technologies and concepts developed by the JRC-IPSC support the European Commission towards an integrated European maritime policy.

The European Commission has published today a Eurobarometer survey showing that an overwhelming majority of Europeans would find it useful to have European legislation on radioactive waste management. Due to the use of radioactive substances and materials also for medical applications and for research, the concern for the safety risk related to radioactive waste is shared both in countries with and without nuclear power plants .

Research plays a major role in addressing particular aspects of nuclear waste management and the monitoring and reduction of its environmental impact. It is primarily needed to reduce prediction uncertainties and thus increase general confidence. The JRC has a long-standing track record in independent and reliable research and science and technology assessment in the nuclear field, with a view to providing science-based options to address issues of nuclear stakeholders, public acceptance and policy concerns.

A workshop for nuclear & energy security experts, organised by the JRC Institute for Energy (IE) on 26-27 April, aimed to explore, discuss and debate the challenges and solutions for the global energy sector. While energy demand is still rising, the evidence is clear that CO₂ emissions must be reduced globally. Abundant, affordable, and environmentally responsible energy must be developed to meet that demand. Nuclear power, as a secure alternative to fossil fuels, has technical risks and lack of public acceptance. How can it help Europe to solve the energy challenge?

The 4th "Oceans fom Space" conference from 26 – 30 April 2010 – organised by the JRC, the European Space Agency (ESA), the US Office of Naval Research, Global (ONRG), the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – is gathering specialists and experts on remote sensing of the sea to address every facet of satellite oceanography, including missions, satellites, sensors, passive and active techniques, calibration and validation, algorithms and models. The emphasis of the symposium will be on the key information provided by satellites to promote a sustainable use of marine resources and to improve our knowledge of the role played by the oceans in regulating climate.

Thanks to the success of the BioSoil Demonstration Project, JRC scientists have concluded that large scale monitoring of soil conditions and biodiversity in forests is achievable. This goes part way towards fulfilling the main aims of the project: to provide harmonised soil and biodiversity data EU-wide, to evaluate the methodology of European soil and forest biodiversity monitoring programmes, and to provide a baseline to assess future trends in the soil condition and biodiversity of forests in the EU.

Soil characterisation data are essential to discover how an ecosystem works. Within the Forest Focus Biosoil project, participant countries have increased the range of forest monitoring activities (on atmospheric pollution and forest fires) by intensifying surveys on soil characteristics and forest biodiversity indicators.

The JRC Annual Report 2009, published today, provides an overview of the activities, accomplishments and resources related to the JRC’s work carried out in 2009.

In 2009, the JRC took on the challenge of reinvigorating its organisation by the creation of a new vision and strategy for 2010-2020, which are expected to be approved by mid-2010.

In this year’s Annual Report, various examples from the JRC’s policy support work are presented, including examples of crisis response as well as input to the various stages of the policy cycle, from anticipation and formulation to policy adoption, implementation and evaluation. The report also presents highlights of the JRC Institutes’ work in 2009.

Dutch minister for Foreign affairs Maxime Verhagen today visited the Energy Research Park in Petten, The Netherlands. On invitation by the Dutch Nuclear knowledge centre (NRG), the visit was primarily focussed on the Petten High Flux Reactor. However, the Minister was also highly interested in all other energy activities at the site.

Presentations from both the JRC Institute for Energy (IE) on the role of the JRC in supporting the development of European energy policy and from the Dutch Energy Research Centre (ECN) were well received by the Minister and members of his cabinet.

Scientists at JRC’s Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) have performed extremely low-level measurements of radioactivity in old steel samples from Hiroshima. These latest measurements provide robust support to Hiroshima dosimetry calculations, which are crucial for our knowledge about the effects of radiation on the human body.

The measurements were successful in resolving a pending discrepancy between computer models and previous measurements (which were almost a factor of 100 too high). The new results support the computer models, and thus provide greater confidence in the existing dosimetry system for radiation protection.

The winners of the 2010 GreenLight and GreenBuilding awards save up to 85% of their energy consumption. During the "Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings" conference in Frankfurt, 24 participants from all over Europe received recognition for their results or their innovative projects. These initiatives count over 700 participants in total, who save approximately 545 GWh each year. This is equivalent to the energy used by two mid-size European cities over the same period.

Managed by the JRC’s Institute for Energy (IE), the GreenLight and GreenBuilding programmes are voluntary schemes that invite private and public organisations to reduce their energy consumption in their premises. GreenLight encourages partners to install energy-efficient lighting, while the GreenBuilding initiative promotes improved energy efficiency in buildings through several measures such as thermal insulation, efficient heating and cooling, intelligent control systems, solar panels etc.

“Over the past two decades, the dominant pattern in OECD countries is one of a fairly widespread increase in income inequality”, says the Stiglitz report, completed in 2009 but based on data preceding the onset of the present crisis.

This if inequality increased in the past two decades, what happened in the three years since the global economic crisis struck? Are public finances and competitiveness the only dissonant elements of the EU fabric? Or is a social alarm likely? What will be the consequences of increased inequality (in wealth, health, education, employment) on the EU cohesion? What are the links between increasing citizens’ apathy toward EU policies and the perceived unfairness of the game?

To answer this question, the European Commission, in cooperation with the Maltese government and the Spanish Presidency of the EU, organises a two day conference on Inequality Measurement and the Progress of Society.

Organised under the Spanish EU Presidency on 8 and 9 April, the conference explores how to concretely advance a comprehensive skills and jobs agenda in the framework of the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing both on skills upgrading in line with future needs, and the better matching of skills and jobs.

At the event, the JRC Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) illustrates the key findings of its research on the role of ICT for socio-economic inclusion of youth at risk and migrants, in support of the flagship initiative "An agenda for new skills and jobs". In particular, IPTS scientists present the key challenges in education and training, skilling and employment for three key population groups: young people; migrants and ethnic minorities and women carers, and illustrate how ICT can support in addressing these challenges.

Mobile search is
likely to become an attractive expansion market: by 2012, there will be an
estimated five billion subscriptions to mobile telephony. By the end of 2013,
broadband mobile connections will account for more than half of all connections
and 40% of all subscribers will be using mobile internet. The report “Prospects
of Mobile Search”, established with input from the JRC’s Institute for
Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS), aims to understand how mobile search will
impact Europe’s economy and society. It explores
also possible strategies for the EU to take a lead in upcoming technological
developments and business opportunities. The report concludes by presenting some
policy recommendations in view of the likely socio-economic implications of
mobile search in Europe.

Scientists at the JRC’s Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) carried out an independent analysis and provided recommendations for additional improvements to the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Multidimensional Poverty Assessment Tool (MPAT) framework and surveys. This analysis also statistically confirmed the suitability of using a thematic indicator, as opposed to a composite indicator, and verified the overall robustness of MPAT’s architecture.

MPAT is a multi-purpose tool that can be used to assess and support rural poverty alleviation efforts in developing countries. This survey-based (household and village level) thematic indicator is primarily designed to support monitoring and evaluation, targeting, and prioritisation efforts at the local level.

On 25 March, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published the key findings of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (FRA 2010), concluding that world deforestation, mainly the conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land, has decreased over the past ten years but continues at an alarmingly high rate in many countries. FRA 2010 is the most comprehensive assessment of forests and forestry to date – not only in terms of the number of countries and people involved – but also in terms of scope. It examines the current status and recent trends for about 90 variables covering the extent, condition, uses and values of forests and other wooded land, with the aim of assessing all benefits from forest resources.

The JRC’s Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) provided statistical support to the ninth edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), published on 17 March by the European Commission. The EIS 2009 shows that the current economic crisis may be hampering the progress in innovation performances achieved by most EU Member States up till 2008. Member States with lower levels of innovation performance seem to be the worst hit, potentially reversing the convergence process witnessed over recent years. The latest statistics show also that the EU is no longer catching up with the US in innovation performance, although it maintains a clear lead over emerging economies.

The JRC and the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement promotes collaboration in scientific and technology areas such as energy, environment, security, high performance scientific computing and nuclear security.

Building on a longstanding scientific relationship and the shared objective of research, both organisations have identified in particular the following areas of common interest: energy, nuclear security, environment, security of critical infrastructures, as well as high performance scientific computing.

A comprehensive atlas of all damage caused in Haiti by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake on 12 January 2010 is now available to help planning recovery and reconstruction measures. The atlas, based on the comparison between pre-disaster satellite imagery and post-disaster aerial photos, provides an overview of building damage in the main affected cities in Haiti showing that almost 60,000 buildings were either destroyed or very heavily damaged.

Residential buildings and buildings in slums bore the worst damage, particularly in Port-Au-Prince, Carrefour, Delmas and Leogane communes. The damage is now assessed to be ten times higher than first estimates given immediately after the event, which can be attributed to the availability of better resolution airborne data.

A paper published in February by scientists from the JRC Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) represents a significant advance in the ‘fingerprinting’ of plutonium contamination, giving nuclear safety and safeguards authorities more information on how nuclear material was produced and helping to identify sources of environmental contamination.

Using a technique known as Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS), the researchers measured the ratio of plutonium isotopes with unprecedented accuracy in reference samples obtained from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, and also on soil and moss samples collected from the site of the Chernobyl accident.