European Commission’s Post

Researchers from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Nice Institute of Chemistry are developing 100% bio-based resins for sustainable spacecraft construction. This initiative aims to create more environmentally responsible space technologies by utilizing everyday waste materials. The team has successfully produced high-performance bio-based resins suitable for spacecraft applications. These composites are created using a molecular architecture approach, where each component and bond plays a crucial role in determining the final properties of the material. Professor Alice Mija, leading the research, emphasizes the importance of sustainability in the space industry to prevent pollution both in space and on Earth. The project is part of ESA's Basic Activities and was submitted through the Open Space Innovation Platform. Having produced 5 to 10 kilograms of materials, the team now aims to scale up production for commercial space applications. Their goal is to gradually achieve a production rate of 100 kilograms per week. Plans are underway to launch a start-up dedicated to the mass production of these bio-based resins, potentially revolutionizing spacecraft construction with more sustainable materials. #spacetech #sustainability #biotech Gabrielle Desarnaud (宋溪燕) Alex Bulat- van den Wildenberg Florent Andrillon https://lnkd.in/esiMPDC4

Harvard professors decide it's not ok to fool Mother Nature, but others would rather just go ahead and act. Harvard University’s single, small #balloon experiment, known as the Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment, or SCoPEx, came to represent all of the fears regarding medling with forces beyond our control—and, in the end, it was more than the researchers, David Keith https://lnkd.in/gqS4BKTR and Frank Keutsch https://lnkd.in/ggQ-MZHu, were prepared to take on. Last month, a decade after the project was first proposed in a research paper https://lnkd.in/g-VtUxs9, Harvard officially announced the project’s termination, as first reported by MIT Technology Review. https://lnkd.in/giaKGRKG “The experiment became this proxy for a kind of debate about whether solar #geoengineering research should move forward,” Keith says. “And that’s, I think, the ultimate reason why Frank and I decided to pull the plug. There’s no way, given that weight that SCoPEx had come to hold, it made sense to move forward.” But wait, there's more While the Harvard team’s public plans were going nowhere, several other individuals claimed to have simply started launching stratosphere-bound balloons without any announcements in advance. They include the CEO of Make Sunsets, https://makesunsets.com/ a venture-backed #geoengineering startup, as well as Andrew Lockley, an independent researcher in the UK. They claim they got permission from the FAA https://lnkd.in/gCmJqCFE Indeed, there are numerous indicators of growing interest in researching this field and providing funding for it. As noted, the US government is developing a research program. The Environmental Defense Fund is considering supporting scientists in the area and recently held a meeting to discuss guardrails that should govern such work. And a number of major philanthropies that haven’t supported the field in the past are in advanced discussions to provide funding to research groups, sources tell MIT Technology Review.Meanwhile, under Keith, the University of Chicago is working to hire 10 faculty researchers in this area. 🤔 It seems to me that if #models and #simulations are sufficient for the #IPCC https://www.ipcc.ch/ to make decisions about global climate law and economy, maybe they should be run on this before we mess with the stratosphere.

WELCOME TO VANJ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE VANJ CONFERENCE 2023 - “Green Environment and Energy” [Vietnamese is in the comment] The Vietnamese Academic Network in Japan (VANJ) is delighted to announce the forthcoming VANJ CONFERENCE 2023, a dynamic and multidisciplinary platform set to convene from December 2nd – 3rd, 2023. The event will be held as a hybrid conference with both onsite and online options. 🏢 Venue: The University of Tokyo - Hongo Campus, Japan 🌐 Online via Zoom 🗣 Language: English Our world is changing in the throes of transformation, marked by unprecedented climate disruptions, environmental pollution, and the alarming depletion of natural resources. These pressing issues pose a critical challenge to the sustainable development of nations worldwide. At this critical juncture, where environmental preservation and the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions are paramount, VANJ CONFERENCE 2023 endeavors to catalyze interdisciplinary dialogues that transcend the conventional confines of academia. Focusing on the theme “Green Environment and Energy”, our aim is to stimulate the formulation of scientifically informed solutions for these pressing challenges. Our objective is to cultivate an intellectual environment that fosters the exploration, celebration, and innovative advancement of the symbiotic relationship between the green environment and the energy sector. VANJ CONFERENCE 2023 will feature: - Plenary talks - Special sessions - Oral and poster general sessions - Networking The scope of VANJ CONFERENCE 2023 includes, but is not limited to the following topics: - Natural Sciences (Physical sciences, Chemical sciences, Biological sciences, etc.) - Engineering and Technology (Electrical and electronic engineering, Mechanical engineering, Materials engineering, Construction engineering, Nanotechnology, etc.) - Medical Sciences (Basic medicine, Health sciences and biotechnology, etc.) - Agricultural Sciences (Veterinary Science, Agricultural biotechnology, etc.) - Social Sciences (Economics and business, Educational sciences, Social and economic geography, Media and communications, etc.) - Sustainability Sciences (Earth and related environmental sciences, etc.) - Computer and Information Sciences - Other Interesting topics With two days filled with top-quality research and vibrant discussion, VANJ CONFERENCE 2023 is the ideal opportunity to meet colleagues, leading experts, renowned scientists and researchers from Japan, Vietnam and across the globe. Join us to connect, create and contribute! Save the dates now: December 2nd – 3rd, 2023

Exciting news in the 🔋energy industry! California-based startup EnerVenue headed by Jorg Heinemann and Yi Cui is making waves by redeveloping nickel-hydrogen batteries for grid-scale energy storage facilities. This innovative technology was originally developed for NASA satellite batteries, making it a reliable and sustainable option for energy storage. Euan McTurk, curious to hear your expert thoughts on this promising technology. Let us know your thoughts! P.S. Find the link to the article in the comments below!

More evidence of dwindling planetary resilience. “This update finds that six of the nine boundaries are transgressed, suggesting that Earth is now well outside of the safe operating space for humanity.” Based on 2,000 studies, the study indicates that several planetary boundaries were passed long ago. The boundary for biosphere integrity, which includes the healthy functioning of ecosystems, was broken in the late 19th century, the researchers said, as destruction of the natural world decimated wildlife. The same destruction, particularly the razing of forests, means the boundary for land use was broken last century. Climate models have suggested the safe boundary for climate change was surpassed in the late 1980s. For freshwater, a new metric involving both water in lakes and rivers and in soil, showed this boundary was crossed in the early 20th century. Ocean acidification is also assessed as getting worse and being close to exceeding the safe boundary. “We know for certain that humanity can thrive under the conditions that have been here for 10,000 years – we don’t know that we can thrive under major, dramatic alterations [and] humans impacts on the Earth system as a whole are increasing as we speak.”

✨🌱 ICTO 2024 / Track 3 -- Call for Extended Abstracts : Navigating the Complexity and Acceptability of Low-Carbon Energy Transition in the 21st Century 🌱✨ In the face of climate urgency, understanding the socio-technical landscape of low-carbon energy technologies is vital 🌍💡 🎓 We invite scholarly contributions to explore the intricate balance between innovation, social acceptability, and environmental sustainability 🎓 Topics of Interest: 🤝 Public perceptions, social acceptability and technology legitimacy of low-carbon energy technologies. 🌿 Stakeholder engagement and inclusive decision-making in low-carbon energy systems. 🔄 Ethical considerations and community engagement in low-carbon transitions. 💡 Innovative market mechanisms for low-carbon technologies. This call seeks to forge transdisciplinarydialogues and collaborative research efforts that recognize the multifaceted challenges of energy transitions. We aim to contribute towards a sustainable and equitable energy future 🚀 Why Join? Your insights could illuminate new pathways, challenge norms, and inspire a wave of change towards a sustainable energy paradigm. 🌟 For submission details, please reach out to the track chairs. Link: https://lnkd.in/eyx7Bp_r Pascal CLAIN EMLV - Ecole de Management Léonard de Vinci ESILV - Ecole Supérieure d'Ingénieurs Léonard de Vinci #LowCarbonFuture #SustainableEnergy #CallForPapers #BeTheChange #SustainableDevelopment #ICTO2024 #SocialAcceptability #EnergyTransition

This how you can get momentum by using your existing capabilities!

💧🌎💡 Scientists find link between planets and water that could solve mystery of how worlds form #water #waterscarcity #watercrisis #tech #watertech #startup #innovation #future #sustainability #environment #technology #investment #capital #research #unitednations #climatechange #science

⭐Incredible breakthrough! Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology have unveiled a groundbreaking process the "#PhotomolecularEffect." 💧Their discovery showcases that #water can evaporate solely through #light, without any heat source. 💥This revelation has vast implications, revolutionizing #climatechange assessments, #weather predictions, and offering new avenues for #energy and #cleanwaterproduction. 🌈Through meticulously crafted experiments, the team proved that photons from visible light spectrum can disintegrate water clusters exposed to air, reshaping our understanding of fundamental processes. #Science #Innovation #MIT https://lnkd.in/gtRdz595 https://lnkd.in/gqaRbYwE

Do you believe you have an idea that could redefine space exploration and address our planet's challenges? Read further! ⬇ ESAs Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) currently has a campaign with the title "Sustainable Future: Advancing Circular Life Support Systems". 🌱 Inspired by the MELiSSA project led by European Space Agency - ESA, with over 30 years of research in alternative life support systems, this campaign aims to address resource scarcity in space. The focus is on regenerative systems, producing vital resources like oxygen, water, and food from mission waste. What's more, these innovations have applications right here on Earth, enhancing sustainability and resource management. Challenges: 1. Food for Mars: Craft the ideal menu for Martian explorers. 2. Turning Waste into Resources: Efficiently process waste within the MELiSSA loop for sustainable space exploration. 3. Microscopic Space Risks: Study virus and phage risks by the crew and regenerative life support processes. To submit your idea follow the link ➡ https://lnkd.in/dCWjc5SC Closing date: 29th January 2024