archive.php

Author: Juliet Davies

Stand with Ukraine: Support the next generation of medical professionals

Date posted by Juliet Davies

Meeting, Wednesday 14th May 2025, 13.00 UK time, 14.00 CEST, 15.00 Ukraine time

Academia Europaea Cardiff is taking action to support Ukrainian researchers facing scientific isolation due to war. In collaboration with Odessa National Medical University, we are launching a pilot initiative to connect Ukrainian PhD students – qualified medical professionals – with academic mentors across Europe.

Join our meeting this May, chaired by our Hub Director Professor Ole Petersen CBE FRS ML MAE, to hear directly from representatives of Odessa National Medical University and the PhD students seeking academic support in the areas of medicine and health. Through short talks and personal stories, they will share their challenges, aspirations, and the crucial role international collaboration can play in sustaining Ukrainian medical research.

Our speakers include:

  • Valerie O’Donnell MAE, Research Professor, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
  • Alexei Verkhratsky MAE, Professor of Neurophysiology, University of Manchester, UK
  • Valeriia Marichereda, First Vice-Rector, Professor of gynaecology and obstetrics, Odessa National Medical University, Ukraine
  • Viktoriia Borshch, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor of Management in Healthcare, Odessa National Medical University, Ukraine
  • Oleksandr Shakhanov, PhD student, “A modern approach to the treatment of chronic wounds”, Odessa National Medical University, Ukraine
  • Borys Bovsunovskyi, PhD student, “Optimisation of bone canal formation technique in osteosynthesis”, Odessa National Medical University, Ukraine
  • Daria Drobot, PhD student, “Visfatin as a marker for the development of atypical hyperplasia and endometrial cancer in women with metabolic syndrome”, Odessa National Medical University, Ukraine

This is a chance to make a real difference. Show your support, stand with Ukraine, and discover how you can play a vital role in mentoring and supporting Ukraine’s next generation of medical professionals.

Supported by Cardiff University.

Registration

To attend, please contact Juliet Davies at DaviesJ89@cardiff.ac.uk, and you will receive the joining details for the meeting.




Updated 7th April 2025. For more information contact AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk










Science advice at a time of crisis: Are we better prepared, or is more still to be done?

Date posted by Juliet Davies

Tuesday 13th May, 15:00-16:00 CEST; 14:00-15:00 UK and Ireland

The first five years of the 2020s have seen policymakers wrestling with major challenges, including the global pandemic, international military conflicts and significant political and economic uncertainty, as well as the escalating impacts of climate change.

What lessons have we learned from recent crises in terms of how science advice mechanisms perform? What remains to be done to strengthen our science advice ecosystems, infrastructures, processes and practices to deal with what lies ahead?

Join us for this webinar, which is free and open to all.  It is a side event to the European Scientific Advice Mechanism 2025 Conference, Building bridges: shaping Europe’s science-for-policy-landscape.

We’re delighted to welcome back some of the international panel who debated this topic with us in 2022, alongside new experts and perspectives:

This event is organised and hosted by Academia Europaea Cardiff and SAPEA, in partnership with UPEN.

Registration

Register here.



14th March 2025. For more information contact AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk




Nobel laureates stand with Ukraine

Date posted by Juliet Davies

In early March 2025, Nobel laureates Serge Haroche and Ferenc Krausz MAE visited Ukraine to deliver academic lectures and demonstrate solidarity with the nation’s academic community and the people of Ukraine. They presented a Nobel Appeal endorsed by 131 Nobel laureates globally, from a wide range of disciplines.

On 4th March, they held a symposium titled 100 Years of Quantum Physics in the shelter of Kyiv National University, highlighting how curiosity-driven research in quantum physics has led to groundbreaking discoveries and technologies. The following day they travelled to Kharkiv and visited a secondary school that housed one of the first underground educational facilities in Ukraine. Most children in the Kharkiv region have been out of school for more than 5 years due to the pandemic and subsequent war, and the students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue their education in person.

The delegation also toured the School of Physics and Technology and an abandoned residential area in northern Kharkiv, both severely damaged during the initial stages of the full-scale invasion. These visits underscored the profound impact of the conflict on educational institutions and residential communities. Throughout their visit, Professors Haroche and Krausz observed the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people in defending their freedom and democratic values amidst ongoing aggression.

Published 28th March 2025. For more information contact AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk

Insights Wales | Solar radiation modification: What’s the debate, and why does it matter?

Date posted by Juliet Davies

Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) covers a range of technologies that have the potential to cool the Earth’s climate. SRM is therefore the subject of intense and controversial debate around whether it might provide a means to tackle global warming and the devastating impacts of climate change.

Three major reports have recently been published by the European Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) and the European Group on Ethics (EGE). Between them, they set out the evidence and present policy recommendations on SRM to the European Commission. 

At this event held on 2nd April and hosted by Insights Wales, Louise Edwards, Manager of the Academia Europaea Hub at Cardiff University, shared her experiences of coordinating the evidence review work on SRM for the Scientific Advice Mechanism.




Updated 3rd April 2025. For more information contact AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk



Solar radiation modification: What are the technologies, and what are the risks?

Date posted by Juliet Davies

This webinar, held on 11th March, considered the options on SRM technologies and potential impacts.

Following the Scientific Advice Mechanism’s recent reports on Solar radiation modification, we have held a series of webinars considering the issues around SRM. In the third webinar of the series, we examined the options on SRM technologies, the potential risks and impacts, and the prerequisites for possible deployment. It was attended by nearly 100 participants.

Key points

  • Dr Simone Tilmes provided background by looking into why SRM is being researched, what the proposed technologies are, along with potential scenarios and strategies for the use of SRM
  • Dr Gabriel Chiodo looked at one SRM technology option, stratospheric injection (SAI), its potential effects and limitations
  • Professor Johannes Quaas examined another option, cloud brightening, as well as limited-area SRM. He considered the prerequisites related to modelling, detection and monitoring.

The Deputy Chair of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, Professor Naki Nakicenovic, outlined the policy recommendations made by the Group in its Scientific Opinion, particularly as they relate to technologies and possible deployment. Dušan Chrenek, Principal Adviser at DG CLIMA at the European Commission, gave his response to the presentations.

There was very lively discussion through the online ‘Chat’ between a highly engaged audience and members of the panel. 

Watch the webinar

View the slides

View the slides here.

Watch the recordings of other webinars in the series


12th March 2025. For more information contact AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk



Building Bridges 2025

Date posted by Juliet Davies

36th Annual Conference of Academia Europaea and Conference of the Young Academy of Europe

15th – 17th October, Barcelona, hybrid event

Untitled (1200 x 800 mm) – 1


Academia Europaea invites Members to join us at our annual conference, Building Bridges 2025, which brings together leading scholars and experts from across disciplines to foster dialogue and collaboration. This year, we gather at Barcelona Biomedical Research Park to explore pressing global challenges, share cutting-edge research, and strengthen academic networks.

Programme details, keynote speakers, and registration information to follow. 



11th March 2025. For more information contact AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk



Drugs and cell trafficking: Lessons from calcium channels

Date posted by Juliet Davies

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Professor Annette Dolphin FMedSci FRS MAE, President of The Physiological Society, discussed her career in science and share her experiences as a woman in the field.

This talk took place on 19th March and was part of Cardiff University’s BioConnect Seminar Series.

About Annette Dolphin MAE

Annette Dolphin is a Professor of Pharmacology in the Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, at University College London. She has made major discoveries with respect to neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels, their modulation and roles in disease.

She has received a number awards for her work, including the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) Sandoz Prize and the Pfizer Prize in Biology. She has also been awarded prize lectures such as the G. L. Brown Prize Lecture of The Physiological Society, the Mary Pickford Lecture of the University of Edinburgh, the Physiological Society Annual Review Prize Lecture (2015), the Mabel Fitzgerald lecture for female scientists, Oxford (2019) and the 17th David Smith lecture, Oxford (2023).

Professor Dolphin was elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1999, the Royal Society in 2015 and Academia Europaea in 2018. She became President of The Physiological Society in December 2024.

A short interview with Annette Dolphin

Why do you think it’s important to mark International Women’s Day in scientific spaces like this seminar?

“Firstly, to celebrate how far women have come in getting recognition in scientific endeavour, secondly to recognise how far we still need to go to achieve parity, and thirdly because, as we look on aghast at what is currently happening to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the USA, we have to acknowledge that it is necessary to continuously monitor and assert our rights.”

What do you hope attendees take away from your talk?

“That the situation for female scientists has changed beyond recognition compared to when I was starting out in my career, but there is still a long way to go.”

Throughout your career, how have you seen the landscape change for women in science, and what challenges remain?

“So much has changed in terms of workplace culture and the old-boy network. No-one would ask a job applicant not to have a child within 3 years of being appointed, as happened to me! However, I know there are still massive challenges for women in science, particularly in terms of juggling their scientific productivity with maternity and childcare, and also care of elderly parents.”

What advice do you have for young women aspiring to leadership roles in scientific research and professional societies?

“Don’t take on too much at too young an age; pick and choose what roles to take on; be a bit selfish and concentrate on your own career.  Women are still in the minority, and they get disproportionately asked to fulfil university and external leadership roles to a greater extent that men, which is not always advantageous to their own scientific advancement.”

Updated 21st March 2025. For more information contact AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk




Solar Radiation Modification: What’s at stake for society?

Date posted by Juliet Davies

This webinar, held on 3rd February, examined social science aspects of the SRM debate.

Following the Scientific Advice Mechanism’s recent reports on Solar radiation modification, we are holding a series of webinars considering the issues around SRM. In the second webinar of the series, we explored perspectives and interests of key stakeholders, as well as governance and legal aspects of research and deployment. It was attended by nearly 100 participants.

Continue reading “Solar Radiation Modification: What’s at stake for society?”

Solar radiation modification: What should Europe’s strategy be?

Date posted by Juliet Davies

At this webinar held on 23rd January, a high-level panel examined the strategic issues behind SRM.

Following the Scientific Advice Mechanism’s recent reports on Solar radiation modification, we are holding a series of webinars considering the issues around SRM. In the first webinar of the series, we focused on strategy and policy, exploring SRM technologies, their purposes, potential deployment, associated risks and consequences, stakeholder attitudes and interests, and the strategy and policy Europe should adopt regarding SRM research and potential deployment.

Continue reading “Solar radiation modification: What should Europe’s strategy be?”

Academia Europaea celebrates scientific excellence in Hungary and Romania

Date posted by Juliet Davies

Visit to Radnoti Miklos Experimental Grammar School, Szeged. From left: Head of Biology, Peter Hegyi, Ole Petersen, Martin Chalfie and the Headmaster.

In December 2024, the Director of the Academia Europaea Hub in Budapest, Peter Hegyi MAE (Semmelweis University Budapest) in collaboration with the Hungarian National Academy of Scientist Education, chaired by Andras Varro MAE (University of Szeged) organised two spectacular scientific events in Szeged and Iasi, respectively.

Continue reading “Academia Europaea celebrates scientific excellence in Hungary and Romania”

Interview Spotlight Series

Explore our collection of interviews, featuring Members of Academia Europaea and colleagues connected with the Academy, as they offer insights into critical research topics.

A collaboration between Academia Europaea and Cardiff University