AngryWaters

Many Earth system processes involving multi-physics, multi-phase conditions extend over several orders of magnitude in length- and time-scales. Engineering science, in pursuit of deeper process understanding and solution-oriented design, has used scaling theories to address scale-afflicted, complex processes through experimental work in laboratory environment at reduced scale. The standard scaling approach, the Buckingham -theorem, is especially deficient when multi-physics and multi-phase processes require the choice of more than a single non-dimensional number, resulting in severe scale effects and typically meaning that accuracies at reduced scale are inadequately quantified. Hence, we choose a demonstrably complex multi-physics, multi-phase process for the investigation of scaling accuracies the progressive collapsing of residential buildings and the associate debris transport, evolving from extreme flow events from natural hazards, such as flash floods or tsunami.

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ANGRYWATERS seeks to achieve a breakthrough in modelling these complex processes by deriving novel scaling laws that will be developed in the framework of the Lie group of point scaling transformations. Scaling requirements will be applied to the combined fluid-structure interaction at various scales, developing sophisticated building specimens; here, we employ 3D-printing and appropriately engineered materials to match the scaling requirements. We conduct a comprehensive experimental campaign, using medium- and large-scale facilities, subjecting the specimens to extreme flow conditions in the form of dam-break waves. We consider sub-assemblages, single and multiple buildings, enhancing the understanding of energy losses and debris production upon collapse, elaborating reduced scale accuracies. High-fidelity numerical modelling will complement our experiments, deepening our process understanding; a depth-averaged model with novel debris advection model crucially enhances predictive capabilities.

Frontier research

AngryWaters will conduct experimental research on residential building collapse at various scales: there is going to be a medium scale with a facility in Braunschweig that allows reduced scale building collapse at approximately 1:10 length scale, and more excitingly, a large scale with a facility in Hannover that will allow testing up to real scale building components such as walls or columns. The extreme flow will be modelled by using a dam-break facility that delivers flows with a flow depth of about 1.5 m, moving at a speed of approximately 6 m/s.

These experiments will provide extremely visible and impressive pictures and scenes for media, provided that the right equipment is available to film and photograph; moreover, there might be extreme events during the residency, i.e., a tsunami, or dam-break, or dike breach around the globe which would become an extra objective for the AngryWaters team to study the effects of such natural hazard onto the built environment.

Reel Borders: Film and Borderlands

Reel Borders is a five -year research project funded by the European Research Council (Starting Grant, PI: Kevin Smets). It studies the interrelations between film and borders, mainly by looking at the border areas between Ireland and the UK, Morocco and Spain, and Turkey and Syria.

The project combines methods and insights from migration and border studies, film studies, and participatory and anthropological research. Among other methods, it employs participatory filmmaking to understand the experiences of people living in border areas.

Synthetic Biology at the Marburg Center for Synthetic Microbiology (Synmikro)

With more than one hundred scientists SYNMIKRO follows a two-pronged approach – building to understand, and understanding to build – to gain insight into the principles of microbial life and to provide tools needed to tap the potential of microorganisms in modern biotechnology.

Synthetic microbiology has the potential to greatly benefit society by allowing us to design and engineer microbes for specific purposes. It can drive advancements in medicine, sustainable production, and environmental solutions. By precisely controlling microorganisms, we can develop eco-friendly biofuels, break down toxic pollutants, and revolutionize healthcare with new therapies. This makes synthetic microbiology a key tool for building a more sustainable and healthier future.

Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies

KInIT stands out with its extensive expertise in AI. It encourages knowledge spreading, talent development, and responsible innovation. It advocates quality, ethics, and fairness and is active in policy advising. KInIT proves its excellence in daily operations, with its industry research collaborations, PhD and internship programmes, European projects, and an extensive network in Slovakia and Central Europe R&I. Its activities focus strongly on the society, from research topics (e.g., disinformation, language, environment), through advising and commenting on Slovak and EU policies, popularising science, to young talent nurturing.

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Research topics:

– Misinformation analysis and characterization, fact-checking support

– Machine learning based detection and prediction methods

– Interpretation and explanation of machine learning models

– Neural language models (inc. LLMs)

– Interpretability and transparency of AI

– Predictive modeling

– Anomaly detection

– Societal and ethical impacts of intelligent technologies

– Human-centric and trustworthy AI

– AI regulation and digital governance

Frontier research
Currently implementing in total 13 international research projects: seven in Horizon Europe scheme, two in Digital Europe, one in EMIF, two in Interreg and one in Visegrad Fund (see more here: https://kinit.sk/research/projects/). We are proud that we can collaborate with renowned research institutions across the world. In these research projects we have 109 partners from 27 countries.
The scientific results are regularly published on top-tier venues as: ACL, EMNLP, NAACL, ACM Computing Surveys, AAAI, or RecSys (see more here: https://kinit.sk/research/publications/).

SHExtreme – Estimating contribution of sub-hourly sea level oscillations to overall sea level extremes in changing climate

Coping with a sea level rise, induced by climate change processes, is one of the most important challenges of modern society. It has been projected that, by the end of the 21st century, mean sea level (MSL) will rise between 40 and 60 cm worldwide. Higher MSLs imply that flood risks associated to extreme sea levels (ESLs) will also increase, with the 100-year return levels of extreme events along European coasts projected to increase between 50 and 90 cm by the 2100. ESLs occur due to a superposition of numerous oceanic phenomena which act over different temporal (from seconds to millennia) and spatial scales (from bays to oceans). Within SHExtreme project, contribution of under-researched sub-hourly sea level oscillations to the ESLs along the European coast will be studied. High resolution 1-min sea level data measured at more than 100 tide gauge stations, as well as reanalysis, hindcast and future simulations, will be analyzed to achieve project goals: (i) assessing present day distribution of sub-hourly sea level oscillations and estimating their contribution to the overall ESLs; (ii) linking sub-hourly ESLs to typical synoptic conditions; (iii) estimating future strength and distribution of ESLs related to sub-hourly sea level oscillations.

Early Modern Colonialism in the Pacific and the Caribbean

Currently, the Department of Humanities at UPF (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona) hosts two pioneering research teams, granted with ERC advanced and starting grants respectively, dedicated to studying the colonial past of the Caribbean and the Pacific. Adopting decolonial and feminist perspectives, they analyze island societies that endured colonial exploitation by European powers. Their research also sheds light on the complex and contested processes of modernity’s construction and the expansion of the Western patriarchal system.

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Frontier Research

Our research can be considered frontier research because it challenges dominant narratives about colonial history and modernity by integrating decolonial and feminist perspectives. The study of island societies in the Caribbean and the Pacific has traditionally been shaped by Eurocentric frameworks, often overlooking indigenous agency, resistance, and the enduring impacts of colonial exploitation. By combining archaeology, history, and heritage studies, our projects push disciplinary boundaries to offer new, interdisciplinary insights into how colonial encounters shaped not only past societies but also contemporary global structures.

Center for Research in Multiscale Science and Engineering of Barcelona (CCEM-UPC) – Reshaping the future with new materials

The Center for Research in Multiscale Science and Engineering of Barcelona (CCEM-UPC) is a multidiciplinary, cutting-edge research center in the field of materials science that aims to provide solutions for health, environmental and energy global challenges. Our research groups are dedicated to research, development and innovation in the fields of micro- and nano-engineering, biomaterials, environment recovery and energy harvesting. We are part of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and participate in several EU-funded projects doing research in the frontier of knowledge.

Some of our ERC-granted projects are:

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– BAMBBI: Bio-inspired AntiMicrobial Bone BIoceramics. Deciphering contact-based biocidal mechanisms.
This project is part of the “Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering (BBT)” group, led by Dr. Prof. Maria-Pau Ginebra. It aims to tackle the challenge of bacterial bone infections in orthopaedic and maxillofacial surgery by developing synthetic bone grafts featuring contact-based antimicrobial properties, adding antimicrobial activity to their capacity to support bone regeneration. In addition to being a major breakthrough in the field of bone regeneration, the project is focused on developing new methods of fine-tuning the nanostructure of calcium phosphates which will have an impact in very diverse fields such as catalysis, water purification and protein separation.

– SENSATE: Low dimensional semiconductors for optically tuneable solar harvesters.
This project is part of the “Micro and Nanotechnologies – Photovoltaic laboratory” at CCEM, led by Dr. Edgardo Saucedo and Prof. Joaquim Puigdollers. It proposes ground-breaking ideas and concepts for the development of novel materials with exotic optic and electric properties, that can be the solution for a semi-transparent or transparent and universal solar energy harvester. The use of these materials will improve the overall conversion efficiency of solar cells, achieving high efficiencies. If successful, SENSATE will have an unprecedented impact on our perception of solar cell energy, promoting applications that are currently considered marginal in photovoltaic and electronic devices.

Frontier Research
Our center encompasses a wide range of research areas in applied materials sciences. From biomedicine and tissue engineering to nanotechnology for the creation of new materials, our research is always pushing the limits of scientific knowledge, developing new knowledge beyond the state-of-the-art. Our center is part of more than 10 EU-funded projects, including ERCs and we count with exceptional and worldly recognized scientists in the fields of physics, engineering and biomedicine.

UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research

UCD Conway Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre exploring mechanisms of health and disease towards the development of preventative strategies and novel diagnostic & therapeutic solutions. Our vision is to be leader in biomedical research and innovation; translating this knowledge through industrial, academic & clinical partnerships to benefit health & well-being in Ireland and beyond. We provide an invigorating, interdisciplinary environment to facilitate excellence in the biomedical sciences. This enables the translation of new discoveries towards implementation and fosters next-generation leaders.

UCD Conway Institute includes more than 450 researchers at all career levels and supported comprehensive suite of centrally managed core technology facilities in Ireland. UCD Conway strives to facilitate every opportunity to advance interdisciplinary research, innovation and education in Ireland.

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Research activities in UCD Conway Institute are aligned under three overarching umbrella themes that enables the delivery of strategic goals and objectives:

Personalised & Translational Medicine
Using information about a person’s genes, proteins or environment to develop more precise medical models to identify, prevent or treat disease.

One Health
Exploring the complex interplay between the health of animals, humans and the environment to improve the condition of each.

Discovery Research
Creating new knowledge by studying the
fundamental processes in cells and living organisms to better understand health and disease.

We have an established structure to manage suites of core technologies with the ability to integrate emerging technologies and provide a comprehensive service offering to researchers. We have expertise that can contribute to the solution of major societal challenges.

This is underpinned by an record in active engagement and co-creation with cohorts
of the Irish public including secondary school teachers, pupils, patients and their families to ensure our research has tangible societal impact for future generations.

Frontier research

In addition to facilitating team-based science, the Institute is a home for individually excellent scientists, particularly in respect of ‘blue skies’ research, and welcomes and fosters multidisciplinary. Enabling scientists to pursue blue-skies, hypothesis-based research that will ultimately drive discovery is crucial. We encourage researchers to pursue their own ideas driven solely by the criterion of excellence. We encourage a culture that enables play as an integral part of the design thinking process.

Today, 160 Conway Fellows lead teams in research areas including cancer, infection, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, arthritis & rheumatoid disease. Exploring mechanisms of health and disease so as to develop strategies that maintain good health, diagnose disease early and find new and effective treatments.

FutureNeuro Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science

FutureNeuro is Ireland’s Research Centre for Translational Brain Science, dedicated to transforming the patient journey for those affected by neurological, neurodevelopmental, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Established in 2017, the Centre is hosted at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, with researchers also based across seven leading Irish institutions: Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Dublin, Maynooth University, University of Galway, South East Technological University, and University College Cork. FutureNeuro is uniquely connected into the national clinical network, providing our researchers with valuable access to clinicians and patients. For many of the disease areas we research, we work closely with patient representatives providing lived experience to inform our studies.

Originally centred on epilepsy and ALS, our research has expanded to include Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Traumatic Brain Injury, neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, and the psychiatric and mental health challenges that often accompany these conditions.

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FutureNeuro focuses on three key areas:

Diagnostics: We are improving the accuracy and speed of neurological disease diagnosis by identifying genetic, neuroelectric, and circulating biomarkers. Using cutting-edge genomics and sequencing technologies, including long-read approaches, we work to increase diagnostic yield and enable precision medicine. Our research integrates seamlessly with clinical practice, developing blood-based and data-driven biomarkers, as well as ultrasensitive monitoring technologies to detect disease progression and treatment response.

Therapeutics: We are pioneering disease-modifying treatments that target hyperexcitable and damaged brain networks. We focus on noncoding RNAs, metabolic and epigenetic processes, the blood-brain barrier, and neuroinflammation, using state-of-the-art techniques such as super-resolution imaging, single-cell ‘omics, and neurophysiology. Promising therapies are tested in our diverse translational models, including cell, animal, and human systems, to establish efficacy, understand mechanisms of action, and advance the most effective candidates toward preclinical development.

Digital Health: We are transforming and democratising healthcare through digital innovation. Our work focuses on developing connected health solutions that empower patients to monitor their well-being while enabling clinicians to make more informed decisions. We leverage real-world data and AI to improve personalised care, integrate digital tools into clinical workflows, and enhance research-enabled healthcare systems. Through collaboration with industry and healthcare providers, we are shaping the future of patient-centred, technology-driven neurological care.

By combining scientific excellence with national clinical networks and industry collaboration, FutureNeuro is driving research that improves lives.

Frontier research

FutureNeuro performs world-leading, challenge-based, high-impact science. We aim to improve how we diagnose brain diseases, to implement genomics for more personalised and effective therapy, develop the next generation of treatments, and harness state-of-the-art digital technologies to enable informed clinical-decision-making and deliver more personalised and proactive healthcare for patients and their families. Five FutureNeuro researchers are ERC awardees, who are carrying out diverse frontier research in areas including psychotic experiences in young people, circadian rhythms in families, gene therapies for age-related macular degeneration, making and breaking habits, and microglial biology.

FutureNeuro researchers have already made scientific breakthroughs in each thematic area:

Diagnostics: Our researchers discovered a new microRNA linked to epilepsy (miR-335) which targets voltage-gated sodium channels. This microRNA normally functions to restrain brain excitability and the study showed that a gene therapy (AAV9) carrying miR-335 delivered to the hippocampus of mice protected against seizures in a preclinical model. The study also discovered that cannabidiol (CBD), a new treatment for Dravet syndrome, alters expression of microRNAs in the mouse brain and may contribute to the drug’s mechanism of action.

Therapeutics: Our researchers, alongside colleagues, unveiled a significant breakthrough regarding the impact of Covid-19 on the brain. Using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, they showed a correlation between blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption and changes in brain volume. The analysis of gene expression revealed dysregulation in the coagulation system and a dampened adaptive immune response in individuals with brain fog. In vitro experiments revealed an increase in adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to human brain endothelial cells, and exposure of endothelial cells to serum from long COVID patients induced the expression of inflammatory markers. The findings suggest that sustained systemic inflammation and persistent, localised BBB dysfunction is a key feature of long COVID-associated brain fog.

Digital Health: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative and currently incurable disease. Due to the absence of a definitive test, diagnosis often involves extensive medical exams, lasting up to a year. This process can be exhausting for patients and their families. FutureNeuro researchers worked towards the identification of the predictors of a caregiver’s quality of life (QoL), in addition to the development of a model for clinical use to alert clinicians when a caregiver is at risk of experiencing low QoL. The study identified novel factors impacting caregiver QoL in ALS, incorporating both patient and caregiver traits. Furthermore, employing machine learning and explainable AI, the research unveiled a proof-of-concept model showcasing AI’s potential to enhance healthcare decision-making processes.

Centre for ice, Cryosphere, Carbon and Climate (iC3)

Polar science, covering both the Arctic and Antarctica. We are a multidisciplinary centre of 40+ researchers exploring how the links between ice sheets, carbon cycles and ocean ecosystems are impacting life on Earth. We have already hosted two FRONTIERS fellows.

Working out of the world’s northernmost university, iC3 drives global efforts to quantify how ice sheets influence Earth´s carbon cycle, climate and ocean ecosystems in the past, present and future. Our team of leading scientists has access to world-class facilities including Arctic and Antarctic research stations, ice-going research vessels and in-house laboratory and modelling capacity. We work together across disciplines to answer some of the biggest questions in polar research and by innovating in novel technologies.

iC3 is based at the top university worldwide in terms of Arctic research output. Our centre is located on Tromsø Island, surrounded by mountains, glaciers and fjords, with daily flights to Svalbard. This creates unique opportunities for science, education and training on our doorstep.