Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere, Department of Biology

In Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), we aim to produce groundbreaking insights into how the worldwide emergence of novel ecosystems impacts biodiversity and biosphere functioning and how we can steer these dynamics towards the most positive outcomes for life on Earth as possible. ECONOVO’s research program is organized around four research themes to provide the much-needed basis for predicting the consequences of the accelerating global spread of novel ecosystems and improving their value for Earth’s biodiversity and biosphere functioning. Most importantly the residence should have an interest in ecosystems, biodiversity and nature.

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Frontier research

The Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) is at the forefront of research into how anthropogenic pressures are reshaping ecosystems globally. ECONOVO tackles one of the most urgent frontiers in ecology: understanding and guiding the emergence of novel ecosystems in a rapidly changing world. The center integrates macroecology, biodiversity science, paleoecology, archaeology, socio-ecological systems, rewilding, and vegetation modeling to uncover both the historical underpinnings and future trajectories of ecosystems facing accelerating climate change, biological invasions, and land-use transformations. ECONOVO’s work bridges fundamental and solution-oriented science, aiming to steer novel ecological dynamics toward outcomes that support biodiversity and biosphere functioning.

ECONOVO is led by Professor Jens-Christian Svenning, a globally leading macroecologist with more than 600 peer-reviewed publications and over 60,000 citations. His research spans continents and timescales, with major contributions to our understanding of plant distribution, ecosystem functioning, rewilding, and conservation under global change. ECONOVO’s environment is dynamic and international, offering a fertile setting for deep engagement with cutting-edge ecological science and its societal relevance, making it a highly suitable host for a science journalist interested in frontier environmental research.

Microbial networking – from organelles to cross-kingdom communities – CRC1535 MibiNet 

The Collaborative Research Centre 1535 MibiNet “Microbial networking – from organelles to cross-kingdom communities” is dedicated to exploring the fascinating world of microbial interactions in all their complexity. Our interdisciplinary team investigates how microorganisms communicate at various levels – from the organization within individual cells to complex, cross-kingdom communities.

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Our pioneering research aims to uncover fundamental microbial networking principles and understand their role in diverse contexts, ranging from intracellular endosymbionts to intercellular cross-kingdom microbiomes. We utilize innovative microscopy methods, cutting-edge omics technologies, and bioinformatic analyses to decipher previously unknown microbial communication and cooperation forms. These findings have potentially transformative implications for our understanding of microbial communities and could open new avenues for applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. Journalists will find diverse points of contact with us, ranging from the visualization of complex microbial interactions to exploring the ecological and biotechnological relevance of networking.

Frontier Research

MibiNet addresses fundamental questions about the organization and function of microbial networks that have been insufficiently understood to date. CRC1535 will pursue a profound “learning from nature” strategy: fundamental principles and unifying concepts from natural examples of stable microbial interactions will be challenged by implementing them in the synthetic construction of designer organelles, endosymbionts, and cross-kingdom communities. We transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries by integrating innovative methods from cell biology, genomics, physics, and bioinformatics to decipher the complex interactions between microorganisms at various levels – from subcellular processes to global biogeochemical cycles.

Our research is groundbreaking as it uncovers novel concepts of microbial communication and cooperation, and could revolutionize our understanding of the fundamental principles of life in microbial communities. This innovative approach, deconstructing and synthetically reconstructing natural systems, holds the potential for scientific breakthroughs in microbiome research, new antimicrobial strategies, and the sustainable use of microbial resources in biotechnology and agriculture. By investigating previously unknown mechanisms and developing novel analytical tools, we are venturing into uncharted scientific territory and thus addressing genuine ‘Frontier Research’ questions.


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.