Smarter science: staying one step ahead of the next pandemic

EU-funded researchers are improving surveillance systems to detect emerging infectious diseases spread in different ways, including by mosquitos. © frank60, Shutterstock.com

From mosquito monitoring to sewage surveillance, EU-funded researchers are combining diverse data techniques to spot early signs of emerging infections before they strike. By Andrew Dunne As the world woke up to a global pandemic in early 2020, a new EU-funded research initiative was just getting underway – the Versatile Emerging Infectious Diseases Observatory (VEO). … Read more

Bringing the outdoors in: architecture that nurtures our connection with nature

Lessons learned from the traditional connection with nature in Japanese and Danish architecture could help build greener urban spaces for the future. © PhD Carmen García Sánchez, 2020

EU-funded researchers are exploring the role of architecture in designing living spaces that harness the healing power of nature to improve the health and well-being of urban populations. By Bárbara Pinho Dr Carmen García Sánchez likes to ride her bike in the Danish countryside. That is how she first discovered how closely post-war Danish architecture … Read more

Sowing the seeds of greater food diversity in Africa

Food system labs across Africa are analysing the nutritional value of less-used crops and their potential to tackle malnutrition. © HealthyDiets4Africa, 2024

Diversifying food sources and developing underused, nutrient-rich crops could help combat malnutrition and enhance food security in Africa. By Andrew Dunne When crop scientist Michael Frei grew up in Germany in the 1980s, television screens were filled with scenes of poverty, drought and destruction in Africa. The 1984 Ethiopian famine brought home to millions the … Read more

Robo-companion: humanoid robot gets chatty to help elderly hospital patients

Successful trials of ARI, the talking robot, demonstrate its potential to help hospital staff and enhance patient care. © SPRING

EU researchers are testing a robot that can have basic conversations in busy surroundings, with the idea of assisting people arriving at hospitals. By Gareth Willmer A hospital in central Paris has had an unexpected helper: a full-sized talking humanoid robot. Created by an international team of EU-funded researchers, it can interact with patients, provide … Read more