NEWS

ALLEA Endorses Statement Calling for Action to Help Researchers in Afghanistan

ALLEA has endorsed a statement by Scholars at Risk Europe calling on European Governments and EU Institutions to help scholars, researchers, and civil society organisations in Afghanistan. The joint call urges to secure their lives and careers and proposes some concrete recommendations to take action.

Nature Medicine Comment on International Health Data Transfer Published

The lead authors of the ALLEA, FEAM and EASAC report ‘International Sharing of Personal Health Data for Research’ published a Comment in the journal Nature Medicine on 2 August. The piece summarises the key takeaways of the joint report, including an assessment of the legal challenges in sharing personal health data with researchers outside the EU/European Economic Area (EEA).

Videos and Illustrations of Science Communication Conference Available

ALLEA and the German science communication organisation Wissenschaft im Dialog organised an international conference on the Future of Science Communication last June. Videos and graphic recordings of the sessions are now available. Funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research, the event brought together different approaches from research and practice to science communication.

New Reports on EU Genome Editing Policy for Agriculture Presented

On 22 July 2021 Re-Imagine Europa (RIE), together with ALLEA and EU-SAGE, presented two reports on innovation in agriculture in a virtual event. The publications look into existing narratives concerning the role of genome editing for crop improvement and potential ramifications for European policy.

ALLEA-GYA Event Report on Research Assessment Published

ALLEA and the Global Young Academy (GYA) have published a report covering the key takeaways of their webinar ‘Research Assessments that Promote Scholarly Progress and Reinforce the Contract with Society’. The event brought together science and policy stakeholders to rethink current research assessment models.

Noam Chomsky on Academic Freedom and Intellectual Dissent

US linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky delivered the keynote "The University at Times of Crisis" as part of the international conference "Academic Freedom and Intellectual Dissent" co-organised by Scholars at Risk and ALLEA on 8 June. 

Working Group Kick-Started Project on Climate Sustainability in Academic System

The newly established working group is led by the German Young Academy with the aim to develop a proposal for a sustainable transformation of academia that is deliberated, balanced and accounts for all relevant perspectives such as to meet the challenge of a climate sustainable academia without compromising excellence in research.

Energy Transition Needs to Accelerate Urgently, Says EU’s Scientific Advice Mechanism

There are many possible pathways towards a carbon-neutral future — and achieving it by 2050 is possible but requires urgent action. This is the conclusion of a group of top scientists tasked by the European Commission with advising on how to facilitate the energy transition in Europe.

Future of Science Communication Conference: Moving Forward Research & Practice

How can we connect research and practice in the science communication field? What are the lessons learned on the relationship between science and politics after the Covid-19 pandemic? Over 1000 participants joined two days of digital discussions and workshops to tackle these questions and more at the Future of Science Communication Conference.

“When We Explain the Facts, We Should Also Explain How Misinformation Can Distort Our Facts”

Dr John Cook (Monash University) is an award-winning scientist and cartoonist who fights climate misinformation with humour and critical thinking. He is also the creative mind behind the Cranky Uncle, a “male, older, white, and politically conservative” caricature of those who are dismissive of climate science according to psychological research.

ALLEA President Takes over as Chair of SAPEA

ALLEA President Antonio Loprieno became the new chair of the SAPEA Board. SAPEA is part of the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism and brings together outstanding expertise in engineering, humanities, medicine, natural and social sciences from over 100 academies, young academies and learned societies across Europe.

Discussing Academic Freedom with the President of Ireland and Noam Chomsky

ALLEA and Scholars at Risk organised the international virtual conference ‘Academic Freedom and Intellectual Dissent’ with US linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky and the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins as star speakers. The event focussed on the importance of intellectual dissent and academic freedom to democratic societies in a Western, particularly European, context.

‘Across Boundaries in Sciences’: Watch the Symposium’s Recordings

The recordings of the scientific symposium 'Across Boundaries in Sciences' are now available to watch. This event was held on 5 May 2021 and featured a wide range of international perspectives from research, politics, and civil society, speakers.

Registration for the Future of Science Communication Conference is open

Together with Wissenschaft im Dialog, we are happy to announce that registration for the Future of Science Communications Conference is now open! The event will take place online on 24 and 25 June 2021. The conference is free to attend and will offer interesting keynotes, panels, workshops and lightning talks featuring researchers and practitioners from various European and international institutions.

European Academies Re-Elect Antonio Loprieno as ALLEA President

ALLEA Member Academies unanimously re-elected Professor Antonio Loprieno as President for the term 2021–2023. Board Members Professor Annette Grüters-Kieslich and Professor Luke Drury were appointed as ALLEA Vice-Presidents. The election and appointments were part of the 2021 General Assembly.