Energy, Resources and the Environment

Cities of the future

Sara Mynott September 6, 2019

Blooming marvelous! Vertical gardens bring heaps of aesthetic appeal. Credit: Visal Kolluri

Over half the world’s population lives in cities. Many a metropolis rises high above carpets of concrete and tarmac, vibrant, bustling, and prosperous. But this urban environment comes with many a problem. From poor air quality to hazardous temperatures, there are several dangers present in urban environments. Scientists speaking at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly in Vienna earlier ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: The salt mine carving into the Carpathians

Olivia Trani August 26, 2019

Large similar folds in a salt mine in the Carpathians. Credit: Janos Urai (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

The image gives us a glimpse into the Slănic Salt Mine in central Romania, about 100 kilometres north of the capital city Bucharest. The region was actively mined for almost 30 years, from 1943 to 1970. The Slănic Salt Mine is the largest salt mine in Europe, and the facility consists of 14 large chambers, each more than 50 metres high. The cavities of the mine, more than 200 metres deep, carve in ...[Read More]

The ReSToRE summer school on the sustainable development of Earth resources: reflecting back

Anthea Lacchia and Jen Roberts August 14, 2019

ReSToRE participants from all over the world: in this from left to right, in back row: Emilio Castillo (from Chile), Halleluya Ekandjo (from Namibia), Muhammad Tahir (from Afghanistan), Geertje Schuitema (Director of ReSToRE). Front row: Laura Berdi (from Hungary), Josphat Nguu (from Kenya) and Sarah Caven (from Northern Ireland).

How can we source and use Earth resources in an ethical and responsible way? And how can we bring different actors and communities together to achieve sustainable resource development? These are just some of the questions that early career researchers from around the world came together to discuss during the inaugural Researching Social Theories, Resources, and the Environment International Summer ...[Read More]

Pole to Paris: Communicating climate change in a divided society

Erlend Moster Knudsen August 2, 2019

In today's politically divided landscape, what is the role of science? Climate scientists Daniel Price and Erlend Moster Knudsen established an outreach campaign, Pole to Paris, to break down barriers and create dialogues on climate change. Right photo: London February 15 2019 (27) School Students Strike for Climate Action. Credit: David Holt via Flickr. Left photo: Trump Digs Coal LAGOP GOTVR Dec2016 140. Credit: Tammy Anthony Baker via Flickr

The recent European Parliament election illustrated how divided Europe has become politically and intergenerationally. While the established parties lost their ground, both far-right populistic, anti-EU and liberal, green pro-EU parties grew in popularity among voters1, with the younger generation favoring the latter and the generations above the former2. What role is there for science in this div ...[Read More]