Ιούλιος 2013

Water is one of humanity’s most pressing issues. Do we have enough of it for drinking, for farming or for industry? Too much, in the shape of flooding? Or too little, in the form of drought? The WATCH project, funded by the EU, was designed to give us better answers to questions of water management. Since its completion in 2011, the data has already been downloaded 94 times from Europe but also to the US, Africa and elsewhere. It has been mainly used by scientists, but also by mapping companies, insurers and meteorological organisations, as well as wildlife and environmental groups.

Science for children these days has gone some way beyond old-style rote learning of formulas and chemical compounds - now it is about encouraging more active learning, invention and creativity in a quest to inspire.

Further information: cordis.europa.eu

It is barely visible to the naked eye: the work pieces in the production hall look normal. But the first impression is deceiving. The airplane components are “intelligent” and can communicate with the skilled workers in their vicinity. Not only can they tell them what they are, they can also provide information on who has worked on them as well as on the next work step. A radio frequency identification chip (RFID) transmits the information.