Welcome to Future Earth's monthly newsletter, where we bring you the latest news, events and opportunities in sustainability research. Please contact us to share your own news.

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Future Earth Updates

News & Events

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PEGASuS Blog SeriesThe Program for Early-stage Grants Advancing Sustainability Science (PEGASuS) seeks to increase knowledge, promote innovation, and establish evidence-based solutions to the world’s most difficult sustainability challenges. PEGASuS brings together researchers from across borders and the natural and social sciences to take creative approaches to exploring the relationships between people and the planet.Check out the latest in this five-part series on Biodiversity and Natural Assets:Farms for BiodiversityThe EQUIVAL Project: Nurturing a Shift towards Equitable Valuation of Nature in the Anthropocene

Global Sustainability Scholars Cohort Selected5 February 2019

The Global Sustainability Scholars Program (GSS) announced the members of the initial cohort of undergraduate students. The program was open for sophomore (second-year) students from all over the United States that are interested in disciplines related to sustainability. This prestigious, three-year summer experiential learning opportunity fosters professional development within a new generation of scientists who represent the diversity of today's society. The program is focused on transdisciplinary sustainability science and innovation. Read more...

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Project Progress

Global Research Projects

12 ways the tech sector can help save the climate in 12 years 

6 February 2019 Learn about 12 ways that existing digital technology and tech companies can help the world halve emissions in 12 years, launched at the 2019 World Economic Forum. It builds on the work of our Exponential Climate Action Roadmap released last fall at the Global Action Climate Summit. Read more... 

Call for Papers: Mountain Research and Development (MRD)

Deadlines: submission of abstracts by 30 March 2019; submission of full papers by 16 August 2019

MRD aims to contribute to a better understanding of the interrelationship between global change, mountain biodiversity, and human wellbeing. It further aims to provide insights into possible ways of harnessing mountain biodiversity for sustainable development both in mountains and in the lowlands. MRD is looking for contributions for its 3 peer-reviewed sections: MountainDevelopment (transformation knowledge), MountainResearch (systems knowledge), and MountainAgenda (target knowledge). Read more...

Future Earth discusses Earth Commission at World Economic Forum

31 January 2019 Future Earth held a dialogue with business and sustainability leaders on the need for an Earth Commission at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Commission would be about offering an integrated global report – to offer a kind of north star for businesses, policy makers and cities by synthesizing the latest science to underpin the setting of science-based targets. Read more...

IGACnews Issue 63 Nov/Dec 2018

Read news from the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) about their updates, events, science feature from an early career perspective, and early career spotlight. Read more...

The Link Between El Niño and Disease New research shows, for the first time, the strong connection between El Niño weather patterns and increased outbreaks of infectious disease around the world. Read this article by EcoHealthAlliance, part of One HEALTH. Read more...

Exciting times for PECS in 2019 In 2019 Programme on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS) will begin a process to expand to a nodal and regional coordination structure. A regionally distributed Secretariat will ensure a broad geographical representation worldwide, it will help strengthen the international ties between key regional social-ecological research networks, and facilitate engagement with key regional stakeholders. Read more...

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SOLAS Open Science Conference, 21-25 April 2019, Sapporo, Japan The Surface Ocean–Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) is an international and interdisciplinary research project on biogeochemical-physical air-sea interactions and processes. With its Open Science Conference, SOLAS offers the ideal programme for scientists who wish to learn and exchange about cutting edge research in the field and present their own findings. A special event dedicated to Early Career Scientists is being organised. Registration open until 28 February. Read more...

Knowledge-Action Networks

Nexus Knowledge-Action Network holds their first in-person meetingFrom 14-16 January 2019, seven members of the Nexus Knowledge-Action Network Steering Committee met in Paris for their first face-to-face meeting. The meeting was very productive, providing a space to reflect on their achievements in 2018 and to organise themselves for the year to come. In 2019, the Knowledge-Action Network is planning to establish an academic journal on the water, energy and food nexus, produce a review of the nexus concept as a solutions space and continue to establish themselves as a recognisable and influential think tank by participating in key strategic events.

What are Knowledge Action Networks?

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These networks bring together researchers and experts in policy, business, civil society and more. They build the knowledge and tools the world needs to tackle key sustainability challenges, from sustainable cities to planetary health.

Global Happenings

Highlights (In Case You Missed It)

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EU President Pledges to Spend Billions on Climate Change

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said The European Union should spend every fourth euro spent within the EU budget towards action to mitigate climate change, in the next financial period from 2021 to 2027. He made his speech alongside 16-year old climate activist Greta Thunberg who had come to Brussels to join Belgian students who were in their seventh week protesting against global warming. Read more…

Research Bytes

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Events & Opportunities

To see more upcoming events, and share your own, visit the Open Network. 

International Conference: “Towards a Sustainable Water Future”

Abstract submission deadline:28 February 2019 The Sustainable Water Future Programme  (Water Future) of Future Earth is organizing an international conference titled “Towards a Sustainable Water Future” to be held September 24 - 27, 2019 in Bengaluru, India. Click here for details.

Transformations 2019 Conference

Abstracts and proposals submission deadline: 3 March 2019 Join this conference to look into how transformational methods have progressed in science and what are the innovative methods. Click here for details.

Apply to host the first congress of Sustainability Research and Innovation

Application deadline (extended):8 March 2019 (midnight EST) Future Earth and the Belmont Forum are joining forces to establish an annual marquis congress in which the world’s foremost research and innovation communities come together to share successes, exchange views, and work across disciplines and sectors to support a global transformation to sustainability.

IGAC Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) Nominations

Closes 15 March 2019 Nominate or self-nominate to serve the international atmospheric science community. Click here for details.

BNP Paribas Foundation: Climate & Biodiversity Initiative

Closes 28 April 2019

The BNP Paribas Foundation is

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TECHNOLOGYNew Technique Converts Plastic Waste to Fuel

One strategy to fight plastic pollution is to convert oceans of plastic trash into something valuable. The latest in this approach comes from a team at Purdue University, which has devised a method to convert a commonly used plastic into oil. Read more...

TECHNOLOGYNew Artificial Leaf Ready to See Light of Day Scientists have for years tried to mimic plants’ ability to convert carbon dioxide and water into energy. But artificial leaf devices made so far have not worked quite as well in the real world as they do in the laboratory. Read more...

HEALTH Using social media to measure air pollution’s psychological toll People are less happy on days when the air is more polluted, according to an analysis of 210 million posts on the Chinese social media site Sina Weibo. Read more...

AGRICULTUREGlobal crops are growing more diverse, but just a few still dominate our food system

A study reveals that since the 1980s the general diversity of the world's crops has grown. But that's been paralleled by the increasing domination of just few crop species that now occur all over the world. Read more...

Click here for details. launching the 4th call for projects of this program for the 2020-2022 period. Click here for details.

Herrenhausen Conference on Extreme Events - Building Climate Resilient Societies Application Deadline: 28 March 2019Join this conference to discuss the relationship between climate extremes and the sustainable development goals. Travel grants for early career researchers are available. Click here for details.

2019 UN Global Climate Action Awards

Closing 30 April 2019

Nominate a person or organization taking bold leadership on climate change. Click here for details.

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