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Science View is communicating science to society since 2008, sharing a vision of science literacy and science awareness.

In this issue you will read about:

When the hero changes suits

Researchers’ Night 2017

The New Tsunami of Socio-Technical Change

Learning Science Through Theater in Malta

Discover Events, Conferences, Seminars and the most recent Science News!

Subscribe here if you want to receive monthly these interesting news!

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Cover photos from Pixabay

The latest news and science opportunities

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SCIENCE WRITESCIENCE WRITE--UPSUPS

Towards the end of the second Kill Bill film, there is a scene in which Bill (David Carradine) talks to Beatrix (Uma Thurman) about the mythology of superheroes. All of them have suits that hide their identities except one, he says. Superman’s outfit is related to Krypton, the planet he came from. Those were his clothes. For Superman, the outfit that hides his identity is the suit that Clark Kent is wearing in his everyday life. With the glasses and the ordinary jacket he becomes one of us and goes unnoticed.

It was that scene of the film that came to my mind when I saw a recent photo of some of Apollo's astronauts, now in their retirement years. I saw the photo on a Facebook page dedicated to astronaut David Scott. Scott is the astronaut who honored Galileo with the experiment of the free fall of a hammer and a feather on the surface of the Moon, which I also honored in my science photo book Clicks of Ideas.

With the exception of Buzz Aldrin (the second person in history to step on the Moon with the Apollo 11 mission) and Jim Lovell (who was fortunate enough to go to the Moon twice but not step on it because of his adventure with Apollo 13, that also inspired a film

starring Tom Hanks), the rest I would not recognize even if I saw them on the street at their younger ages. They would just pass me by in their jeans or ordinary jackets and I wouldn’t have paid much attention. Yet they are true heroes...some of the very few. Only twelve people have stepped on Moon in human history. Billions of people have lived on our planet, but only a few hundred of them have gone to space in all these past decades. All these space visitors would hardly fill an amphitheater.

They are not, of course, the only heroes around us. In the car next to ours stuck in traffic, there is probably a doctor who has saved hundreds of lives. A firefighter who has carried someone’s parents through the flames. A coast guard fighting the waves in the darkness in order to save exhausted children. And so many others that without their uniform and with no media coverage we will not get to know them as excellent role models. Only those in their misfortunate will get to know them when they need them. This article is a tribute to all the heroes in uniforms that save people or take humanity many steps forward, and then they put on their jacket and go unnoticed in the crowd.

When the hero changes suits

* The photo depicts from them left, Walt Cunningham (Apollo 7), Jim Lovell (Apollo 8 & 13), Dave Scott (Apollo 9 & 15), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), Charlie Duke (Apollo 16), Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan (Apollo

10 & amp; 17).

We thank them for their great contribution to humanity.

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COMMUNICATION TIPSCOMMUNICATION TIPS

Invitations to participate on a TV or radio show are great opportunities to communicate to a very wide audience. Here are some tips on how to handle the media: Act normal and be yourself as this radiates confidence. Look at the interviewer and not at the camera unless you are asked to. When you perform something, imagine that the camera is a viewer and you are directly addressing him/her. In all cases act like there is one viewer watching or listening as this creates the feeling of intimacy between you and the audience. Practice in front of a camera at home in order to see what you will look like when someone records you. Just as for live talks, be animated but don’t overdo it especially as the camera may not be able to frame you at all times. Avoid wearing white colours or stripes as they don’t look good on camera. If you don’t want your audience to be distracted but to focus on your message, try not to dress in an eccentric way or use many large accessories.

If you are on a radio show, use your hands and facial gestures even though people can’t see you. It will make you sound more natural and more expressive. Remember what you want to say. Evan when you are on radio. If you are reading then the listeners can tell. Decide what your message is going to be and try to convey the things you want. This requires some planning.

Presenting in a studio

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Being on the other side of the microphone or camera

Sometimes work requires that you play the role of the journalist / interviewer. Planning here is just as im-portant. Know the questions you want to ask and do some background research on the guest and his / her topic. You can deviate from your plan if some-thing interesting comes up during the conversation but make sure you return to the original plan. Discuss-ing this plan beforehand with the person you inter-view is not a bad idea but make sure you hold back some of the questions otherwise the spontaneity of the answers will be lost and the interview will look too rehearsed.

A complete story is the one that answers the basic questions of who, where, when, where, what, why and how. No one likes an interview where one side goes on for a long time or when answers are too short. Make sure you don’t ask questions that can be answered with a yes or no and intervene with another question if the interviewee takes too long to put a full stop. The same goes for the interviewer and extreme-ly short or extremely long questions will not look good. Try to get your guest in a relaxed state, throw some jokes when appropriate, reassure him that everything can be rerecorded and give him time to settle be-fore asking the very important questions. Make sure you don’t talk or make sounds over your interviewee as it will be impossible to edit. However do seem responsive and encouraging through smiles and nods. When everything is done get all the correct information (names, titles, institutions). With the advent of digital technology it has become increasingly easier to perform the role of a journalist or find yourself in front of a camera. Your message can then get across to thousands of people by up-loading your material on the internet.

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SCIENCE IN ACTIONSCIENCE IN ACTION

This year's Researchers’ Night event, coordinated by the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), took place at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall on September 29, 2017. From the opening time at 17.00 in the afternoon, a number of visitors of all ages, got to know researchers, chatted with them and were informed about the technological research conducted in various laboratories. They also had the opportunity to engage themselves in interactive scientific experiments. What was notable was the interest shown by students for the benefits of research to society and the local economy, but also for the profession of the researcher. More specifically, thousands of visitors walked around

the Interactive Technology Exhibition, where they had the opportunity to find out about the innovative Project ΜΑΜΕΜ, which supports people with neuromuscular diseases (Parkinson and quadriplegia), through an eye recorder and an encephalographer, thus giving them ability to use their computer without their hands. Furthermore, people saw the Membrane Reactor of Floating Bonded Biomass, through which it is possible to process difficult-to-manage liquid waste, mainly agro-industrial (eg from processing of edible olives, juicing, dairy industry) for the reuse of clean water. A few meters down, visitors were briefed on a new cutting edge technology for Heart Recovery called Pathway, which helps patients with cardiovascular disease to recover through physical exercise their initial cardiorespiratory capacity. Visitors were particularly interested in the special glasses of augmented reality from the European project SatisFactory, which aims to change the way people work in a production line, making them a useful tool to help them communicate more easily with their colleagues located at a remote location. Similarly, there was interest in the exhibits on safe driving, but also on those related to innovation in nutrition through the protection of Greek Biodiversity and the emergence of local varieties. Great enthusiasm was also expressed by younger visitors

who during the event participated in a number of digital educational games, experiments and 3D technologies that brought them intelligently to the world of science. This year’s Researchers’ Night featured the music band The Dude and singer Alexandra Sieti, who entertained the visitors by covering a wide range of sounds including funk, blues and jazz. The event also closed with "The Street Value of Science", a scientific and musical journey, where Thanasis Konstantopoulos from CERTH presented in a simple way research topics arising from the great challenges of our time, in a relaxed and pleasant environment on the 3rd floor of the Concert Hall, accompanied by live music by one of Europe's most dynamic Blues-Rock groups, "Nikos Dounousis and the Backbone". The Street Value of Science, also participated in the central program of the Athens event through its live broadcast at the National Technical University of Athens. Note: Researchers' Night is a pan-European action that takes place in hundreds of European cities on the last Friday of September and aspires to bring researchers closer to society and to encourage more young people to pursue the profession of researcher. This year, this institution reached 12 years of successful events. In the city of Thessaloniki, the National Center for Research and Technological Development was once again the coordinator with the support of the European Commission. Info: - Alexandros Iakovidis – Extroversion and Networking Services (CERTH) – Tel: 2310 498218 / E-mail: alexandrosi@certh.gr

Researchers’ Night 2017

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SCIENCE IN ACTIONSCIENCE IN ACTION

According to all indications, the new mega-wave of socio-technical change, expected to peak after 2030, will include the emergence of bio-economy, i.e., the whole spectrum of applications of biological sciences and technologies in all socio-economic areas and sectors, radically transforming our societies and the world as we know it. The object of this research is to foresee, map and assess the emergence of this great wave we call BIO-TSUNAMI, thus preparing societies to harness its huge potential for health, work, prosperity, and quality of life, while avoiding getting crashed by its risks and side-effects. Research findings include the critical technological breakthroughs affecting the bio-tsunami’s emergence and impact, and the socio-economic clusters describing its main pathways of social change, also presented in the form of cartoons.

Bioeconomy Aspects – 2030

A Slide Show

* ART & DESIGN: Ondrej Valenta

* STORIES: Emmanuel Koukios

The New Tsunami of Socio-Technical Change

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The cartoons of this slide show were prepared in the frame of the research project titled ‖The New Tsunami of Socio-Technical Change: Foresight of Agro/Bio/Chemo/Eco/Cogno...Convergence (BIO-TSUNAMI)‖, sup-ported by the POLONEZ 1 Programme of the National Science Centre (NCN) with contract no. UMO-2015/19/P/HS4/04103.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Pro-gramme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 665778.

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SCIENCE IN ACTIONSCIENCE IN ACTION

Bio-Tsunami Project Credits

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SCIENCE IN ACTIONSCIENCE IN ACTION

What is OSOS?

OSOS - Open Schools for Open Societies - is a H2020 project led by 18 international partners, which will facilitate the innovation of schools by transforming them into sites of science learning, for which students, teachers, school heads and the local community share responsibility and authority, and develop responsible citizenship.

What is an Open School?

An Open School is a top engaging environment for learning, where students develop projects that meet real life needs and present a vital contribution to their communities.

It fosters collaboration and provides students with the opportunity of finding a real meaning to what they learn, while better understanding and interrogating their place in the world.

Why joining OSOS?

You will make part of a network of 1000+ cooperating institutions (schools, universities, science centres and museums, local industry and research institutions...);

Your students will play an important role as peer enquirers/researchers;

Your student's projects will meet real needs and make a significant impact on the local community.

Are you interested in becoming an Open School, to offer your students an experience to work on real life projects, and to connect your school with your local community?

Then, lets get started!

OSOS will support you by:

Setting out the open schooling values and principles;

Offering guidelines and advice;

S u g g e s t i n g a r a n g e o f possible implementation models, from small-scale prototypes to setting up an ―open school within a school‖, or even designing a new school!

OSOS: when playing a major role becomes a reality

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Join OSOS and transform your school into an open school and a science centre, where your students make real science and have an important role in the community.

Learn more about the project

Contact your National Coordinator to join OSOS

Join OSOS now and become a science communica-tion reference in your local community!

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SCIENCE IN ACTIONSCIENCE IN ACTION

Global Science Opera

In 2017, the Global Science Opera will produce the opera ―Moon Village‖. The science opera will be performed around the world and streamed online: A year-long creative inquiry shared by schools, universities and art institutions around the planet, in 25 countries. It will communicate the process, science and technology of the European

Space Agency’s Moon Village. On December 13th, 2017 (2:00 PM GMT) the collective effort will be streamed.

For more information visit: http://globalscienceopera.com/productions/moon-village-2017/

Learning Science Through Theater in

Malta

After the success of the previous 3 years in Greece, Learning Science Through Theater will expand its activities for 2017-2018 in Malta as well! The innovative initiative has been embraced by the Science in the City and the St Nicholas College who successfully applied for

implementing the creative activity. On 20-22 October Science View will realize three workshops in Malta, one aimed for teachers, one for students and an open-public one.

For more information visit: http://lstteng.weebly.com/

CLIPS (Communication Learning in

Practice for Scientists)

CLIPS is a site designed to help academics and their students with communication-related activities in science courses. It has modules on communicating with numbers, presenting data, writing, infographics, posters, talks, referencing, and more. It also has introductory material on the theory of communication, plus a special section on answering short answer questions (which addresses Blooms Revised Taxonomy, levels of cognition, and action verbs in questions).

The Wordpress site hosting is funded by UQ, so the site will remain open for use by you and your students.

You can find it at www.clips.edu.au

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Goodyear Innovation Challenge

The Goodyear Innovation Challenge is a business design and innovation competition sponsored by Goodyear in collaboration with the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Master’s degree students from across the United States are invited to unleash their creativity while addressing real-world business challenges. The top five teams will compete for prize money and a chance to interview for a position with the Global Innovation Team at Goodyear.

THE BRIEF

This year’s challenge is around shared mobility. Students will be asked to explore the business implications of a world in which fewer people own cars, car utilization increases and demand for the latest technological advances abounds. What might this mean for Goodyear and other companies in the mobility ecosystem?

https://www.technology.org/2017/09/30/goodyear-innovation-challenge/

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EVENTSEVENTS BEEN THERE?BEEN THERE?

The workshop, organized by Science View, took place at the Open Science Fair (OSF) conference at 7/9.

“Open science should be inclusive” Open science was approached under the spectrum of the proposed NUCLEUS practice for bringing together stakeholders in Research and Innovation. This approach aims to form a community of practice that will foster the alignment of Research and Innovation with values, needs and expectations of society and also generate/regulate new ideas. The Interdisciplinary approach will constitute the strong point of that organism of stakeholders and give new perspectives to facing the future challenges. To show the potential of that, techniques from the theatrical field were incorporated to motivate the audience of the workshop to participate in relevant activities. Everyone participating followed the proposed implementation roadmap (by NUCLEUS) in designated cells (teams) that have been identified by the NUCLEUS project and correlated to the target audience of the OSF conference. Having assigned persons in each one of the cells Economy (Content creators, Innovators), Media (Publishers, Content providers), Public Engagement (Publishers, Libraries), Public Policy (Funders & Policy makers), Civil Society (Communities) and Governance (Research infrastructures, Researchers, Institutions) introductions took place and the 15 participants presented in brief their name, expertise and one fact about their cell (team). Even in this early stage, signs of creativity were traced as participants came up with roles to fit in their cells in cases where their real-life expertise was different. Following the ―play time‖, some exercises were used to get the participants feel more comfortable and relax on stage: The Friends and Enemies approach was used to provide a slight glimpse on the complexity of the relationships during a possible cooperation: participants were asked to think of a cell that might prove an ally and one they may conflict with in their collaboration and they started moving trying to be always in between the bipolar. The Mirroring approach was used to enable the participants engage their body and facial expressions in their interactions: in pairs of two one took the role of an actor and the other his reflections and vice versa.

Continuing, participants were assigned in their teams together with one participant from the Governance to answer how they perceive Open Science, what is one Possibility (Something promising?), one Worry (A worrying fact?), one Condition (What must be considered?), one Obstacle (What can be an obstacle?) and how can we face it. After the presentation of the above points and a short discussion on them, 5 participants were chosen to highlight the issues that might come up during their collaboration. This led to a fiery debate that unraveled many issues that have to be cooperatively discussed upon for reaching to a collaborative environment where the organism of stakeholders will function. During that time, the rest of the participants divided in two teams and prepared two short plays according to the guidelines: 1. State a problem regarding Open Science (write a

story with characters facing it) 2. What can be a solution? (describe how this

problem was solved) 3. What was the effect? (describe the new situation) In the end, two performances were staged:

“Researchers looking for H2020 funds” “The Redriding hood, the wolf and the Metadata

hunter”

For more information about NUCLEUS visit here: http://www.nucleus-project.eu/ For more information about OSF visit here: http://www.opensciencefair.eu/

Theatrical Workshop: Are you ready to perform in the RRI ecosystem?

Once again, theatrical approaches were combined with implementation strategies of the NUCLEUS project to produce a spectacle on Open Science issues, that captivated the audience!

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EVENTS EVENTS SAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATE

The Association of Greek Physicists, continuing the efforts of the last years, organizes for the ninth consecutive

year the original and distinct meeting of excellent students. In this special event the best students of age 12-18 will

have the chance to meet with distinguished University teachers and know everything about the latest news in

science. The event will take place on 15 -16-17 December 2017 at the Technological Educational Institute of

Athens at Egaleo.

Scope: The participating students at this original and creative meeting will have the opportunity to get in touch with

Distinguished University Teachers and get to know all the developments in Modern Physics.

Objectives: To introduce students to modern scientific knowledge and method, to understand in depth Modern

Physics themes, to clarify their concepts and to acquire critical and combinational thinking.

Requirements to enroll: Class graduate grade greater than 16 for 2016-2017 or good ranking in the 2017

Panhellenic Physics Competition.

Entries till 8 December 2017.

For more info visit http://eef.gr/enimerosi/1524-fisiki-mageyei-2017.html (in Greek)

Physics Wonders!

Athens-Egaleo, Greece 15-17/12/2017

Open Schools for Open Societies

conference Athens - Pallini, Greece 20-21/10/2017

Organized by Ellinogermaniki Agogi, IEP and EDEN, this conference aims to introduce and discuss the notion of the ―Open School‖ - a school that effectively introduces innovations in education is an engaging environment not only for the students and teachers. It re-designs learning to accommodate and include difference and brings together families, community groups, local businesses, experts, universities, and others into an innovation ecosystem. This bottom-up approach aims to set the grassroots for new school learning innovations and, at the same time, for an effective approach to holistic policy-making, in order to reach the right balance with top-down planning, thus meeting the challenges for emerging paradigms concerning access to learning, the creation and sharing of knowledge and the building of competences in learning communities.

For more info about the conference visit: http://openschool2017.ea.gr/

15th International Public

Communication of Science and

Technology Conference Dundelin, New Zealand 4-6/4/2018

The 15th International Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference (PCST 2018) will be held in Dunedin, New Zealand's oldest city, on 4–6 April, 2018. PCST 2018 is organised by the PCST Network and hosted by The Centre for Science Communication at the University of Otago.

The PCST Network and the New Zealand conference hosts have pleasure in inviting you to submit proposals for presentations at this major event.

The closing date is 12 noon (GMT) on 11 October 2017.

PCST conferences are a forum for discussing a wide range of issues in science communication practice, training and research but proposals for PCST 2018 are especially welcome on the conference's main theme, Science, Stories and Society.

https://www.pcst.co/proposals/call

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SCIENCE OPPORTUNITIESSCIENCE OPPORTUNITIES

MASTERS IN PUBLIC SCIENCE ENGAGEMENT IN

2018 Stellenbosch University offers a new M.Phil. Programme in the field of science and technology studies, with a focus

on public science engagement. This field of study is ideal for people working at the interface between science and

society, in places such as university research or communication offices, science councils, science centres and

NGOs, who are interested in strengthening their theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to science-society

interactions. The modular structure of the course makes it possible for participants to structure it as part-time study

over a period of one or two years, without the need to be in Stellenbosch permanently.

For more information, go to http://bit.ly/2v73k4h

This Master’s programme is offered under the auspices of the DST-NRF SARChI research chair in science

communication at Stellenbosch University, with Professor Peter Weingart as the chair holder. More information about

the research group at http://www0.sun.ac.za/scicom/

Marina Joubert

Researcher: Science communication

CREST (Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology)

Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Facebook group for science communicators in Africa: https://www.facebook.com/groups/scicomafrica/

Twitter: @marinajoubert

Environmental Communication Course

The IECA is offering an online course Environmental Communication: Research

into Practice starting in September. The course provides an introduction to key aspects of environmental

communication and guidance on good practices. It draws on recent research to help participants understand the

many factors that go into effective environmental communication and the pitfalls to avoid.

So, whether you are an existing environmental comms pro and you want to brush up or you are looking to get into

the field, the course has something to offer you. Grad students have received credit for the course and it's a great

option if you don't have a locally available environmental communication course. For more details visit the course

page at https://theieca.org/ecrip

Contact

Mark S. Meisner, Ph.D.

Executive Director

International Environmental Communication Association (IECA)

mark@theieca.org

http://TheIECA.org

11th ASEF Journalists’ Seminar (ASEF JS11)

The 11th ASEF Journalists’ Seminar (ASEF JS11) organized by the Asia-Europe Foundation will be held on 17-22

November 2017 in Naypyidaw, Myanmar.

The ASEF JS11, under the theme of ―Shaping Perceptions and Minds towards Achieving the SDGs‖, offers a unique

space for exchange of ideas and best practices on challenges journalists encounter in their daily work.

25 participants from Asia and Europe will be selected to join this seminar and explore the topic of sustainability

through the prism of Environment, Education, and Culture, discussing how each can be covered from a

Constructive Journalism-based approach.

There is no registration fee. Accommodation, meals and travel subsidies will be provided for the selected

participants.

The deadline to apply is Sunday, 8 October 2017, GMT 23.59.

Application for participation: http://bit.ly/2f5O6T4

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SCIENCE IN A NUTSHELL SCIENCE IN A NUTSHELL

SCIENCE NEWS A glove fitted with wearable electronics can translate the American Sign Language alphabet and then wirelessly transmit the text for display on electronic devices—all for less than $100, according to a study published July 12, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Timothy O'Connor and Darren Lipomi from University of California, San Diego, US, and colleagues. Current methods for tracking human body positions include cameras as well as optical systems involving infrared emitters and receivers. Both can yield good results but the former uses a lot of power, while emitters and receivers are expensive and immovable. Wearable sensor systems avoid these constraints, and gloves in particular are intuitive human-machine interfaces. Gloves that track people's gestures could provide a more seamless interface for applications from virtual reality to telesurgery as well as for covert operations such as piloting aerial drones and controlling bomb-diffusing robots. http://bit.ly/2ueACNJ

The smallest star yet measured has been discovered by a team of astronomers led by the University of Cambridge. With a size just a sliver larger than that of Saturn, the gravitational pull at its stellar surface is about 300 times stronger than what humans feel on Earth. The star is likely as small as stars can possibly become, as it has just enough mass to enable the fusion of hydrogen nuclei into helium. If it were any smaller, the pressure at the centre of the star would no longer be sufficient to enable this process to take place. Hydrogen fusion is also what powers the Sun, and scientists are attempting to replicate it as a powerful energy source here on Earth. These very small and dim stars are also the best possible candidates for detecting Earth-sized planets which can have liquid water on their surfaces, such as TRAPPIST-1, an ultracool dwarf surrounded by seven temperate Earth-sized worlds. http://bit.ly/2xKZrTs

Researchers from China successfully teleported a photon from Earth to a satellite 500 km away. The work is an essential step towards establishing a global-scale quantum internet. The satellite, called Micius, is a highly sensitive photo receiver capable of detecting the quantum states of single photons fired from the ground. Micius was launched to allow scientists to test various technological building blocks for quantum feats including entanglement, cryptography, and teleportation. This teleportation feat was announced as one of the first results of these experiments. Not only did the team teleport the first object ever from the ground to orbit, they also created the first satellite-to-ground quantum network, smashing the record for the longest distance for which entanglement has been measured. http://bit.ly/2uK928N

Two Ph.D. students from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) have successfully simulated a 45-qubit quantum circuit, inching us closer to quantum supremacy — the point at which quantum computers could outperform any extant classical computer, estimated to require 49 qubits. Thomas Häner and Damien Steiger also successfully simulated 30-, 36- and 42-qubit quantum circuits during their time at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The students used 8,192 of the 9,688 Intel Xeon Phi processors on Cori, NERSC’s newest supercomputer, for the largest of their simulations. Unfortunately, they could not run an even larger simulation using all of the supercomputer’s nodes as that would risk the system collapsing. http://bit.ly/2tJJQlb

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SCIENCE WRITESCIENCE WRITE--UPSUPS

Blood samples from infants who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) had high levels of serotonin, a chemical that carries signals along and between nerves, according to a study funded in part by the National Institutes of Health. The finding raises the possibility that a test could be developed to distinguish SIDS cases from other causes of sleep-related, unexpected infant death. The study, led by Robin L. Haynes, Ph.D., of Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. http://bit.ly/2wkeW0S

In the last decade the researchers have made this observational link between the development of Alzheimer’s and a decreased cancer risk and vice versa. So researchers have been hypothesizing why that happens. At a very simplified level, the cause of the diseases might hold the biggest clue. ―Cancer is a disease of cells that cannot die, will not die. Alzheimer’s is a disease of cells that are supposed to live your entire lifetime that you can’t keep alive. http://bit.ly/2k0WGrQ

During a historic week-long run, the Chinese province of Qinghai was powered solely by renewable energy sources, according to the region's grid company. The demonstration is the latest example of China's growing commitment to clean energy. http://bit.ly/2s5ev8w

A transition metal carbide dotted with gold nanoparticles could provide fuel cells with high purity hydrogen. At 150°C, the catalyst converts carbon monoxide into hydrogen an order of magnitude more efficiently than previously reported materials. The water–gas shift (WGS) reaction combines carbon monoxide and water to make hydrogen and carbon dioxide. It is used industrially to produce hydrogen, which can then be made into base chemicals like ammonia. While industrial catalysts for the WGS are well established, those for another emerging application, fuel cells, are not. http://bit.ly/2xFMjhY

Cancer cells kill most often by crawling away from their original tumors to later re-root in vital parts of the body in a process called metastasis. Now, a research team led by the Georgia Institute of Technology has developed a new treatment to thwart it by, in a sense, breaking cancer cells' legs. Cancer cells often cover themselves bristly leg-like protrusions that enable them to creep. The researchers have used miniscule gold rods heated gently by a laser to mangle the protrusions, according to a new study. The treatment prevented cell migration, the mechanism that leads to metastasis, in experiments on laboratory cultures (in vitro) of cancerous human cells. The method could potentially, in the future, offer clinicians going after individual tumors a weapon to combat cancer's deadly spread at the same time. The medical field is currently less than well-equipped to stop metastasis. http://bit.ly/2xFwpDX

Scientists were able to erase certain kinds of memories while retaining others in snail neurons. While much more research is required before this is attempted in humans, the researchers are hopeful that this study could one day lead to new therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder. http://bit.ly/2tXwZbH

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SCIENCE WRITESCIENCE WRITE--UPSUPS

China’s central bank — the People’s Bank of China — has developed a prototype of a cryptocurrency that it could end up in circulation in the near future. It would be introduced alongside the China’s primary currency the renminbi (also called the yuan). China will be simulating possible scenarios and running mock transactions using the cryptocurrency with some commercial Chinese banks. http://bit.ly/2t0mzux

Researchers from the Chalmers University of Technology think they've developed a method that could eliminate one of remaining obstacles to stable and sustainable nuclear fusion, which could provide the world with a source of virtually limitless clean energy. http://bit.ly/2rH5OBk

A new report from the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) predicts that almost 50 percent of Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer, and half of these (25 percent of Canadians overall) will die from the disease. This makes cancer the leading cause of death in the country. The diagnosis rate for men is 49 percent, while for women it is 45 percent. http://bit.ly/2tyHAuc

Johns Hopkins University researchers identified a key mechanism behind one of cancer's deadliest traits. By understanding how metastasis works, their study presents new possibilities for preventing the spread of cancer in the body. ―We found that it was not the overall size of a primary tumor that caused cancer cells to spread, but how tightly those cells are jammed together when they break away from the tumor,‖ lead author Hasini Jayatilaka said in a press release. The same kind of cellular behavior is also found in bacteria. http://bit.ly/2rSxPVv

Up to 75 percent of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus—an incurable autoimmune disease commonly known as lupus—experience neuropsychiatric symptoms. But so far, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying lupus' effects on the brain has remained murky. Now, new research from Boston Children's Hospital has shed light on the mystery and points to a potential new drug for protecting the brain from the neuropsychiatric effects of lupus and other central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The team has published its surprising findings in Nature. http://bit.ly/2hxxEQ4

NASA’s Kepler Telescope has just returned the final batch of data from its primary mission and it includes 10 new Earth-sized worlds in the habitable zone of their star. This final catalogue, which includes 219 planet candidates, was part of Kepler’s original four-year mission looking at a portion of the sky known as Cygnus. This long observing time allowed it to find some worlds akin to our own, with similar sizes and orbital periods around their stars. http://bit.ly/2fxn3UH

After a nuclear disaster like the one in Fukushima, Japan, in 2011, first responders need to quickly measure radiation exposure en masse and decide who requires urgent treatment. Existing tests are fast and accurate—but they rely on sophisticated laboratories, expensive machinery and meticulous work, says Dipanjan Chowdhury, a radiation oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Chowdhury and his colleagues are developing a simple assay that responders could deploy in the field with limited expertise or equipment. The test, described in March in Science Translational Medicine, detects levels of molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs) in blood and other bodily fluids. The same researchers had previously identified certain miRNAs whose levels rise or fall in mice exposed to radiation. http://bit.ly/2xAuz5J

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ABOUT SCIENCE VIEWSABOUT SCIENCE VIEWS

Science View is a science journalists’

association based in Athens. Science

View attempts to strengthen Science

Journalism in Greece. SV also pro-

m o t e s s c i en c e c om m u n i c a -

tion activities between the scientific

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implementing events, video produc-

tions and scientific documentaries,

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tronic publications, newsletters, online

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tals and brochures. Meet the SV team

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ABOUT SIENCE VIEW

―Science Views‖ is a monthly bulletin published by Science View, that focuses on EU and Greek R&D, policy, science and innovation news. The views expressed in Science Views are those of the individual writers, and not necessarily those of Science View. Unsigned articles come from selected press releases from scientists, research institutions and the EU.

Publisher

Menelaos Sotiriou

sotiriou@scienceview.gr

Chief Editor

Spiros Kitsinelis

kitsinelis@scienceview.gr

Content & Layout Editor

Koukovinis Alexandros

koukovinis@scienceview.gr

ABOUT Science Views

Dr Spiros Kitsinelis is a physical chemist and former associate professor at Ehime University in Japan. He has worked as a researcher at various universities and companies in Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, Greece and France. Since his participation in the international competition Famelab (in 2007) where he received both

the audience and the judging committee’s first national awards he has been a very active science communicator. He is the co-founder of the first scientific theater group in Greece (SciCo), judge and presenter for the International Science Film Festival of Athens (ISFFA by CAID), author of books and articles on various scientific topics for the general public (www.the-nightlab.com, Protagon.gr, Sciencenews.webs.com), speaker of public scientific events in Athens with the most recent being his talk at TEDxAcademy and guest science presenter on major Greek TV and radio stations (Alpha TV, SKAI radio). Currently he is collaborating with the University of Athens (NKUA) and the science journalism organization Science View (www.scienceview.gr) delivering science communication courses at various European universities.

Publisher’s CV

Chief Editor’s CV

Mr. Menelaos Sotiriou is a science writer and communicator. He was the editor of the official Research and Technology online magazine in Greece, E&T (www.et-online.gr) that was published from the General Secretariat of Research and Technology. He started his professional career by developing various Management Systems, mostly in the field of Education

as well as Health Care and Telecommunications, in over 40 public and private Organisations. He is a certified auditor and has realised over 50 audits, mostly in the field of Quality Management Systems and Assurance. The last twelve (12) years he is running (project management) and organising European and national projects for several institutions (including research institutions) mainly in the areas of new and innovative technologies (ICT). He has been involved in more than 30 EU projects in the areas of SiS, SSH, ICT, Research for the Benefit of SMEs. He has vast experience in networking activities as the project Coordinator of EUROSiS Project that is the Network of the Science in Society NCPs. (Greek NCP for SiS Programme). During this project he has organized a lot of brokerage events as well as info days / trainings concerning the participation of institutions in the specific programme. He is holding the position of President of Science View (www.scienceview.gr) a nonprofit, non governmental organization that has expertise in Science Communication and Science Journalism. He is specialised in science communication, organisation of events (science cafes, conferences, science festivals, exhibitions, science weeks), publications, science writing, outreach activities for young students (mainly in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy and health), and creativity in science education (Introduction of creative ways to provide science education like science theatre, music and science). Finally, he is included in the Evaluators’ Data Base of theEuropean Commission for the HORIZON2020 and of the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and also he had participated in several EC meetings as an expert in Science Communication and Journalism issues.

Alexandros Iakovidis (CERTH)

Ondrej Valenta (Bio-Tsunami )

Emmanuel Koukios (Bio-Tsunami )

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