News

Federal Planning Bureau: new publication(WP 15-09): Transport satellite accounts and externalities

The study assesses the external costs of various transport modes and contains a joint analysis of the externalities and of the main TSA results for 2000. The analysis reveals the extent of the transport costs and externalities, especially of road transport.

http://www.plan.be/publications/Publication_det.php?lang=en&TM=30&IS=71&KeyPub=893&Type=21

Federal Planning Bureau: new publication(WP 14-09): Analysis of the impact of various theoretical schemes for the introduction of road pricing in Belgium

New measures need to be taken in order to reduce the negative impact of transport. This study presents various theoretical schemes for the introduction of road pricing in Belgium and analyses their impact on transport, the environment and welfare by using the PLANET model.

http://www.plan.be/publications/publication_det.php?lang=en&TM=30&IS=63&KeyPub=894

European Research Council : ULB awarded for "swarm intelligence"

Marco Dorigo, IRIDIA-Faculty of Applied Sciences ULB, wins an ERC Advanced Grant European Research Council) for his project "Engineering Swarm Intelligence Systems - E-SWARM”. The project E-SWARM of Marco Dorigo concerns "swarm intelligence", a branch of artificial intelligence that deals with natural and artificial systems composed of manyndividuals who present collective behavior exploiting decentralized control and self-organization.The E-SWARM project will start in 2010 under the supervision of Marco Dorigo, Research Director FNRS within the laboratory IRIDIA (CODE Department, Computer and Decision Engineering).

http://www.belspo.be/belspo/home/actua/ERC120110_en.pdf

Federal Planning Bureau: EU Energy/Climate package and energy supply security in Belgium

The twin target in the EU Climate/Energy package - greenhouse gas emissions reduction and development of renewable energy sources - has positive impacts on Belgium's dependence on fossil fuels and therefore on the security of energy supply. Net imports of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal) decrease by 9% in 2020 compared to baseline trends. Moreover, a net energy import saving of about 1 billion euro could be realized in 2020, taking into account the increase in biomass imports. The twin target in the Climate/Energy package has another advantage: it allows keeping a balanced fuel mix in power generation and prevents a 'dash for gas' in this sector. Natural gas imports increase moderately by 11% between 2005 and 2020, compared to +21% in the baseline.

http://www.plan.be/admin/uploaded/201001051126560.wp200916.pdf

UNESCO - Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB): Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management

The efforts of Dr Michel Batisse to manage biosphere reserves in line with the recommendations of the Seville Strategy are internationally recognized and rewarded periodically. The application form for the Michel Batisse Award (see link below), sent by mail, should reach Federal Science Policy no later than 21 December 2009.

http://www.belspo.be/belspo/home/actua/Unesco_Batisse_en.pdf

40 years SOMA-CEGES: Colloquium "War and Society in 20th Century Europe" (9-11 December 2009 - SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre (former Palace of Congresses)

The SOMA-CEGES is celebrating its 40th anniversary at the end of this year with a three-day international colloquium on the influence of wars on society throughout the 20th century. When historians draw up the balance of Europe’s 20th century, they cannot but acknowledge that wars and other violent conflicts played a significant role in it. It has been a century of ethnic conflicts, mass migration and new forms of violence on an unseen scale in history. This colloquium intends to reflect on how these conflicts have affected the European societies, in particular by focusing on seven specific themes : 1. War and Law 2. Science and War 3. War and Gender 4. War and Propaganda 5. War Endings 6. Economy 7. War and Ethnicity. For the CEGES-SOMA, this means a reflection on nearly all the themes that lie at the centre of its interests. A perfect way to celebrate forty years of research and documentation on war and contemporary society.

http://www.belspo.be/belspo/home/actua/ColloqCeges1209_en.pdf

Federal Planning Bureau: new publication: Short Term Update 03-09 : Special topic : Measuring development progress

After the escalation of the financial crisis in September 2008, the industrialised countries were pulled into a deep recession. The main uncertainty that currently surrounds economic forecasts concerns the robustness of the international economic recovery.

http://www.plan.be/publications/publication_det.php?lang=en&TM=30&IS=63&KeyPub=858

PROBA2 launch: Eyes focused on the Sun and space weather

November 2, 2009, will be a red-letter day for the Belgian space industry and space sciences. A rocket containing PROBA2 will be fired off at 02:50 Belgian time from a Russian launch base in Plesetsk. PROBA2 will be the first ESA space weather mission dedicated to observing the Sun. Another important item: the satellite was built in Belgium.

http://proba2.sidc.be/index.html/

UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences 2009

Extension of the deadline for the call of candidates for UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences. Originally scheduled for 25 September 2009, submission of nominations is extended to 30th of December 2009. The purpose of this Prize is to reward the projects and activities of an individual, individuals, institutions, other entities or non-governmental organizations for scientific research in the life sciences leading to improving the quality of human life.

http://portal.unesco.org/science/en/ev.php-URL_ID=7767&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2010 (EGU2010)

The European Geophysical Union is organizing its General Assembly (Edition 2010) in Vienna, Austria, from May 2nd to 7th, 2010. This year EGU2010 has over 750 unique sessions in 28 Program Groups, covering broadly all aspects of the geosciences as well as the planetary and space sciences.

http://www.belspo.be/belspo/home/actua/EGU2010_en.pdf

EIROforum TT Conference - Technology Transfer and the European Research Area: 18 – 19 November 2009, Heidelberg, Germany

With the support of the European Commission (FP7-ERARESORG-2007-RTD), EIROforum we are organising a two-day conference to present and discuss their approaches to Technology Transfer and show how these activities contribute to the development of the European Research Area. Intellectual property, technology and knowledge transfer are an integral part of the R&D activities and missions of the EIROforum organisations.

http://www.embl.de/training/courses_conferences/conference/2009/TTC09-01/

New publication GreenFacts: Effects of Biocides on antibiotic resistance

Biocides are added to many consumer goods such as cosmetics and detergents to kill bacteria or inhibit their growth. They include disinfectants, preservatives as well as antiseptics and are widely used in animal husbandry, food production and health care. There is concern that this widespread use of biocides may lead to the emergence or proliferation of harmful bacteria that are resistant to both biocides and antibiotics. In the light of current scientific evidence, can biocides lead to antibiotic resistant bacteria?

http://copublications.greenfacts.org/en/biocides-antibiotic-resistance/index.htm

New publication GreenFacts: Liquid Biofuels for Transport. Prospects, risks and opportunities

Serious questions are being raised about the environmental impacts of producing liquid biofuels for transport, the costs of policies to promote them and their possible unintended consequences. Even though production of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel is growing rapidly, their contribution to total transport fuel consumption in the coming decades will remain limited. In contrast, the effects of increased biofuel production on global agricultural markets, the environment and on food security are already significant and are stirring controversy. What could be the future role of biofuels for agriculture, food security and climate change?

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biofuels/index.htm

Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences: Urban International Conference - Poverty in Medium and Small Cities of Developing Countries

On 26, 27 and 28 October 2009 the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences (KAOW-ARSOM) together with UN-Habitat are organizing an urban international conference on Poverty in Medium and Small Cities of Developing Countries.

http://www.kaowarsom.be/documents/Programma_Poverty.pdf

Antarctica InBev-Baillet Latour Fellowship Award : Call for Proposals - REMINDER

In bringing together the aims of the InBev-Baillet Latour Fund and the International Polar Foundation to promote science and scientific excellence, and in recognition of the important role of the scientific activity carried out in the Antarctic, this Award will seek to encourage scientific research activity linked to the new Antarctic research station, the Princess Elisabeth Station. The InBev-Baillet Latour Antarctica Prize (IBLAP) of € 150 000 (one hundred and fifty thousand euros) is to be disbursed for use over a two year period. The Prize will be awarded following the scheme: scientific preparation and work in Belgium during the first year, followed by an Antarctic research campaign.

http://www.belspo.be/belspo/BePoles/agenda/be2009_en.stm

Federal Planning Bureau: Consumer Price Index & inflation forecasts

The inflation forecasts presented below are based on observations until August 2009. The source of these observations is the FPS Economy. Forecasts from September 2009 on are made by the Federal Planning Bureau. These forecasts take an average oil price of 61 dollar per barrel in 2009 and 77 dollar per barrel in 2010 into account. The exchange rate of the euro should amount to 1.38 dollar per euro in 2009 and 1.42 dollar per euro in 2010.

http://www.plan.be/databases/indprix.php?lang=en&TM=30&IS=60

Master in Space Studies - K.U.Leuven / UGent

The Universities of Leuven and Ghent have been preparing a new international interdisciplinary post-graduate diploma "Master of Space Studies" (MSS), which has been officially accredited in the Spring of 2009 and starts in the academic year 2009-2010. The MSS offers a complete education in various disciplines related to space activities: from natural sciences to law and policy. Next to this, the University of Leuven has set up a new interdisciplinary research centre, LASA (Leuven Centre for Aero and Space Science, Technology and Applications), as a successor to ICSS (Interdisciplinary Centre for Space Studies which functioned from 2004 to 2008).

http://www.kuleuven.be/studieaanbod/manamas/opleidingen/spacestudies.html

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences: Genes of the diverse Lake Victoria cichlid fish radiation in Africa are much older than the species themselves and the lake in which they live

The study shows that most species died during the Pleistocene drying up of Lake Victoria, but some ancestors and many of their older genes did survive this period of severe climate change.

http://www.belspo.be/belspo/home/actua/genes_en.pdf

Science, a comic of Belgium. The Belgian Science Policy in comic strip.

Science inspires comic strip cartoonists. This exhibition clearly shows the link between scientific activity and comic strips. Come and take a look at the Royal Palace! Visite the exhibition for free from July 26 till September 13, 2009, 10:00AM - 4:30PM, unless on Monday.

http://www.belspo.be/expo/

Federal Planning Bureau: new publication: The Belgian environment industry (1995-2005)

This study presents an overview of the evolution of the size, the composition and the economic importance of the environment industry in Belgium between 1995 and 2005. It shows which industries are involved and which environmental domains are most important.

http://www.plan.be/admin/uploaded/200907031019180.wp200907.pdf

New publication GreenFacts: Non-human primates in research and safety testing

Every year, more than 100 000 monkeys and apes are used for biomedical research around the world for biomedical research and for testing the safety of new drugs. Are there alternatives to the use of primates in research and testing? Would it be feasible to stop using them altogether? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the recent assessment by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER).

http://copublications.greenfacts.org/en/non-human-primates/index.htm

Federal Planning Bureau: new publication : Nime Policy Brief - Fiscal Stabilisation Plans and the Outlook for the World Economy

Since August 2007, the world economy has fallen into recession and has been confronted with a severe financial crisis. This document provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of fiscal policy and of current stimulus plans.

http://www.plan.be/publications/publication_det.php?lang=en&TM=30&IS=63&KeyPub=822

New publication GreenFacts: Phthalates in school supplies

Some school supplies, such as erasers, contain phthalates – substances that are added to plastics to make them soft. Can regularly chewing on such articles cause harmful health effects? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the recent assessment by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER).

http://copublications.greenfacts.org/en/phthalates-school-supplies/index.htm

New publication GreenFacts: Energy-Saving Lamps & Health

Currently, conventional incandescent lamps are being replaced with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Do these energy-saving lamps aggravate the symptoms in patients with certain diseases? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the recent assessment by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR)

http://copublications.greenfacts.org/en/energy-saving-lamps/index.htm

Museum Magritte Museum

On the occasion of the opening of the Museum Magritte Museum on June 2nd, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium are delighted to invite you to their festive opening, on Saturday May 30th 2009. To celebrate together this exceptional event, we invite you to come and discover the Place Royale completely decorated in René Magritte's works. For the occasion, the Musée Magritte Museum will be open for free from 10 am till 10 pm. The Museum of Ancient and Modern Art and its temporary exhibitions: Alfred Steven and Belgian Comics: Frames of References , will also be open for free from 10 am till 5 pm.

http://www.musee-magritte-museum.be/

International Symposium : Developing Countries facing Global Warming - a Post-Kyoto Assessment

12-13 June 2009 the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences in collaboration with the United Nations organize an International Symposium "Developing Countries facing Global Warming : a Post-Kyoto Assessment". Programme

http://www.kaowarsom.be/en/conferences.html

BeWiSe Yearly General Assembly on June 11th 2009: Conference: Women and Evolution

BeWiSe is pleased to invite you to its General Assembly 2009 taking place in the Large Auditorium of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences on Monday 11 June 2009. BeWiSe celebrates the year of Evolution! With this year’s 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, BeWiSe organizes its General Assembly around the topic Women and Evolution at the RBINS. on June 11th where Evolution is also honoured with a Gallery dedicated to the theme since February 12th. Programme

http://bewise.naturalsciences.be/

Symposium: Indoor Air Pollution and Health Problems (25/05/2009)

During this symposium we will review the historical context of indoor air quality and discuss recent data about the indoor air quality of homes and public spaces. The health impact of microbial pollutants and the role of counsellors will be highlighted as the likelihood of new regulation. Finally new possibilities offered by new detection techniques of allergens in indoor air will be addressed.

http://www.belspo.be/belspo/home/actua/2009_5_11_en.pdf

European Commission and Economic Policy Committee: The 2009 Ageing report: Economic and budgetary projections for the EU-27 Member States (2008-2060)

This report has been prepared as part of the mandate the Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Council gave to the Economic Policy Committee (EPC) in February 2006, to update and further deepen its common projection exercise of age-related expenditure projections on the basis of a new population projection provided by Eurostat. The report presents projections of the budgetary impact of the ageing population in the 27 EU Member States over the period 2008–2060.

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/publication14992_en.pdf

Linking, Integrating and Disseminating Antarctic Marine Biodiversity Information

SCAR-MarBIN (SCAR Marine Biodiversity Information Network) compiles and manages existing and new information on Antarctic marine biodiversity by coordinating, supporting, completing and optimizing database networking. SCAR-MarBIN integrates these efforts, giving a single and easy access to relevant marine biodiversity information and maximizing the exploitation of these resources.

http://www.scarmarbin.be/

GreenFacts: Scientific Facts on Malaria - State of the Disease

This week, World Malaria Day (25 April) draws attention to a disease that still infects nearly 250 million people each year and kills close to one million of them, especially children. Currently, half the world's population lives in areas where bites of infected mosquitoes could transmit the disease and many efforts are still needed to meet the 2010 target of delivering effective and affordable protection and treatment to at least 80% people at risk of malaria. Latest facts and figures are provided by the "World Malaria Report 2008" produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) addressing worldwide disease trends and actions taken.

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/malaria/index.htm

Symposium: Nuclear energy, THE MYRRHA PROJECT - Science Towards Sustainability

The purpose of this symposium is to highlight the importance of continued nuclear research infrastructure investments in Belgium. MYRRHA is an international project for an open user nuclear research facility, which can be realized by a collaboration of policy makers, the scientific community and the Belgian technology industry. MYRRHA will enable innovation in Science and Technology and will provide Services.

http://www.belspo.be/belspo/home/actua/Agoria_en.pdf

Energy Globe World Award 2009

Do you have a great project and want to present it to a broad (inter)national audience? Then participate in the ENERGY GLOBE Award 2009 and exploit this chance to showcase your ideas. Awards are presented at the national and international levels in the categories Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Youth. The Energy Globe World Awards 2008 will be presented on 14 April 2009 on invitation of the Czech EU presidency as the opening event of the meeting of EU environmental ministers.

http://www.energyglobe.com/en/energy-globe-award/

BELNET Security Conference 2009

Security on the Internet is one of BELNET's highest priorities. Almost five years ago we took a first step in offering security solutions to our customers by creating the BELNET Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT). With the BELNET Security Conference, BELNET now intends to better inform its customers and users concerning security on the Internet. 23/3/2009The BELNET Security Conference 2009 will take place on 30 April 2009 at Hotel Thon, located on Rue des Croisades in Brussels.

http://bsc.belnet.be/

Conference-debate: The climate change challenge: which agreements are needed in Copenhagen?

Lecture by Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Chairman of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Nobel Peace Prize, Doctor Honoris Causa of the ULg. University of Liege - 31 March 2009

http://www.belspo.be/belspo/home/actua/climate_en.pdf

GreenFacts: Scientific Facts on Forests & Energy

In coming years, the world's energy consumption is expected to increase dramatically. What role could forests play in future energy supply? GreenFacts faithfully summarised the 'Forests and Energy, Key Issues' report produced in 2008 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests-energy/index.htm

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: Finland's Millennium Technology Prize 2010

The Millennium Technology Prize is a biannual award of one million euros given to a groundbreaking innovation that promotes people’s quality of life, contributes toward the realization of humane values and encourages sustainable development. Candidates for the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize are sought across the world and in all fields of technology.

http://www.millenniumprize.fi/prize/

GreenFacts: Scientific Facts on Fisheries (latest data)

Demand for fish is still growing and exerting strong pressures on fish stocks, though growing aquaculture production is now meeting almost half of the demand of fish for food. GreenFacts faithfully summarised the "State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture" released today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/fisheries/index.htm

Royal academy for overseas sciences: International Symposium (Second Announcement and Call for Posters): Developing Countries facing Global Warming: a Post-Kyoto Assessment

On 29 November, 1999, the “Environment and Development” Commission of the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences organized an International Symposium on Developing Countries facing Global Warming: Kyoto 1997 and Beyond, focusing on the uncertainties of the causes of Global Warming — anthropogenic and/or natural. Ten years later, and on the occasion of UNEP’s Environment Day, the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences, in collaboration with the United Nations, will organize a follow-up International Symposium Developing Countries facing Global Warming: a Post-Kyoto Assessment, focusing on the consequences of Global Warming and the Kyoto Protocol for Developing Countries and aiming at giving an updated state of the art. Brussels, Palais des Académies, 12-13 June, 2009

http://www.kaowarsom.be/documents/global_warming2.pdf

New publication GreenFacts: Energy technologies : Scenarios to 2050

The growing use of energy that underlies current economic growth puts unsustainable pressure on natural resources and on the environment. What options do we have for switching to a cleaner and more efficient energy future? How much will it cost? And what policies could achieve this? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the Executive Summary of the “Energy Technology Perspectives 2008” by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/energy-technologies/index.htm

The EPSA 2009 Information Day in Brussels

The European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) organises the second European Public Sector Award – EPSA 2009. The EPSA team at EIPA will organise an information day together with the European Commission (DG Employment) and the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 4 February 2009 in Brussels.

http://www.epsa2009.eu/en/content/show/&tid=101

The Royal Observatory of Belgium : Belgian GPS station on the South Pole. Another step against global warming

The Belgian Princess Elisabeth base installed at Utsteinen, Antarctica, will be officially inaugurated in February 2009. This base will host scientists and various instruments. One of its objectives is to improve our understanding of climate-related mechanisms, a first step in the fight against climate change. The Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) is involved in the first season of scientific missions 2008-2009. In February 2009, Dr. Nicolas Bergeot from the ROB will install two permanent high precision GPS (Global Positioning System) stations.

http://www.stce.be/news/documents/GPSStation_Antarctica_eng.pdf