European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS)

Connect, Collaborate, and Network: Join us for the #JubileeEdition of the Lower Saxony – Scotland #JointForum! We invite all academics, staff and students from #highereducation institutions, partners from industry and politics, and other interested persons from all over #LowerSaxony and #Scotland to attend the Jubilee Edition of the #JointForum taking place on 10 11 June 2024 at Leuphana Universität Lüneburg! The Joint Forum - an annual two-day #networking event organised by the European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS) in partnership with Leuphana and the University of Glasgow -  is your chance to connect, collaborate as well as network! Register via https://lnkd.in/eWQ3PXxw.   Here's what awaits you: On Day 1, there will be two stimulating panel discussions on #EnergyTransformation as well as an Outlook on (European) #FundingOpportunities led by renowned experts from industry, politics and academia. Day 2 is dedicated to four diverse workshops that focus on #SustainableFashion, provide a critical view on #GreenEnergyTransformation, develop strategies to make #InfectionProtection and control in healthcare more sustainable and analyse #SocialMobility and related patterns in higher education within both regions. There will be plenty of #Opportunity for conversations in a relaxed setting in the central building designed by Studio Libeskind and visiting the historical Hansestadt Lüneburg. #TravelGrants: To ensure that everyone may join us in Lüneburg, there is a limited amount of funding available, in particular for students and young researchers. Beyond the event, the #JointForum fosters a vibrant network: More than 300 attendees throughout the years developing lasting connections and collaborating on projects, taking part in the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme and developing joint White Papers. Stronger academic ties by #buildingbridges across the North Sea in times of change and uncertainty and gaining access to exclusive opportunities like joint research projects, educational programmes and commercial ventures. #Interdisciplinaryfocus and #incubator for new ideas through advancing education and research across diverse fields by intensifying existing partnerships or sparking new ones across institutions, industries and political spheres. Become part of a #uniquenetwork and celebrate with us the fifth anniversary of the Joint Forum here in Lüneburg! For more information please visit https://joint-forum.org/. #BuildingNewPartnerships #LeadingInExcellentResearch #Innovation #Collaboration #Education #Research #Network #AcademicExchange University of Stirling The University of Edinburgh Leibniz Universität Hannover Technische Universität Braunschweig Technische Universität Clausthal The University of Göttingen Universität Osnabrück Hochschule Hannover University of Strathclyde Royal Society of Edinburgh VolkswagenStiftung

The sixth Tandem beneficiaries, Layla Engelhardt from the The University of Göttingen and Jonathan Wilkin from Abertay University, have been selected for the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024 with the following research proposal: “Assess the consumer preference of brown seaweeds added to Ultra Heat Treated plant based milk drinks in Lower Saxony & Scotland”. This project examines consumer acceptance of a seaweed-enriched oat drink, aiming to create a sustainable and nutritious product by combining regional oats with nutrient-rich brown seaweeds from the North Sea. Through sensory evaluations and advanced technologies, the study assesses preferences and off-flavours, comparing responses from both regions to understand cross-cultural food acceptance. Findings will be presented at international conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal, promoting advancements in functional foods. More details on the project can be found at: https://lnkd.in/eFK7wupC.

The fifth Tandem grantees, Paula Jacobs from The University of Edinburgh and Anna-Eva Nebowsky from the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, will explore the dynamics of care for people with dementia and their caregivers in their following research proposal: "Dementia and Everyday Experiences of Care and Caring Across Formal and Informal Care Relationships" for the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024. The project examines how these relationships function within broader social and policy contexts in Lower Saxony, Germany, and Scotland. Utilising the 'ethics of care' framework, the study compares Scotland's informal family care with Germany's use of live-in migrant carers, analysing qualitative data to understand daily care experiences and improve care practices and policies for dementia care. More details on the project can be found at: https://lnkd.in/eVeXRkW3.

The fourth Tandem researchers, Anna Karoline Rüßeler from Laser Centre Hannover and Michael Mckinlay from the University of Glasgow, are developing a "Novel Miniaturised Piezoelectric Electro-Optical Modulator for Space- and Energy-Saving Photonic Circuits" within their project for the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024. This proposal aims to create a compact, energy-efficient modulator to enhance photonic circuits, which are crucial for handling increasing digital data traffic. Combining thin-film miniaturisation from Laser Zentrum Hannover with new piezophototronic layers, the modulator will improve electro-optic modulation for fibre optical networks. The innovation supports the thin-film industry in Lower Saxony and Scotland, with findings shared in an open-access paper to benefit the industry. More details on the project can be found at: https://lnkd.in/eFKffBGH.

The third Tandem beneficiaries, Ali Ahmadi from Technische Universität Clausthal and Adetomiwa Ademeri from Heriot-Watt University, are investigating the geothermal potential of the Reiche Zeche mine. Their project, "Geothermal Potential in Reiche Zeche: Leveraging Research Mine Infrastructure for Sustainable Energy Solutions" for the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024, aims to use geothermal heat from abandoned, flooded mines as a renewable energy source. By converting these mines into 'geo-batteries' to store excess heat from solar and wind energy, the study will model low enthalpy geothermal applications and develop methods for other locations. This collaboration involves creating a 3D geomechanical model, simulating heat storage, and analysing the impact of flooding on stability and energy efficiency. More details on the project can be found at: https://lnkd.in/e_F32Xb9.

The second Tandem researchers, Melissa Mesek from Glasgow Caledonian University and Oscar Ampofo from the The University of Göttingen, are conducting "A critical comparative analysis between Lower Saxony and Lanarkshire on refugee entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector" as their project funded by the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024. This study aims to understand how refugee entrepreneurship can enhance labour market participation and drive rural socio-economic development. By examining the roles of refugees with asylum and work permits in the agri-food value chain, and the impact of institutional and social factors, the research seeks to inform policies that support refugee integration, economic growth, and sustainable development. More details on the project can be found at: https://lnkd.in/evr8pcMU.

The first Tandem grantees, Riaan Philipp Schmidt from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, PTB (National Metrology Institute) and Richard A. Maduro from the University of Glasgow, are investigating “Structured vector light for advanced spectroscopy and metrology” within the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024. This research explores the unique properties and applications of structured vector light beams. Collaborating with Andrey Surzhykov's group at PTB Braunschweig, Sonja Franke-Arnold's team at the University of Glasgow, and Ilja Gerhardt's Light & Matter Group at Leibniz University Hannover, the project focuses on optimising polarisation structures, studying temperature effects on light interaction, and investigating magnetic field influences. The goal is to enhance understanding of vectorial light-matter interactions and polarisation spectroscopy. Findings will be disseminated through publications and conferences. More details on the project can be found at: https://lnkd.in/eC6M3X-T.

ECAS is pleased to warmly #welcome twelve outstanding early-career #scholars chosen to join the Lower Saxony – Scotland #TandemFellowshipProgramme. After the recent application period and thorough review, the Selection Committee has chosen six #tandems with excellent research proposals. The selected projects cover a variety of fields and delve into highly specific topics in both nature and social science. For detailed information on each of the tandems, please visit:  https://lnkd.in/duYvxMPR.

Celebrating Academic Collaboration: Recap of Day II of the Lower Saxony – Scotland #JointForum 2024: The #JubileeEdition Having reported on Day I of the Jubilee Edition of the Lower Saxony - Scotland Joint Forum just yesterday, we are delighted to provide you with some insights on Day II, where our researchers were invited to present their on-going #jointprojects and let us take part in the creative process of developing new projects. In four diverse #workshopsessions the topics of #sustainablefashion with a focus on practical solutions, critical perspectives on the #greenenergytransition, developing sustainable strategies for #infectionprevention and control in healthcare, and analysing patterns of #socialmobility within higher education were discussed. By employing different moderation and discussion tools these interactive workshops allowed for an open discussion with an interdisciplinary crowd proving a successful means on how the creation of new ideas can work in practice, when researchers from different disciplines are brought in one room to simply brainstorm and let their ideas roam. The ECAS team is thankful to all contributors and participants for making the fifth anniversary of the Joint Forum a success. An in-depth report on the event will follow on our website next week!

Celebrating Academic Collaboration: Recap of Day I of the Lower Saxony – Scotland #JointForum 2024: The #JubileeEdition On 10 and 11 June 2024, the European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS) Centre for Advanced Studies celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Lower Saxony - Scotland Joint Forum 2024 at Leuphana University of Lüneburg. The well-established event is an important cornerstone for the promotion of cross-regional #cooperation within the European higher education landscape. It promotes #academicexchange and #internationalisation by bringing together academics from Lower Saxony and Scotland across disciplines, as well as other stakeholders from business and politics. The Joint Forum is a unique space for participants to #network, develop existing partnerships and establish exciting new collaborations. During Day I, the official celebration of the Joint Forum took place. After two welcoming addresses by the respective Ministers for Science and Higher Education, Falko Mohrs and Graeme Day underlining the importance as well as opportunities in relation to this unique partnership between two regions, Gioia Falcone introduced the panel discussion on energy transition. Next to Claudia Kemfert, Alexander Bedrunka, Angelique Mesch, Stephan Barth and Daniel Friedrich discussed the challenges and opportunities for both regions. In particular, the speakers highlighted the importance of considering #sustainability in any endeavour to enhance the #energytransition. In the second panel, Markus Reihlen led us through an interesting discussion between Anne Anderson, Moritz Duetemeyer, Julia Ilina-Kakueva and Jörg Philipp Terhechte focusing on how we may best position our researchers for the future. By understanding the differences and commonalities between both higher education systems a solid fundament is built, which allows for exchange and the creation of knowledge.  The first day ended with a formal reception in the Forum of Leuphana’s central building designed by Daniel Libeskind. A recap of Day II will follow tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled!