CORDIScovery – unearthing the hottest topics in EU science, research and innovation

CORDIScovery
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CORDIScovery – unearthing the hottest topics in EU science, research and innovation

CORDIScovery is a monthly podcast featuring a panel discussion between guests at the forefront of their scientific fields. From threats to biodiversity to the future of space exploration, if you want to hear how the EU’s cutting-edge research is taking on the key issues challenging us today, then be sure to download and listen to what Europe’s leading scientists have to say. CORDIScovery is produced by CORDIS, whose mission is to share the results of the very best of EU-funded research.

  1. Mind-reading

    NOV 7

    Mind-reading

    When you play paper rock scissors, do you try and second-guess your opponent’s next move? This episode looks at mind-reading, and we also have some baby baboons!   It’s a great time to be a neuroscientist: Computational modelling, multimodal neuroimaging and novel brain stimulation methods are producing fascinating new data. This episode looks at some of the latest research that has made the most of such techniques to reveal how our minds work, and how our brains are structured.   Christian Ruff is a professor of Neuroeconomics and Decision Neuroscience at the University of Zurich; he uncovers how the brain navigates complex social and moral situations.  A professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen, Victoria Southgate, studies infant social cognition, and is particularly interested in how infants think about the self and the other.  Adrien Meguerditchian is a comparative psychologist at the Centre of Research in Psychology and Neuroscience, at the National Centre for Scientific Research, in France. He has worked with wild chimps in Senegal and on brain MRI studies in the United States as part of his goal to understand how communication shapes the brain.  For more info, visit: https://cordis.europa.eu

    33 min
  2. Space: delving into our dynamic universe

    OCT 3

    Space: delving into our dynamic universe

    Could the swirling dust storms on Mars impact on space exploration? Could a theory on the origins of life on Earth reveal if there has ever been life on Mars, and how do you get a probe to a small, fast moving, far distant asteroid? If you think space exploration is over your head – you are in the right place!  Fuencisla Cañadas is a geochemist who works at the Centre for Astrobiology in Spain. Ann Carine Vandaele works at the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy. She has been involved in the design and operation of instruments for the remote sensing of planetary atmospheres.  They are joined by Mirko Trisolini who is an astrodynamics specialist at Vyoma, in Germany. Trisolini is interested in the study of the dynamics of small particles, and techniques designed to collect them from asteroids and other small bodies in the Solar System. For more info, visit: https://europa.eu/!JMkmkw

    36 min
  3. Culture: the past gives up its secrets

    JUL 23

    Culture: the past gives up its secrets

    We see cultural artefacts, hear music composed centuries ago and, if we are lucky, get to handle pieces that were created by long-forgotten makers. But what about bringing to life the smell of a historic scene, or an object no longer made? This episode looks at the novel ways researchers are analysing the artefacts left to us by our ancestors, and the new light that shines on how they lived. Come and hear what our guests have been exploring. Inger Leemans, is a professor of Cultural History at VU Amsterdam and researcher at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is passionate about making her research on the smells of the past accessible to everyone. Matthew Collins is a fellow of the Danish and Swedish Royal Academies, and chair of the Archaeology section of the British Academy. Collins explores the ways in which archaeology can borrow tools from biology to explore ancient artefacts and tissues, from shells and bone to parchment and pots. Michela Rossi is a scientific project officer at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. She is interested in structural safety assessments of historic buildings and digital fabrication. For more info on the featured projects, visit: https://europa.eu/!m7qVJd

    31 min
  4. A new age of personalised treatment for prostate cancer

    JUL 9

    A new age of personalised treatment for prostate cancer

    Computational power, AI, genomics: the treatment and diagnosis of prostate cancer is advancing rapidly. This episode finds out how.  A leap forward in the diagnosis and treatment would be very welcome: prostate cancer is the second most frequent malignancy in men. In 2020 alone, around one and a half million new cases and almost half a million deaths were registered worldwide.  To explore new diagnostics and treatment are:  Jan Tkac, founder and chief scientific officer at Glycanostics, in Slovakia. The company has developed an innovative diagnostic test for cancer, based on novel biomarkers. Jan is also keen to explore how different sports relate to the levels of endorphin release.  Harald Mischak, chief scientific officer of Mosaiques Diagnostics & Therapeutics, Germany. Harald is focused on understanding the underlying molecular structures of certain types of cancers.   Joaquin Mateo, group leader of the Prostate Cancer Translational Research Group at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, in Barcelona. He is especially interested in the development of novel forms of precision medicine.  For more info on the projects featured, visit: https://europa.eu/!dgTGkb

    30 min
  5. 21st century solutions for the construction sector

    JUN 7

    21st century solutions for the construction sector

    Printed buildings, energy from atmospheric humidity, earthquake resilience – some of the novel ideas taking age-old construction techniques and making them fit for the future.  The way we build has not evolved much over millennia, but the context is radically different. So how can we build the homes we need in the least damaging way possible? To talk us through some of the latest ideas are:  Abdelghani Meslem is senior research engineer in Hazard and Risk Modelling at NORSAR in Norway. His work is focused on earthquake risk modelling, risk reduction and management. Paweł Sikora is an associate professor from the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland, where he researches additive manufacturing, lightweight concretes and nanotechnology. Andriy Lyubchyk is assistant professor of Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials at the Research Center in Industrial Engineering, Management and Sustainability, part of Lisbon University. Andriy focuses on harnessing nanoengineering to advance the generation of renewable energy.   For more info, visit: https://europa.eu/!DRRdbj

    34 min
  6. Democracy, a right worth defending

    MAY 6

    Democracy, a right worth defending

    Democracy is a collective achievement and 2024 has been called its biggest year. Europeans go to the polls in June, to vote for their representatives at the European Parliament, and 8 of the 10 most populous countries in the world are also holding elections. But the process will face challenges, perceived and unperceived. Our three guests explore some of the latest ideas about those threats and how to counter them. Jan Kubik is distinguished professor in the Department of Political Science at Rutgers University in America, and professor emeritus of Slavonic and East European Studies at University College London. He is interested in the rise of right-wing populism. David Dueñas-Cid is an associate professor at Kozminski University, Poland, and the director of the Public Sector Data-Driven Technologies Research Center. He researches the intersection between digital sociology and e-government, with a clear focus on electronic democracy and internet voting. Sven-Eric Fikenscher is a researcher with the Center of Excellence for Police and Security Research, at the Bavarian Police Academy (website in German) in Germany. He is particularly interested in refining our understanding of how disinformation campaigns online can result in criminality. For more info, visit: https://europa.eu/!mrpyYW

    34 min
  7. Premature birth

    APR 11

    Premature birth

    About 500 000 babies are born early in Europe every year, for some the condition is fatal. Complications relating to being born prematurely are the leading causes of death in the under-fives. Improving feeding, mitigating the impact on the brain and rethinking prevention – our three projects are doing what they can to push back these numbers.   Audrey van der Meer is co-director of the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory and professor of Neuropsychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. She is particularly interested in the infant brain, with its enormous plasticity and capacity to learn from day one. Isabel Hoffmann is a deep-tech entrepreneur. By harnessing technology and connectivity, she is working to help create a world in which food contributes to health, not to societal diseases. Her company Tellspec is developing innovative ways of personalising nutrition to help premature babies thrive. Julien Penders is co-founder of Bloomlife, a company designing wearable technologies and predictive analytics to promote prenatal health. Bloomlife has developed a device paired with data analytics to increase access to care, provide personalised feedback to mothers, and help doctors predict and manage pregnancy complications. For more info on the projects featured, visit: https://europa.eu/!BR3r43

    33 min
  8. Food – a catalyst for change

    MAR 8

    Food – a catalyst for change

    Did the ability to feed babies porridge help to fuel the population explosion seen in the Neolithic period? Did people take to the seas far earlier than previously thought to chase whales and seals? What is the difference between a flourishing desert frontier fort and one that dwindles into dust? We take a look at three times when food was a catalyst for change. Bettina Schulz Paulsson, an associate professor of Archaeology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, specialises in research related to the Stone Age. Her interests encompass seafaring, megaliths, prehistoric whaling and scientific dating and methods.  Associate professor of Egyptology at the Polytechnic of Milan, Corinna Rossi, focuses her research on the relationship between architecture and mathematics in ancient Egypt. Rossi has been exploring the antiquities of Egypt’s Western Desert for over 20 years. Sofija Stefanović is professor of Physical Anthropology and Bioarchaeology in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Belgrade, Serbia. She is interested in the prehistoric patterns of fertility and the influence of the duration of breastfeeding on children’s health in the Neolithic period. For more info the projects featured, visit: ⁠https://europa.eu/!nFkxTW

    34 min
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About

CORDIScovery is a monthly podcast featuring a panel discussion between guests at the forefront of their scientific fields. From threats to biodiversity to the future of space exploration, if you want to hear how the EU’s cutting-edge research is taking on the key issues challenging us today, then be sure to download and listen to what Europe’s leading scientists have to say. CORDIScovery is produced by CORDIS, whose mission is to share the results of the very best of EU-funded research.

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