The President of the EC Gets Acquainted with the Green Technologies Created by Scientists at the RTU

During her visit to Latvia, the President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen met with the management of the Riga Technical University (RTU), RTU scientists and students, get acquainted with RTU-created technologies that promote climate neutrality and have been supported by the European Union (EU) funds. Climate neutrality and green technologies are a priority for RTU, as a strategic decision has been made to achieve a very low carbon emission by 2030.

The President of the EC met with Rector of RTU Leonīds Ribickis and Vice-Rector for Research Tālis Juhna, as well as with three teams of scientists. Scientists from the Institute of Environmental Protection and Heating Systems of RTU Faculty of Electrical and Environmental Engineering will present solutions for renewable energy consumption and energy efficiency improvement to Ursula von der Leyen – a prototype of a facade panel that provides solar energy storage in the building during warm weather and heating in cold weather.

RTU Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry (FMSAC) research group presented the Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence project launched a year ago, founded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme, which promotes the biomaterials industry in the region. Scientists develop and commercialize new biomaterials for bone regeneration, facial, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthopaedics and other fields.

Another group of FMSAC scientists presented their own creation – innovative bioreactor, in which it is possible to grow the valuable tropical microalgae spirulina despite the cool Latvian climate. Spirulina is an excellent source of antioxidants and various vitamins, as well as contains all essential amino acids. Researchers have used the support tools of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to develop the idea, creating a start-up company, SpirulinaNord, which has already started commercial activities.

RTU has been actively working since 2015 to mitigate the environmental impact of its activities. Three years ago, the concept of Green Ķīpsala came into force, which aims to implement sustainable resource management at its campus Ķīpsala, raising RTU employees and students awareness of the environmental issues and promoting the creation and use of environmentally friendly technologies.

The Green aspect and the UN Sustainable Development Goals are also included in the RTU Sustainable Development Strategy approved in 2020. RTU decision to aim for CO2 neutrality confirms the understanding that every organization and consumer, even if they do not feel it directly on a daily basis, make their negative contribution to climate change. Therefore, the sooner each organisation and the consumer will become aware of their environmental impact, the more change-oriented we will be.

The President of the EC Ursula von der Leyen visited Latvia in the context of the EU Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, the Next Generation EU initiative and Latvian National Recovery Plan.

Eiropas Komisijas priekšsēdētājas Urzulas fon der Leienas vizīte RTU

Third Seminar of the ‘Thinking Human First’ Seminar Series to be hosted by Technical University of Cartagena

“Human First… and humans in the end” is the motto of the cauldron in which we are going to mix a selection of technological developments concocted in Cartagena, which will be served up in a two-course menu for the summer solstice. First: Human First. Technology devoted to help people with visual and hearing impairment, specifically in a learning context. BeMyVega aims at a more inclusive education, and this intervention will move beyond technical details to discuss researchers’motivation and rewards, social impact and feedback from final users. Second: the curse for the environment that we may represent, seasoned with a caring technology as a second chance to redeem ourselves and remedy environmental damage. From the use of light as a language tool for plant-human communication in the fight against global warming, to the local recovery of our Mar Menor coastal saltwater lagoon, remarkable contributions by UPCT researchers through nature-based solutions will be displayed. As a dessert, the UPCT-Bloopbusters team will tell us about their experience teaching Physics for engineers, while making the most of their passion for the Seventh Art. Scientific mistakes in films and hands-on experiments are used to help our students with complex aspects of their courses, develop critical thinking and rise awareness of their responsibility towards global challenges for their future professional career.

 

FIRST WITCH: When shall we meet again?

In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

(Macbeth, Act I, Scene I)

 

Schedule

17:00-17:15 ECTLab Introduction. Noel Fitzpatrick – TU Dublin (English) and Local host introduction: José Luis Serrano – UPCT (Spanish/English).

17:15-17:30. Maria Carmen Martínez – Assistant Professor at the Department of Agronomical Engineering. “Light as a language tool for plant-human communication”

17:30-17:45 María Nazaret González – Biologist, PhD, Contract Researcher (Saavedra Fajardo program). “Nature based solutions can help us, but only if we help them:the case of the Mar Menor Coastal lagoon”.

17:45-18:00 Ángel Molina – Professor at the Department of Electric Engineering. “Use of Technology to improve accesibility and inclusion in education: BeMyVega”

18:00-18:15 UPCT Bloopbusters – Enrique Castro y Juan Francisco Sánchez Assistant Professors at the Department of Applied Physic “A methodology of teaching physics and technology concepts using movie scenes and related experiments”

18:15 Q/A in local host language and/or English.

18:25 Wrap up: José Luis Serrano –UPCT (Spanish)

18:30 Conclusion: Noel Fitzpatrick – TU Dublin (English)

 

Join from the meeting link