The ECO-BUILD Project, funded under the EU FP6 will conclude in April of 2010. Since its commencement in 2007, the project has researched innovative technologies, policy and programmatic measures for improving the overall energy performance in the building sector. ECO-BUILD will present its project outcomes together with policy recommendations at its final conference organized in the framework of the EU Sustainable Energy Week 2010. The lessons learned from the Eco-buildings cluster group, and the Smart-Eco project will also contribute to understanding how to overcome long-standing obstacles within the building sector and the value of embracing a new approach for the design, construction and operation of new and/or refurbished buildings.

Fore more information and the programme of the conference, visit the ECO-BUILD Website.

In January 2010, a new research project, in which the ICCR is a partner, was launched: ‘Privacy – Appraising Challenges to Technologies and Ethics (PRACTIS)’. It is co-ordinated by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Technology Analysis and Forecasting (ICTAF) of Tel Aviv University and will have a duration of three years. The vision underlying the project is one of a society aware of the challenges to privacy posed by emerging technologies and equipped to meet them. PRACTIS will assess the potential impacts of emerging technologies and new scientific knowledge on privacy. It will propose ethical frameworks and legal procedures for coping with potential risks to privacy. Furthermore, it will explore novel policy options for addressing individuals’ changing privacy needs in the light of new technologies, as well as examining new ethical frameworks in law and the implementation of guidelines for new technology or product development. For more information see the project page.

On behalf of the ICCR team I would like to wish all of you happy holidays, see you next year!

The 2009/2010 issue of the ICCR’s print ‘window to the world’ is now available on request and free of charge at office@iccr-international.org.

In essence, the newsletter gives an overview of the ongoing and prospective projects at the institute. After an editorial on the topical subject of the contribution of the social sciences to overcoming the recent crises, Andreas Schadauer und Ronald J. Pohoryles outline the future of the social sciences by reporting on the findings of two research projects (SSH-Futures and Platon +). This is followed by an article by Helen Santiago Fink and Michael Schmidt dealing with the crucial role of the building sector in European Energy Policy (ECO-BUILD). Michael Schmidt and Katherine Dolan then give a short report on the evaluation of European transport research (SITPRO +). The next article by Katharina Paul gives an introduction to new medical techniques in the neurosciences, a completely new field at the institute (HealthGovMatters). Liana Giorgi then examines the question as to whether arts festivals can be instruments for bringing together the citizens of Europe, or even of the world (EURO-FESTIVAL). In conclusion, Katharina Zwiauer presents the opportunities and hazards of biofuel production in the Sahel Zone (WIN-WIN).

Apart from these articles, Broadsheet also contains project updates, staff biographies and a schedule of events in 2009. We wish you great pleasure reading.

Photos from the SSH-Futures Final Conference ‘The Future of Social Sciences and Humanities’, October 22-23, 2009 in Brussels.

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Photos by eventattitude