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European Crucible Podcasts

Quentin CooperThe primary objective of European Crucible is to create and develop a pan-European network of future research leaders who have enhanced knowledge, contacts and capacities to collaborate more effectively with wider impact 

Listen to broadcaster, Quentin Cooper, as he interviews team members from 5 pilot projects that received seed funding and learn how their multidisciplinary research activities were initiated and enabled through their participation in European Crucible. Projects address medical, health, environmental, social, legal and technological challenges.

SUPA had responsibility, on behalf of all Scottish Research Pools, for the administration and delivery of the European Crucible grant from Scottish Funding Council / Scottish Government.

Crucible Podcast


Water Quality1. Water Quality Monitoring
Scotland - France - Luxembourg

red book2. Storytelling and Games to Address Trauma
Scotland - Ukraine

cell3. Shedding Light on Cell Processes for Health
Scotland - Norway - Greece

Coral Reef4. Coral Reef Restoration with Magnets
Scotland - Sweden - Italy - Ireland - Greece - Germany

wind power 5. Policy Making and Green Technology
Scotland - France - Turkey

 

Shedding Light on Cell Processes for Health

Project:"AUTODOSE"

Autophagy is a vital cellular process, in which dysfunctional components of the cell are removed and the building blocks recycled for reuse. Defects in the functioning of this system have been shown to have important links with various diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration. The project will shed light on autophagy pathways using Raman Spectroscopy and fluorescence techniques from fat body tissue of Drosophila larvae.

The team expertise for this Medical Challenge is in Biology, Biophysics, Maths, Statistics, and Electrical Engineering

Policy Making and Green Technology

Project: "rECOver"

Many green technologies (e.g. batteries and hydrogen) rely on critical elements, materials, and supply chains that have negative environmental impacts. A collider event brought together policymakers, industry partners and specific actors with influence over the use and development of 'green' technology. A collection of qualitative and scientific data regarding the existing gaps in the thinking are being addressed.

The Team expertise for this Energy and Environment Challenge is in Robotics, Energy, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology and Law.

Coral Reef Restoration with Magnets

Project: MIRROR

Coastal marine habitats are biodiverse ecosystems providing a wealth of social, economic and cultural benefits but are under immense human pressure because of coastal development, polluting land run off and climate change. The project aim is to increase coral settlement rates by actively attracting colonisation via a substrate's magnetic properties.

The team expertise for this Environmental Challenge is in Marine Biology, Chemical Physics, Ecology and Environmental Science, Maths and Statistics

Storytelling and Games to Address Trauma

Project: "MAVKA"

Children are being traumatised by the violence in Ukraine and are in need of safety. Several approaches can provide support for victims of trauma conflict. Storytelling allows us to make sense of information in an organised way whilst combining elements of play. The aim of the project is to develop a 'serious game' providing children and young people affected by war and conflict with an opportunity to engage in mixed media to process emotion and trauma.

The Team expertise for this Societal Challenge is in Social Sciences, Literature, and Computer Science.

Water Quality Monitoring

Scotland – France – Luxembourg

Project: "UV-Go"

Despite the standard use of spectroscopy to determine the composition of water in the laboratory and in the field, UV/visible spectrometers are expensive and bulky. This project encompasses the development and testing of new low cost and sensitive UV sensors for water composition quantification.

The team expertise for this Environmental Challenge is in: Physics, Chemistry, Experimental Hydrology, Material and Environmental Science