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The Science for Society foundation, under the aegis of Fondation de Luxembourg, with support from the FNR, launches a new prize: The ‘Science for Society’ prize will reward a project, an action, or a set of activities that have enabled the general public to reveal, explain and put scientific evidence into context in public debate and/or understand and develop critical thinking based on scientific facts, and/or debunk fake news or associated communications linked to societal issues thanks to a scientific demonstration and/or exceptional communication efforts.
We understand that researchers and research teams may go through a difficult period triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic During 2020 and 2021, research projects have temporarily been suspended or delayed and key parts of projects may have to be postponed for a significant amount of time. Therefore, the FNR wishes to offer flexibility in the handling of grants and grant proposals for projects affected by the pandemic. *last update 16 July 2021*
As part of its lecture series on Infection & Immunity, the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) is organising a lecture on the topic “Suppressing the fire: immunomodulatory metabolites in macrophages” with speaker Prof Karsten Hiller. The lecture takes place on Wednesday, 8 December 2021.
A joint project of FNR, Rockhal, LIST and University of Luxembourg transforms scientific data into music in an innovative and experimental approach with the help of data sonification. The aim of the Esch2022 project is to bring the worlds of music and science together at Belval.
Cemeteries are multifunctional public spaces – funeral services are provided, loved ones are laid to rest – they are ‘sacred’ in the widest sense, but also frequently used as public parks – a diverse mix of people converge on these spaces of shared use. In Luxembourg City’s cemeteries conformity reigns, far from reflecting the diversity of the population. How this affects migrants and minorities is being explored as part of the international project ‘CeMi’, which examines the use and management of cemeteries as important but understudied public spaces.
To many, the Middle Ages are synonymous with the term the ‘Dark Ages’ – a time of decline. The term was coined hundreds of years ago by the era referring to itself as the ‘Renaissance’ – a rebirth of norms and standards. There is in fact much more to the complexity of the Middle Ages and historians are working on overcoming these antiquated ideas. For this research, Dr Christa Birkel won a 2021 FNR Award in the category ‘Outstanding PhD Thesis’.
The new FNR Award category ‘Outstanding Scientific Achievement’ rewards research shaping its field, rather than only looking at publications or marketable products. 2021 winner Emmanuel Defay and his team achieved a breakthrough in a new technology that could be used in more eco-friendly and efficient cooling systems in the future.
The FNR Award for ‘Outstanding Promotion of Science to the Public’ rewards outreach activities that have done an exceptional job connecting science with society. The 2021 winning activity involved setting up an interactive video installation in the middle of Esch to investigate the industrial history of the Minett region.
