Abstract

The Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (Fecyt) is a governmental tool for the integration of ministerial activity. With its cross-sectional nature, Fecyt tries to ensure that universities, research centres and companies get the most out of innovation. It also pays great attention to the international impact of Spanish science through journals and repositories. In this article, the Fecyt director responsible for Integrated Management of Scientific Information describes their main objectives and activities.

Abstract

The correlated exploitation of heterogeneous data sources offering very large historical as well as streaming data is important to increasing the accuracy of computations when analysing and predicting future states of moving entities. This is particularly critical in the maritime domain, where online tracking, early recognition of events, and real-time forecast of anticipated trajectories of vessels are crucial to safety and operations at sea. The objective of this paper is to review current research challenges and trends tied to the integration, management, analysis, and visualization of objects moving at sea as well as a few suggestions for a successful development of maritime forecasting and decision-support systems. Document type: Article

Abstract

Within the framework of SENSKIN EU project (grant No. 635844), we have developed a soft capacitive sensor using silicone dielectric elastomer for Structural health monitoring (SHM). This sensor has a thin layer of stretchable silicone dielectric film and soft silicone electrodes as the active layer, which transduces strain signal into the easy-monitored capacitance change. The sensor output is measured as a ration of the sensor’s capacitance to the known value of the reference capacitor. The capacitive output of the sensor showed a linear response upon stretching in the strain range of 4.5 % to 5.5% with a pre-strain of 5.0 %. The sensor output increased by 0.01 when the strain was increased by 1.0 %. The sensor was exposed to a temperature change from -35 oC to 55 oC (the supposed working temperature range) with a ramping of 0.2 oC/min and, as a result, it showed a linear temperature dependence behavior with a slope of -0.001 sensor output per oC. Therefore, with the help of the embedded Platinum-1000 temperature sensor, the thermal expansion effect on the capacitive output can be excluded from the actual strain-induced capacitance change. These results provide practical reference to the application of the silicon-elastomer sensor for the SHM systems.

Abstract

ong"The Final Conference of the SIMNORAT project took place in Brest (France) on 29-30 January 2019."/strong" On the first day, presentations introduced the Atlantic setting, informed about the national MSP implementation, gave an overview of the project results and shared the perspectives on MSP of other EU MSP projects. The activities and outcomes of the case studies were presented in a poster session (Bay of Biscay and North western marine waters of Iberian Coast case studies). On the second day, workshops were held on Ecosystem-based management, data needs and information on MSP as well as on Stakeholder engagement. "strong"Here you can find the presentations of the plenary sessions of the first day."/strong" The different documents of the conference have their own dedicated entries on Zenodo:"br" • Agenda and Minutes"br" • Case study posters"br" • Workshops --- "strong"PRESENTATIONS"/strong" 9.30 – 10.00: "strong"OPENING ADDRESSES"/strong""br" Facilitated by Dominique Carval, SIMNORAT Project Coordinator, Shom The SIMNORAT Final conference was opened by representatives of the city, the region, the European Commission as well as the Shom. Michel Gourcay, Vice-president, Brest Métropole Forough Salami-Dadkhah, Vice-President, Brittany Region David Sanmiguel, Project Adviser, Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME), European Commission Bruno Frachon, Director of Shom, SIMNORAT project leader The speeches were given without presentations. --- 10.00 – 10.30: "strong"SETTING THE ATLANTIC FRAME"/strong""br" Moderated by Corine Lochet, Deputy Director for international Relations, in charge of EU Affairs"br" Coordination, Shom The sessions on Setting the Atlantic frame and the State of Play of the national MSP implementations brought together a number of speakers from the national competent authorities from France, Spain, Portugal and the UK as well as from non-governmental bodies. Angela Schultz-Zehden, Project Leader, EU MSP Platform Claude Wohrer, Secretariat General to the Sea, France Damien Périssé, Director in Charge of Maritime Affairs, Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) --- 14.30 – 15.45: "strong"LESSONS LEARNT FROM SIMNORAT"/strong""br" Facilitated by Dominique Carval, SIMNORAT Project Coordinator, Shom Representatives of each project partner introduced their work on the different components, presented results and shared what they learnt from their involvement in the project. Lise Guennal, CPMR, The Role of the Regions in MSP Julien Dilasser, CEREMA, Marine Sectors Neil Alloncle & Fanny Bliard, AFB, Marine Conservation Ana Lloret, CEDEX, Organising Implementation of MSP Adriano Quintela, University of Aveiro, MSP Implementation Methodology Ronan Jarno, Shom, Data Needs and Gaps Denis Bailly, UBO, AMURE, Improving Stakeholder Engagement --- 16.15 – 17.45: "strong"PERSPECTIVES ON MSP"/strong""br" Moderated by Corine Lochet, Deputy Director for international relations, in charge of EU Affairs"br" Coordination, Shom Representatives of other European MSP projects shared their experience with the attendees of the SIMNORAT conference. A set of questions made the various perspectives on MSP comparable. Round table with the participation of: Niccolò Bassan, Università Iuav di Venezia, SUPREME Project Andrea Barbanti, Research Manager, ISMAR CNR, SIMWESTMED Project Ingela Isaksson, Project Manager, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, Coordinator of the Pan Baltic Scope Project Kirsty Wright, Marine Scotland Science, NorthSEE project Gaël Potin, Research Engineer at La Réunion University, OCEAN METISS Project Cathal O'Mahony, EU Grant Coordinator, University College Cork, SIMCelt Project David Sanmiguel, Project Adviser, Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME), European Commission

Abstract

The relationships between politics and scientists of interest in the findings of bibliometric studies are discussed in this text. The use of bibliometric arguments by commissions such as Cneai (Comisión Nacional de Evaluación de la Actividad Investigadora), among others, in the process of making decisions on “sections of research” and aspects of science policy, constitute a discussion of undoubted importance and interest to information professionals.

Abstract

National policies critically affect the results of scientific production and communication in Latin American countries. Currently, these countries are developing and adapting to the assessment and quality schemes that have existed for some time in other advanced countries in the field of science. Political and economic conditions in Latin America have been favorable in the last five years, although only a few Latin American countries have taken advantage of this situation. In this paper public policies in science in Ecuador and Colombia are analyzed. The objective is to stimulate scientific production and enhance the overall research ecosystem of these two countries. The findings focus primarily on the differences detected in their respective investment policies, their higher education systems, and the volume and quality of their scientific production.

Abstract

The positive and negative effects of policies aimed at encouraging scientific output by university professors in Colombia, in addition to those that apply to higher education institutions in the quality accreditation process and in national budget resource allocation, are discussed. Although Colombia reported the highest rate of growth among Latin American countries in the Scopus database and is improving its scientific communication practices, the country now has the challenge of combining these performance results with a greater emphasis on quality indicators. In order to achieve greater international visibility, policy adjustments related to improving scientific production are needed, as well as a more efficient incentives system for researchers and higher education institutions. New policy provisions are beginning to be focussed in this direction.

Abstract

An information policy is a concerted action of various agents with information as the object, having as a purpose certain goals. The crisis we face is not only economic but also technological and due to changes in the organizational model, and we are already seeing some effects of deregulation and no planning. We can only establish solid information policies if we find a set of actions around which a wide spectrum of agents can be aligned without friction. 1. In the print world, policies should allow us to determine what exists and make that easily accessible, and know what is little used and will tend to be used less and ensure that it is preserved. 2. Research funding institutions can and must agree to facilitate open access to information and data. 3. Finally, the library-organization must be able to provide digital books, offer digital information that anybody can use, and ensure that born-digital materials are passed on to future generations. To this we must add the need to plan for information literacy training in schools. In these times of change, surrounded by uncertainty and some notable weaknesses, part of our professional duties should be devoted to elaborate agreements enabling us to take coordinated action in certain directions.

Abstract

This chapter addresses the migration of scientific professionals from Portugal in the past few decades, focusing on the ‘pull’ (which attract skilled workers to a country) and “push” (which repel workers away from the country of origin) factors that drive this migration. Based on official statistics, a questionnaire survey with researchers abroad and semi-structured interviews with returnee scientists, the chapter shows how Portugal, as a semi-peripheral country, has traditionally been a sending rather than a receiving country for scientists. Exit trends were actively encouraged throughout the last few decades by national science policies (training of human resources that provided opportunities for studying and working abroad) and by European policies (of intra-EU mobility). Similarly, the growth of resources in the Portuguese scientific system came to be a factor for attracting foreign scientists to Portugal. Mobility rates, both outbound and return, were high but over time push factors became less significant, as Portugal increased its attractiveness for young researchers wishing to pursue advanced training and even for foreign researchers. However, in later years, the economic crisis and the austerity measures implemented to deal with it, as well as some changes in science policy, have created favourable conditions for an increase in brain drain. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Document type: Part of book or chapter of book