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SciArt Collaborations at the Joint Research Centre: Understanding and evaluating transdisciplinary innovation beyond economic value
No full textThis paper contributes to our understanding of how artists working with scientists generate innovation, of which kinds, and their impact. We question normative assumptions regarding artistic and scientific work and its outputs as specified by the Knowledge Valorization Framework adopted by the Commission’s R&I strategy, pointing to a disconnect between EU and academic discourse resulting from a lack of theorisation concerning how artists produce knowledge as advanced by theories of arts-based research (ABR). To investigate the appropriateness of either framework our paper focuses on collaborations conducted by the SciArt project at the Joint Research Centre given its position as a knowledge-for-policy service for the European Commission at the nexus between science, policy, and society. Findings are based upon four months of ethnographic research conducted by the lead author who performed a bottom-up coding of how artistic and scientific work and thinking were defined by 31 artists, scientists and policymakers involved in these transdisciplinary projects. We argue that theories of ABR must be adopted to understand artistic work within joint research processes, how innovation occurs in collaboration, and of what types. We show how SciArt collaborations generated research outputs including novel strategies for conveying knowledge to broad audiences (artwork), the redefinition of research questions and policies, novel applications of technologies, and methodologies for citizen engagement. Framing these outcomes as innovation, we argue that research centres must focus upon understanding and supporting relational, immaterial changes generated by transdisciplinary collaborations rather than over-emphasizing economic value as a required research output.JRC.S.4 - Scientific Development Programme
A FAIR perspective on data quality frameworks
No full textDespite considerable effort and analysis over the last two to three decades, no integrated scenario yet exists for data quality frameworks. Currently, the choice is between several frameworks dependent upon the type and use of data. While the frameworks are appropriate to their specific purposes, they are generally prescriptive of the quality dimensions they prescribe. We reappraise the basis for measuring data quality by laying out a concept for a framework that addresses data quality from the foundational basis of the FAIR data guiding principles. We advocate for a federated data contextualisation framework able to handle the FAIR-related quality dimensions in the general data contextualisation descriptions and the remaining intrinsic data quality dimensions in associated dedicated context spaces without being overly prescriptive. A framework designed along these lines provides several advantages, not least of which is its ability to encapsulate most other data quality frameworks. Moreover, by contextualising data according to the FAIR data principles, many subjective quality measures are managed automatically and can even be quantified to a degree, whereas objective intrinsic quality measures can be handled to any level of granularity for any data type. This serves to avoid blurring quality dimensions between the data and the data application perspectives as well as to support data quality provenance by providing traceability over a chain of data processing operations. We show by example how some of these concepts can be implemented at a practical level.JRC.F.1 - Disease Preventio
Cyberbullying: Considerations towards a common definition
Get PDFThe European Commission is strongly committed to creating a safer digital environment for all citizens, specifically minors and youth. In the European Union Member States and Norway, 26 out of 28 countries have legislation addressing bullying and cyberbullying, with 13 providing specific definitions. While cyberbullying continues to increase, there is no consensus yet on a singular definition. An agreed definition would enable better measurement and monitoring cyberbullying and the effectiveness of related interventions. The widespread adoption of new technologies, like generative artificial intelligence introduce new factors that should be considered when defining cyberbullying.JRC.T.1 - Digital Econom
How Accurately and in What Detail Can Land Use and Land Cover Be Mapped Using Copernicus Sentinel and LUCAS 2022 Data?
No full textThis study explored the potential of the Land Use/Cover Area frame Survey (LUCAS) data for generating detailed Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) maps. Although earth observation (EO) satellites provide extensive temporal and spatial coverage, limited representative field data often results in LULC maps with broad classification schemes. In this research, we investigated the classification of detailed vegetation cover classes in 27 countries that are part of the European Union (EU) in 2022 using incrementally refined classification schemes, intending to increase the thematic depth and maintain meaningful accuracy. The LUCAS 2022 field survey dataset with 52 LULC classes and a Random Forest (RF) classifier was used to test flat and hierarchical classification approaches, along with class imbalance analysis. Based on balanced and imbalanced datasets, a 26-class classification scheme balances accuracy and detail. This study emphasized the potential of LUCAS data to provide thematic depth in vegetation cover mapping. In contrast, our previous studies focused on crop type classification utilizing Copernicus Sentinel-1 and -2 imagery and LUCAS data on a broader LULC scheme. The study also showed the importance of data balancing for achieving better classification outcomes and provides insights for large-scale LULC mapping applications in agriculture.JRC.D.5 - Food Securit
Enabling modeling of waterlogging impact on wheat
No full textMost crop simulation models do not consider the effect of waterlogging despite its importance for crop performance. Here, we reviewed the impact of waterlogging during different wheat phenological stages on grain number per unit area, average grain size, and grain yield. Episodes of waterlogging from the onset of tillering to anthesis result in fewer, and during grain filling in lighter grains. To simulate such impacts, we implemented a new waterlogging module into the wheat crop simulation model DSSAT-NWheat, accounting for the effects of waterlogging on wheat root growth, biomass growth, and potential average grain size. The model incorporating the new waterlogging routine was tested using data from a controlled experiment, and it reasonably reproduced wheat yield responses to pre-anthesis waterlogging. A sensitivity analysis showed that the simulated impact of waterlogging on above ground biomass and roots, as well as leaf area index, grain number, and grain yield varied with phenological stages. The simulated crop was most sensitive to pre-anthesis waterlogging, consistent with experimental studies. The new waterlogging-enabled crop model is an initial attempt to consider the impact of excess rainfall and waterlogging on crop growth and final grain yield to reduce model uncertainties when projecting climate change impacts with increasing rainfall intensity.JRC.D.5 - Food Securit
Thermal oxidation of nuclear graphite and pyrolytic carbon coatings
No full textThe oxidation of pyrolytic carbon (PyC) deposited via fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition was characterized and compared with that of standard nuclear-grade graphite. The materials were heated at 700 to 1000 ◦C in a thermogravimetric analysis system under 20% v/v O2 flow, allowing for direct comparison of dynamic oxidative mass change in each material. Three different PyC samples fabricated under different conditions exhibited variation in total mass loss and mass loss rate, varying by as much as 709 mg/cm2 in total mass loss and 14.2 (mg/cm2)/min in mass loss rate at a single temperature. These variations highlight the correlation between PyC microstructure/defect density and oxidation susceptibility. Additionally, changes in the microstructure and composition between PyC and graphite were characterized via scanning electron microscopy and correlated to the mass loss results. The results of this work have implications toward the safety of tristructural isotropic (TRISO) and other coated particle fuels, especially under off-normal conditions, given the limited information that exists about the oxidation behavior of PyC.JRC.G.I.5 - Nuclear Science and Innovation for Energy and Healt
From Implemented to Expected Behaviors: Leveraging Regression Oracles for Non-Regression Fault Detection Using LLMs
No full textAutomated test generation tools often produce assertions that reflect implemented behavior, limiting their usage
to regression testing. In this paper, we propose LLMPROPHET, a black-box approach that trains LLMs on automatically generated regression tests using Few-Shot Learning to identify non-regression faults without relying on source code. By employing iterative cross-validation and a leave-one-out strategy, LLMPROPHET identifies regression assertions that are misaligned with expected behaviors. We outline LLMPROPHET’s workflow, feasibility, and preliminary findings, demonstrating its potential for LLM-driven fault detection.JRC.E.2 - Space, Connectivity and Economic Securit
Neither fish nor fowl? Challenges in identifying REACH obligations for multi-component (nano)materials
No full textThis commentary addresses how multi-component (nano)materials do not always align easily with regulatory definitions. This can lead to difficulties in understanding how relevant REACH obligations apply to them when they approach commercialisation.JRC.F.2 - Technologies for Healt
A framework for global highway network change detection applied to Landsat data
No full textMulti-temporal geospatial data measuring the evolution of transportation networks is scarce, impeding our quantitative knowledge on the dynamics of highway and other transportation networks at global scale. To tackle this issue, we developed a framework that integrates contemporary road network data with road presence probabilities extracted from historical, multispectral Landsat data (1990-2024), enabling the measurement of highway network growth from 1990 onwards. The framework also supports earlier Landsat data, other geohistorical data such as historical maps or pre Landsat aerial imagery. First experiments conducted for a study area in the United States yield promising results, achieving Area-under-the-Curve values of up to 0.88.JRC.E.1 - Disaster Risk Managemen
Re-open EU - A platform for rapid response to crises
Get PDFRe-open EU was a web platform and mobile app providing updated, official information on travel and health measures adopted in EU and Schengen Associated countries in response to COVID-19. When the pandemic broke out, EU countries imposed lockdowns and exceptional restrictive measures, including on travel into and within the EU, to contain the spread of the virus. As the epidemiological situation improved and travel bans were gradually lifted, it became necessary to provide a trustworthy source of updated, official information on the different travel requirements implemented in EU countries, allowing citizens to move safely and upholding free movement in the Schengen area. Re-open EU was launched to this end on 15 June 2020, as part of the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to address this need. In December of the same year, the platform also became available as a mobile app on both iOS and Android. With almost 4M downloads in total, Re-open EU is the most downloaded EU app in its history. This publication describes how the platform was continuously evolving to cater for the emerging needs throughout the different phases of the pandemic, and provides an overview of the main challenges, solutions and lessons learnt gathered in this process. As such, this publication provides useful, practical guidance for the European Commission or any EU body that would require deploying a user-friendly tool with timely information, in coordination amongst several EU services and countries, under critical circumstances.JRC.B.3 - Territorial Developmen