Personalised Medicine for the European citizen - towards more precise medicine for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease
Healthcare is on the brink of a revolution precipitated by dramatic advances in biomedical research. The ability to distinguish, at the molecular level, what makes one person different from another lies at the heart of this fundamental shift. Combined, these developments will change our approach to medicine from finding cures towards individualised prediction, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. [more]
A Position Paper was published in May 2011 and the final report in December 2012.
This project is a joint activity involving the Life, Earth & Environmental Sciences (LEE (formerly LESC)), Medical Sciences (MED (formerly EMRC)), Social Sciences (SOC (formerly SCSS)), Physical and Engineering Sciences (PEN (formerly PESC)) and the Humanities (HUM (formerly SCH)). It is managed by MED (formerly EMRC). Activity period: 2011-2012.
Central and Eastern Europe beyond Transition: Convergence and Divergence in Europe
This project proposed to set new frontiers in Social Science research on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Previous initiatives by the ESF have looked at the research infrastructure in CEE rather than the content of research agendas (e.g. the report ‘Status and Developments of Social Science Research in Central and Eastern Europe’, and the Member Organisations in Central and Eastern Europe - MOCEE project). However, following a workshop attended by many members of the Standing Committee for the Social Sciences from CEE states, it was suggested that in the social sciences, a rethinking of the European research agenda would usefully complement other efforts to overcome the structural and resource challenges faced by researchers from CEE. [more]
A final report was published in May 2012.
This project was managed by the Social Sciences (SOC (formerly SCSS)) and ran from 2009-2012.
Responses to Environmental and Societal Challenges for our Unstable Earth
Undoubtedly, humankind is currently facing unprecedented changes in the Earth system that have arisen at a rapidly growing rate because of human activities: the unsustainable exploitation and consumption of natural resources and the accelerating perturbation of the environment. The systemic understanding of global change has expanded markedly, but societal drivers and consequences are still to be fully explored through problem-oriented approaches. The extensive knowledge base that scientific research has created, should contribute to the development of sustainable responses to global change. In this context, this Forward Look RESCUE has the overall aims of addressing the societal needs that require understanding of global change, including its human dimensions, and stimulating an appropriate and integrated response from natural, social and human sciences. [more]
A final report was published in December 2011.
This project was a joint ESF/COST activity involving the ESF Life, Earth and Environmental Science (LEE (formerly LESC)), Social Sciences (SOC (formerly SCSS)), Humanities (HUM (formerly SCH)) and Physical and Engineering Sciences (PEN (formerly PESC)), and the COST Domain Committees for Earth System Science and Environmental Management (ESSEM), for Individuals, Societies, Cultures and Health (ISCH) and for Forests, their Products and Services (FPS). It was managed by LEE (formerly LESC) and ran from 2009-2012.
Ageing, Health and Pensions in Europe
The ageing of populations is one of the main secular developments shaping the 21st century. Ageing will fundamentally affect individuals as well as the European welfare states. Globalisation and population ageing now exert large pressures on our welfare states, necessitating reform of pension and health care systems. This will impact European labour markets as well as the health and well-being of European citizens. [more]
A Final Report was published in July 2010 and a Science Policy Briefing in September 2010.
This project was a joint activity between the Medical Sciences (MED (formerly EMRC)) and Social Sciences (SOC (formerly SCSS)). It was managed by SOC (formerly SCSS) and ran from 2008-2009.
European Food Systems in a Changing World
Food security is a primary societal goal in which food systems play a pivotal role. European food systems are changing, driven by complex technological and policy factors including CAP reform. These changes will affect the interactions between food availability, food access and food utilisation in uncertain ways. [more]
A Science Policy Briefing was published in April 2009.
This project was a joint activity between Medical Sciences (MED (formerly EMRC)), the Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences (LEE (formerly LESC)), the Humanities (HUM (formerly SCH)) and Social Sciences (SOC (formerly SCSS)) as well as the COST Domain Committee for Food and Agriculture. It was managed by LEE (formerly LESC) and ran from 2006-2009.
Higher Education in Europe Beyond 2010
Resolving Conflicting Social and Economic Expectations
Higher education institutions are being subjected to a variety of pressures that seek, primarily, to enhance higher education’s contribution to the successful creation of so-called ‘knowledge societies’, together with, and receiving only slightly less emphasis, the achievement of greater equity and social justice. [more]
The final report was published in July 2008.
This project was a joint activity between the Humanities (HUM (formerly SCH)) and Social Sciences (SOC (formerly SCSS)). It was managed by SOC (formerly SCSS) and ran from 2006-2007.
Security: Advancing a Framework for Enquiry
This Forward Look aimed to develop new perspectives for integrated research, to inform long-term understandings of models of security, of contingent cognitive, cultural, ideological and legal frameworks, and of relevant management issues. The objective was to address scientifically complex issues such as critical thresholds and systemic imbalances. [more]
This project was a joint activity between the Humanities (HUM (formerly SCH)) and Social Sciences (SOC (formerly SCSS)). It was managed by HUM (formerly SCH) and ran from 2007-2008.
Urban Science
In 2002, the European Science Foundation launched a series of workshops on urban sciences. The aim was to promote scientific research on urban issues, develop visions and suggest recommendations for cities to draw up urban policy programmes and solve urban problems. In addition to such scientific and research policy goals, the aim was to make urban science better known and recognised as a discipline, especially among those who make decisions concerning research funding. The Urban Science Forward Look final conference was held in Helsinki, Finland, on 26-28 May 2005. A report gives more details on the activities of and participants in this project. Download the report (4.0 MB).
This project was a joint activity between all five ESF Standing Committees and ran from 2002-2005. It was managed by the Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences (LEE (formerly LESC)), and Social Sciences (SOC (formerly SCSS)).
Cultural Diversity, Collective Identity and Collective Action
The Forward Look Workshop’s aim was to outline and discuss challenges for social research concerning the political, institutional, structural and cultural aspects and consequences of the opening up of national borders in Europe for the diversity of its respective societies, for the identity of its citizens and the rise of collective action.
A workshop, held in April 2002, debated Cultural Diversity, Collective Identity and Collective Action, and other issues emerging alongside the progressively intensifying processes of the opening up of national borders in Europe. About 40 leading scholars from across Europe and USA, as well as policy makers and practitioners, attempted to identify challenges that social, psychological, political, cultural and economic phenomena associated with mobility and migration provide for social research, and to suggest how they can be dealt with within a medium-term and long-term high quality perspectives in relevant areas of European science.
A news release was issued shortly after the meeting giving more details on the issues discussed and possible future directions of this Forward Look. In considering the strategic course of action to fill the gaps identified during the meeting, a consensus was reached among participants that a long-running scientific programme would be needed. A final report looked into developing an agenda for the future of this initiative.
There are many large-scale European projects investigating the issues raised during the workshop.
This project ran in 2001-2002 and was led and managed by the Social Sciences (SOC (formerly SCSS)).
Earth System Science: Global Problems, Global Science - Europe's future role in global change research
The aim of this Forward Look was to consider how best to foster cooperation between ESF Member organisations and to secure and maximise European investment and leadership in global change research through national and international routes. [more]
The key event in this Forward Look was a major conference held 30 January - 1 February 2002,. The Programme of this Conference can be accessed by clicking here.
The Forward Look took place under the direction of a Steering Committee led by Dr John Marks , NWO, Netherlands. It took into account
the outcome of the Open Science Conference on Challenges of a Changing Earth held in Amsterdam in July 2002 (for information on the Conference declaration and the post-Conference briefing, click here)
the scientific agendas being developed through
As follow-up, a workshop was held in 2004, and an application for an ESF EUROCORES subsequently submitted (but not granted).
This project was a joint activity between the Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences (LEE (formerly LESC)) and Social Sciences (SOC (formerly SCSS)). It ran from 2001-2003.
