Bourguignon highlights European scientific opportunities
The final day of the 2014 annual meeting of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has opened in Chicago, USA.
Speaking for the first time in the United States, the European Research Council’s new president, Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, said: “I’m delighted to take part in the AAAS 2014 meeting. Today’s respected audience and programme is a promising indicator of the high expectations society has of scientific research. Many of the best scientists travel around the world to work on groundbreaking projects and enhance their career. I am here today to spread the word about the possibilities Europe offers, which gives top researchers the freedom to choose their own research priorities and encourage them to take part in the daring high-risk research that the ERC supports.”
Bourguignon explained how the ERC has been able to accomplish solid achievements by building on its close relationship of mutual trust with the scientific community and the European Commission. Also attending the conference and representing the ERC are two ERC Scientific Council members, Professor Klaus Bock and Professor Nils Chr. Stenseth, and two ERC grantees. The ERC help encourage top scientists to carry out innovative and high-risk research in Europe.
Topics at AAAS ERC events include grant schemes and subjects researched by ERC grantee Professor Walter Salzburger, who was awarded a Starting Grant in 2007 and a Consolidator Grant in 2013, and Professor Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, who received a Starting Grant in 2009. They investigated the evolution of spotty fish and the use of nanowires for solar energy respectively.
This year, the conference has drawn as many as 8,500 attendees from 60 countries to debate the theme ‘Meeting Global Challenges: Discovery and Innovation’.
