Project acronym CeraText
Project Tailoring Microstructure and Architecture to Build Ceramic Components with Unprecedented Damage Tolerance
Researcher (PI) Raul BERMEJO
Host Institution (HI) MONTANUNIVERSITAET LEOBEN
Country Austria
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE8, ERC-2018-COG
Summary Advanced ceramics are often combined with metals, polymers or other ceramics to produce structural and functional systems with exceptional properties. Examples are resistors and capacitors in microelectronics, piezo-ceramic actuators in car injection devices, and bio-implants for hip joint replacements. However, a critical issue affecting the functionality, lifetime and reliability of such systems is the initiation and uncontrolled propagation of cracks in the brittle ceramic parts, yielding in some cases rejection rates up to 70% of components production.
The remarkable “damage tolerance” found in natural materials such as wood, bone or mollusc, has yet to be achieved in technical ceramics, where incipient damage is synonymous with catastrophic failure. Novel “multilayer designs” combining microstructure and architecture could change this situation. Recent work of the PI has shown that tuning the location of “protective” layers within a 3D multilayer ceramic can increase its fracture resistance by five times (from ~3.5 to ~17 MPa∙m1/2) relative to constituent bulk ceramic layers, while retaining high strength (~500 MPa). By orienting the grain structure, similar to the textured and organized microstructure found in natural systems such as nacre, the PI has shown that crack propagation can be controlled within the textured ceramic layer. Thus, I believe tailored microstructures with controlled grain boundaries engineered in a layer-by-layer 3D architectural design hold the key to a new generation of “damage tolerant” ceramics.
This proposal outlines a research program to establish new scientific principles for the fabrication of innovative ceramic components that exhibit unprecedented damage tolerance. The successful implementation of microstructural features (e.g. texture degree, tailored internal stresses, second phases, interfaces) in a layer-by-layer architecture will provide outstanding lifetime and reliability in both structural and functional ceramic devices.
Summary
Advanced ceramics are often combined with metals, polymers or other ceramics to produce structural and functional systems with exceptional properties. Examples are resistors and capacitors in microelectronics, piezo-ceramic actuators in car injection devices, and bio-implants for hip joint replacements. However, a critical issue affecting the functionality, lifetime and reliability of such systems is the initiation and uncontrolled propagation of cracks in the brittle ceramic parts, yielding in some cases rejection rates up to 70% of components production.
The remarkable “damage tolerance” found in natural materials such as wood, bone or mollusc, has yet to be achieved in technical ceramics, where incipient damage is synonymous with catastrophic failure. Novel “multilayer designs” combining microstructure and architecture could change this situation. Recent work of the PI has shown that tuning the location of “protective” layers within a 3D multilayer ceramic can increase its fracture resistance by five times (from ~3.5 to ~17 MPa∙m1/2) relative to constituent bulk ceramic layers, while retaining high strength (~500 MPa). By orienting the grain structure, similar to the textured and organized microstructure found in natural systems such as nacre, the PI has shown that crack propagation can be controlled within the textured ceramic layer. Thus, I believe tailored microstructures with controlled grain boundaries engineered in a layer-by-layer 3D architectural design hold the key to a new generation of “damage tolerant” ceramics.
This proposal outlines a research program to establish new scientific principles for the fabrication of innovative ceramic components that exhibit unprecedented damage tolerance. The successful implementation of microstructural features (e.g. texture degree, tailored internal stresses, second phases, interfaces) in a layer-by-layer architecture will provide outstanding lifetime and reliability in both structural and functional ceramic devices.
Max ERC Funding
1 985 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2019-05-01, End date: 2024-04-30
Project acronym CITRES
Project Chemistry and interface tailored lead-free relaxor thin films for energy storage capacitors
Researcher (PI) Marco Deluca
Host Institution (HI) MATERIALS CENTER LEOBEN FORSCHUNG GMBH
Country Austria
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE8, ERC-2018-COG
Summary The goal of CITRES is to provide new energy storage devices with high power and energy density by developing novel multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) based on relaxor thin films (RTF).
Energy storage units for energy autonomous sensor systems for the Internet of Things (IoT) must possess high power and energy density to allow quick charge/recharge and long-time energy supply. Current energy storage devices cannot meet those demands: Batteries have large capacity but long charging/discharging times due to slow chemical reactions and ion diffusion. Ceramic dielectric capacitors – being based on ionic and electronic polarisation mechanisms – can deliver and take up power quickly, but store much less energy due to low dielectric breakdown strength (DBS), high losses, and leakage currents.
RTF are ideal candidates: (i) Thin film processing allows obtaining low porosity and defects, thus enhancing the DBS; (ii) slim polarisation hysteresis loops, intrinsic to relaxors, allow reducing the losses. High energy density can be achieved in RTF by maximising the polarisation and minimising the leakage currents. Both aspects are controlled by the amount, type and local distribution of chemical substituents in the RTF lattice, whereas the latter depends also on the chemistry of the electrode metal.
In CITRES, we will identify the influence of substituents on electric polarisation from atomic to macroscopic scale by combining multiscale atomistic modelling with advanced structural, chemical and electrical characterizations on several length scales both in the RTF bulk and at interfaces with various electrodes. This will allow for the first time the design of energy storage properties of RTF by chemical substitution and electrode selection.
The ground-breaking nature of CITRES resides in the design and realisation of RTF-based dielectric MLCCs with better energy storage performances than supercapacitors and batteries, thus enabling energy autonomy for IoT sensor systems.
Summary
The goal of CITRES is to provide new energy storage devices with high power and energy density by developing novel multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) based on relaxor thin films (RTF).
Energy storage units for energy autonomous sensor systems for the Internet of Things (IoT) must possess high power and energy density to allow quick charge/recharge and long-time energy supply. Current energy storage devices cannot meet those demands: Batteries have large capacity but long charging/discharging times due to slow chemical reactions and ion diffusion. Ceramic dielectric capacitors – being based on ionic and electronic polarisation mechanisms – can deliver and take up power quickly, but store much less energy due to low dielectric breakdown strength (DBS), high losses, and leakage currents.
RTF are ideal candidates: (i) Thin film processing allows obtaining low porosity and defects, thus enhancing the DBS; (ii) slim polarisation hysteresis loops, intrinsic to relaxors, allow reducing the losses. High energy density can be achieved in RTF by maximising the polarisation and minimising the leakage currents. Both aspects are controlled by the amount, type and local distribution of chemical substituents in the RTF lattice, whereas the latter depends also on the chemistry of the electrode metal.
In CITRES, we will identify the influence of substituents on electric polarisation from atomic to macroscopic scale by combining multiscale atomistic modelling with advanced structural, chemical and electrical characterizations on several length scales both in the RTF bulk and at interfaces with various electrodes. This will allow for the first time the design of energy storage properties of RTF by chemical substitution and electrode selection.
The ground-breaking nature of CITRES resides in the design and realisation of RTF-based dielectric MLCCs with better energy storage performances than supercapacitors and batteries, thus enabling energy autonomy for IoT sensor systems.
Max ERC Funding
1 996 519 €
Duration
Start date: 2019-04-01, End date: 2024-03-31
Project acronym CohesinMolMech
Project Molecular mechanisms of cohesin-mediated sister chromatid cohesion and chromatin organization
Researcher (PI) Jan-Michael Peters
Host Institution (HI) FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT FUR MOLEKULARE PATHOLOGIE GESELLSCHAFT MBH
Country Austria
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS1, ERC-2015-AdG
Summary During S-phase newly synthesized “sister” DNA molecules become physically connected. This sister chromatid cohesion resists the pulling forces of the mitotic spindle and thereby enables the bi-orientation and subsequent symmetrical segregation of chromosomes. Cohesion is mediated by ring-shaped cohesin complexes, which are thought to entrap sister DNA molecules topologically. In mammalian cells, cohesin is loaded onto DNA at the end of mitosis by the Scc2-Scc4 complex, becomes acetylated during S-phase, and is stably “locked” on DNA during S- and G2-phase by sororin. Sororin stabilizes cohesin on DNA by inhibiting Wapl, which can otherwise release cohesin from DNA again. In addition to mediating cohesion, cohesin also has important roles in organizing higher-order chromatin structures and in gene regulation. Cohesin performs the latter functions in both proliferating and post-mitotic cells and mediates at least some of these together with the sequence-specific DNA-binding protein CTCF, which co-localizes with cohesin at many genomic sites. Although cohesin and CTCF perform essential functions in mammalian cells, it is poorly understood how cohesin is loaded onto DNA by Scc2-Scc4, how cohesin is positioned in the genome, how cohesin is released from DNA again by Wapl, and how Wapl is inhibited by sororin. Likewise, it is not known how cohesin establishes cohesion during DNA replication and how cohesin cooperates with CTCF to organize chromatin structure. Here we propose to address these questions by combining biochemical reconstitution, single-molecule TIRF microscopy, genetic and cell biological approaches. We expect that the results of these studies will advance our understanding of cell division, chromatin structure and gene regulation, and may also provide insight into the etiology of disorders that are caused by cohesin dysfunction, such as Down syndrome and “cohesinopathies” or cancers, in which cohesin mutations have been found to occur frequently.
Summary
During S-phase newly synthesized “sister” DNA molecules become physically connected. This sister chromatid cohesion resists the pulling forces of the mitotic spindle and thereby enables the bi-orientation and subsequent symmetrical segregation of chromosomes. Cohesion is mediated by ring-shaped cohesin complexes, which are thought to entrap sister DNA molecules topologically. In mammalian cells, cohesin is loaded onto DNA at the end of mitosis by the Scc2-Scc4 complex, becomes acetylated during S-phase, and is stably “locked” on DNA during S- and G2-phase by sororin. Sororin stabilizes cohesin on DNA by inhibiting Wapl, which can otherwise release cohesin from DNA again. In addition to mediating cohesion, cohesin also has important roles in organizing higher-order chromatin structures and in gene regulation. Cohesin performs the latter functions in both proliferating and post-mitotic cells and mediates at least some of these together with the sequence-specific DNA-binding protein CTCF, which co-localizes with cohesin at many genomic sites. Although cohesin and CTCF perform essential functions in mammalian cells, it is poorly understood how cohesin is loaded onto DNA by Scc2-Scc4, how cohesin is positioned in the genome, how cohesin is released from DNA again by Wapl, and how Wapl is inhibited by sororin. Likewise, it is not known how cohesin establishes cohesion during DNA replication and how cohesin cooperates with CTCF to organize chromatin structure. Here we propose to address these questions by combining biochemical reconstitution, single-molecule TIRF microscopy, genetic and cell biological approaches. We expect that the results of these studies will advance our understanding of cell division, chromatin structure and gene regulation, and may also provide insight into the etiology of disorders that are caused by cohesin dysfunction, such as Down syndrome and “cohesinopathies” or cancers, in which cohesin mutations have been found to occur frequently.
Max ERC Funding
2 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-10-01, End date: 2021-09-30
Project acronym COHORT
Project The demography of skills and beliefs in Europe with a focus on cohort change
Researcher (PI) Vegard Fykse Skirbekk
Host Institution (HI) INTERNATIONALES INSTITUT FUER ANGEWANDTE SYSTEMANALYSE
Country Austria
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH3, ERC-2009-StG
Summary The central research theme of this proposal is the study of social change (skills, productivity, attitudes and beliefs) in Europe along cohort lines and as a function of changing age composition. Using demographic methods, age-specific and cohort-specific changes shall be quantitatively disentangled. The impact of migration flows as well as fertility differentials combined with intergenerational transmissions will be taken into account. It is expected that viewed together, these analyses will result in significant new insights and represent frontier research about likely social and economic challenges associated with ageing and demographic change in Europe and the appropriate policies for coping with them. Unlike projections of long-term economic growth or energy use, demographic forecasts tend to have comparatively low margins of error, even for forecasts half a century ahead. Traits that change systematically along age or cohort lines may therefore be projected with some degree of accuracy, which in turn can allow governments and individuals to better foresee and improve policies for predictable social change. The study will investigate two major topics, the first relating to human capital, skills, and work performance; the second relating to beliefs and attitudes in Europe. Understanding age variation in productivity and how to improve senior workers skills and capacities are paramount for ageing countries. Moreover, individual-level demographic behaviour can have aggregate level implications, including changing societal values and belief structures. The binding element is how such projections will improve one s capacity to foresee and hence develop more targeted policies that relate to ageing societies.
Summary
The central research theme of this proposal is the study of social change (skills, productivity, attitudes and beliefs) in Europe along cohort lines and as a function of changing age composition. Using demographic methods, age-specific and cohort-specific changes shall be quantitatively disentangled. The impact of migration flows as well as fertility differentials combined with intergenerational transmissions will be taken into account. It is expected that viewed together, these analyses will result in significant new insights and represent frontier research about likely social and economic challenges associated with ageing and demographic change in Europe and the appropriate policies for coping with them. Unlike projections of long-term economic growth or energy use, demographic forecasts tend to have comparatively low margins of error, even for forecasts half a century ahead. Traits that change systematically along age or cohort lines may therefore be projected with some degree of accuracy, which in turn can allow governments and individuals to better foresee and improve policies for predictable social change. The study will investigate two major topics, the first relating to human capital, skills, and work performance; the second relating to beliefs and attitudes in Europe. Understanding age variation in productivity and how to improve senior workers skills and capacities are paramount for ageing countries. Moreover, individual-level demographic behaviour can have aggregate level implications, including changing societal values and belief structures. The binding element is how such projections will improve one s capacity to foresee and hence develop more targeted policies that relate to ageing societies.
Max ERC Funding
981 415 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-10-01, End date: 2015-03-31
Project acronym CrowdLand
Project Harnessing the power of crowdsourcing to improve land cover and land-use information
Researcher (PI) Steffen Martin Fritz
Host Institution (HI) INTERNATIONALES INSTITUT FUER ANGEWANDTE SYSTEMANALYSE
Country Austria
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), SH3, ERC-2013-CoG
Summary Information about land cover, land use and the change over time is used for a wide range of applications such as nature protection and biodiversity, forest and water management, urban and transport planning, natural hazard prevention and mitigation, agricultural policies and monitoring climate change. Furthermore, high quality spatially explicit information on land cover change is an essential input variable to land use change modelling, which is increasingly being used to better understand the potential impact of certain policies. The amount of observed land cover change also serves as an important indicator of how well different regional, national and European policies have been implemented.
However, outside Europe and outside the developed world in particular, information on land cover and land cover change in poorer countries is hardly available and no national or regional dense sample based monitoring approaches such as LUCAS exists which deliver sufficiently accurate land cover and land cover change information. Moreover in particular in developing countries, there is no or very little information on land-use and crop management. Only very limited data available from FAO and an incomplete coverage of sub-national statistics (e.g. IFPRI) are available.
This research project will assess the potential of using crowdsourcing to close these big data gaps in developing and developed countries with a number of case studies and different data collection methods. The CrowdLand project will be carried out in two very different environments, i.e. Austria and Kenya.The overall research objectives of this project are to 1) test the potential of using social gaming to collect land use information 2) test the potential of using mobile money to collect data in developing countries 3) understand the data quality collected via crowdsourcing 4) apply advanced methods to filter crowdsourced data in order to attain improved accuracy.
Summary
Information about land cover, land use and the change over time is used for a wide range of applications such as nature protection and biodiversity, forest and water management, urban and transport planning, natural hazard prevention and mitigation, agricultural policies and monitoring climate change. Furthermore, high quality spatially explicit information on land cover change is an essential input variable to land use change modelling, which is increasingly being used to better understand the potential impact of certain policies. The amount of observed land cover change also serves as an important indicator of how well different regional, national and European policies have been implemented.
However, outside Europe and outside the developed world in particular, information on land cover and land cover change in poorer countries is hardly available and no national or regional dense sample based monitoring approaches such as LUCAS exists which deliver sufficiently accurate land cover and land cover change information. Moreover in particular in developing countries, there is no or very little information on land-use and crop management. Only very limited data available from FAO and an incomplete coverage of sub-national statistics (e.g. IFPRI) are available.
This research project will assess the potential of using crowdsourcing to close these big data gaps in developing and developed countries with a number of case studies and different data collection methods. The CrowdLand project will be carried out in two very different environments, i.e. Austria and Kenya.The overall research objectives of this project are to 1) test the potential of using social gaming to collect land use information 2) test the potential of using mobile money to collect data in developing countries 3) understand the data quality collected via crowdsourcing 4) apply advanced methods to filter crowdsourced data in order to attain improved accuracy.
Max ERC Funding
1 397 200 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-04-01, End date: 2020-03-31
Project acronym DecentLivingEnergy
Project Energy and emissions thresholds for providing decent living standards to all
Researcher (PI) Narasimha Desirazu Rao
Host Institution (HI) INTERNATIONALES INSTITUT FUER ANGEWANDTE SYSTEMANALYSE
Country Austria
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH3, ERC-2014-STG
Summary There is confusion surrounding how poverty eradication will contribute to climate change. This is due to knowledge gaps related to the material basis of poverty, and the relationship between energy and human development. Addressing this issue rigorously requires bridging gaps between global justice, economics, energy systems analysis, and industrial ecology, and applying this knowledge to projections of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. This project will develop a body of knowledge that quantifies the energy needs and related climate change impacts for providing decent living standards to all. The research will address three questions: which goods and services, and with what characteristics, constitute ‘decent living standards’? What energy resources are required to provide these goods and services in different countries, and what impact will this energy use have on climate change? How do the constituents of decent living and their energy needs evolve as countries develop? The first task will operationalize basic needs views of human development and advance their empirical validity by discerning characteristics of basic goods in household consumption patterns. The second will quantify the energy needs (and climate-related emissions) for decent living constituents and reveal their dependence on culture, climate, technology, and other contextual conditions in countries. This will be done using lifecycle analysis and input-output analysis, and mapping energy to climate change using state-of-the-art energy-economy integrated assessment modelling tools for 5 emerging economies that face the challenges of eradicating poverty and mitigating climate change. The third task will shed light on path dependencies and trends in the evolution of basic goods and their energy intensity using empirical analysis. This research will identify opportunities to shift developing societies towards low-carbon pathways, and help quantify burden-sharing arrangements for climate mitigation.
Summary
There is confusion surrounding how poverty eradication will contribute to climate change. This is due to knowledge gaps related to the material basis of poverty, and the relationship between energy and human development. Addressing this issue rigorously requires bridging gaps between global justice, economics, energy systems analysis, and industrial ecology, and applying this knowledge to projections of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. This project will develop a body of knowledge that quantifies the energy needs and related climate change impacts for providing decent living standards to all. The research will address three questions: which goods and services, and with what characteristics, constitute ‘decent living standards’? What energy resources are required to provide these goods and services in different countries, and what impact will this energy use have on climate change? How do the constituents of decent living and their energy needs evolve as countries develop? The first task will operationalize basic needs views of human development and advance their empirical validity by discerning characteristics of basic goods in household consumption patterns. The second will quantify the energy needs (and climate-related emissions) for decent living constituents and reveal their dependence on culture, climate, technology, and other contextual conditions in countries. This will be done using lifecycle analysis and input-output analysis, and mapping energy to climate change using state-of-the-art energy-economy integrated assessment modelling tools for 5 emerging economies that face the challenges of eradicating poverty and mitigating climate change. The third task will shed light on path dependencies and trends in the evolution of basic goods and their energy intensity using empirical analysis. This research will identify opportunities to shift developing societies towards low-carbon pathways, and help quantify burden-sharing arrangements for climate mitigation.
Max ERC Funding
869 722 €
Duration
Start date: 2015-06-01, End date: 2019-05-31
Project acronym DYNAMOF
Project Electric Field Assisted Dynamic MOF alignment and Crystal Assembly
Researcher (PI) Jia Min Chin
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAT WIEN
Country Austria
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE8, ERC-2020-COG
Summary Despite the staggering number of reports on Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), we are still greatly limited in our ability to manipulate colloidal MOF particles and control MOF orientation. Reliable control of MOF crystal orientation is extremely important as the properties and functionality of most MOFs are highly dependent upon crystallographic direction due to lattice anisotropy. However, the effective exploitation of such functionality remains frustratingly out of reach.
Based on the novel concept of exploiting MOF anisotropic ion mobility and polarizability, DYNAMOF aims to establish a flexible toolbox of methods for both dynamic and static control over the orientation, alignment and deposition of MOF crystals, which can be integrated into other processing techniques, thus paving the way for major advancements in the performance of MOF materials, composites and devices.
The mechanisms of E-field alignment of MOF particles as well as colloidal interactions governing MOF plastic or liquid crystal assembly, non-classical crystal growth and oriented film formation will be studied to develop a comprehensive and revolutionary platform for orientational control of free-standing and supported MOF crystals. As a proof-of-concept, the implications of MOF alignment on the proton conduction of MOF composites will be tested to pave the way towards next-generation MOF proton exchange membranes.
This ambitious project, which straddles the disciplines of materials science, chemistry and physics, is expected to break new ground by removing a key barrier in our ability to manipulate MOF particles. The wider goal of DYNAMOF is to establish the principles and working methods for colloidal manipulation across a wide materials spectrum, by using MOFs as a versatile platform for expanding our understanding of colloidal materials. Given the ubiquity and importance of colloids in materials science and daily life, the success of DYNAMOF will therefore have far reaching impact.
Summary
Despite the staggering number of reports on Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), we are still greatly limited in our ability to manipulate colloidal MOF particles and control MOF orientation. Reliable control of MOF crystal orientation is extremely important as the properties and functionality of most MOFs are highly dependent upon crystallographic direction due to lattice anisotropy. However, the effective exploitation of such functionality remains frustratingly out of reach.
Based on the novel concept of exploiting MOF anisotropic ion mobility and polarizability, DYNAMOF aims to establish a flexible toolbox of methods for both dynamic and static control over the orientation, alignment and deposition of MOF crystals, which can be integrated into other processing techniques, thus paving the way for major advancements in the performance of MOF materials, composites and devices.
The mechanisms of E-field alignment of MOF particles as well as colloidal interactions governing MOF plastic or liquid crystal assembly, non-classical crystal growth and oriented film formation will be studied to develop a comprehensive and revolutionary platform for orientational control of free-standing and supported MOF crystals. As a proof-of-concept, the implications of MOF alignment on the proton conduction of MOF composites will be tested to pave the way towards next-generation MOF proton exchange membranes.
This ambitious project, which straddles the disciplines of materials science, chemistry and physics, is expected to break new ground by removing a key barrier in our ability to manipulate MOF particles. The wider goal of DYNAMOF is to establish the principles and working methods for colloidal manipulation across a wide materials spectrum, by using MOFs as a versatile platform for expanding our understanding of colloidal materials. Given the ubiquity and importance of colloids in materials science and daily life, the success of DYNAMOF will therefore have far reaching impact.
Max ERC Funding
1 964 345 €
Duration
Start date: 2021-10-01, End date: 2026-09-30
Project acronym EmpoweredLifeYears
Project The Demography of Sustainable Human Wellbeing
Researcher (PI) Wolfgang Lutz
Host Institution (HI) INTERNATIONALES INSTITUT FUER ANGEWANDTE SYSTEMANALYSE
Country Austria
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), SH3, ERC-2016-ADG
Summary This project will apply two distinctly demographic concepts to research questions that go far beyond demography. The wellbeing indicators proposed here will be based on life table methods and the recently operationalized concept of Demographic Metabolism – modelling social change through the replacement of generations – will be used to get a quantitative analytical handle on the temporal dynamics of improving human wellbeing.
The project will theoretically develop, empirically estimate, test and forecast indicators of human wellbeing that are based on life table methods and hence reflect the basic – but often overlooked fact – that being alive is a necessary prerequisite for enjoying any quality of life. But since mere survival is not sufficient as an ultimate goal for most people the person years lived at each age will be weighted with four different dimensions of empowerment: health, literacy, happiness and being out of poverty. These are four dimensions of an indicator tentatively called ELY (Empowered Life Years). ELY will also serve as the explanandum of a global level econometric estimation of the determinants of wellbeing considering human, manufactured and natural capitals as well as knowledge and institutions.
The global level analysis is complemented by a set of strategically chosen in-depth systems-analytical case studies in Namibia/Western Cape, Nepal, Costa Rica and historical Finland modelling the population-development-environment (PDE) interactions including feed-backs e.g. from environmental degradation to wellbeing and taking the trends of ELY in different sub-populations as sustainability criteria. They will also include stake holder involvement and science-policy interactions.
This innovative inter-disciplinary cross-fertilisation can potentially make an important contribution to the current discussions about operationalizing the criteria and end goal of sustainable development and developing better human wellbeing based metrics of progress.
Summary
This project will apply two distinctly demographic concepts to research questions that go far beyond demography. The wellbeing indicators proposed here will be based on life table methods and the recently operationalized concept of Demographic Metabolism – modelling social change through the replacement of generations – will be used to get a quantitative analytical handle on the temporal dynamics of improving human wellbeing.
The project will theoretically develop, empirically estimate, test and forecast indicators of human wellbeing that are based on life table methods and hence reflect the basic – but often overlooked fact – that being alive is a necessary prerequisite for enjoying any quality of life. But since mere survival is not sufficient as an ultimate goal for most people the person years lived at each age will be weighted with four different dimensions of empowerment: health, literacy, happiness and being out of poverty. These are four dimensions of an indicator tentatively called ELY (Empowered Life Years). ELY will also serve as the explanandum of a global level econometric estimation of the determinants of wellbeing considering human, manufactured and natural capitals as well as knowledge and institutions.
The global level analysis is complemented by a set of strategically chosen in-depth systems-analytical case studies in Namibia/Western Cape, Nepal, Costa Rica and historical Finland modelling the population-development-environment (PDE) interactions including feed-backs e.g. from environmental degradation to wellbeing and taking the trends of ELY in different sub-populations as sustainability criteria. They will also include stake holder involvement and science-policy interactions.
This innovative inter-disciplinary cross-fertilisation can potentially make an important contribution to the current discussions about operationalizing the criteria and end goal of sustainable development and developing better human wellbeing based metrics of progress.
Max ERC Funding
1 819 250 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-11-01, End date: 2023-10-31
Project acronym EURREP
Project Fertility, reproduction and population change in 21st Century Europe
Researcher (PI) Tomas Sobotka
Host Institution (HI) OESTERREICHISCHE AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTEN
Country Austria
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH3, ERC-2011-StG_20101124
Summary This project will address key issues related to fertility and reproduction in 21st century Europe and their implications. We aim to expand our knowledge of contemporary reproductive behaviour, critically assess theoretical perspectives on fertility, develop new indicators for analyzing and projecting fertility and improve our understanding of fertility intentions.
Combining detailed databases, especially the expanding Human Fertility Database, as well as surveys, and theoretical perspectives, the research team will study contemporary fertility trends and their explanations. An emphasis will be put on analyzing and explaining very low fertility that became a matter of public concern in some countries.
We will review and confront the existing theories of fertility and examine their validity and premises at different levels of explanation. We will look how and under which circumstances they can illuminate observed fertility trends as well as the reversals in correlation between selected aggregate level-level indicators (female labour force participation, GDP level, marriage rates, etc.) and fertility.
Specific attention will be paid to studying systematically fertility intentions and desires of men and women in different settings and populations. Here the key issue is whether and why a systematic disagreement between intended and realized fertility exists at an aggregate level.
Finally, we aim to elaborate the indicators of fertility and population replacement. These will be used to assess long-term implications of contemporary fertility and migration patterns for population change and composition in different regions of Europe.
Summary
This project will address key issues related to fertility and reproduction in 21st century Europe and their implications. We aim to expand our knowledge of contemporary reproductive behaviour, critically assess theoretical perspectives on fertility, develop new indicators for analyzing and projecting fertility and improve our understanding of fertility intentions.
Combining detailed databases, especially the expanding Human Fertility Database, as well as surveys, and theoretical perspectives, the research team will study contemporary fertility trends and their explanations. An emphasis will be put on analyzing and explaining very low fertility that became a matter of public concern in some countries.
We will review and confront the existing theories of fertility and examine their validity and premises at different levels of explanation. We will look how and under which circumstances they can illuminate observed fertility trends as well as the reversals in correlation between selected aggregate level-level indicators (female labour force participation, GDP level, marriage rates, etc.) and fertility.
Specific attention will be paid to studying systematically fertility intentions and desires of men and women in different settings and populations. Here the key issue is whether and why a systematic disagreement between intended and realized fertility exists at an aggregate level.
Finally, we aim to elaborate the indicators of fertility and population replacement. These will be used to assess long-term implications of contemporary fertility and migration patterns for population change and composition in different regions of Europe.
Max ERC Funding
1 271 342 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-02-01, End date: 2017-01-31
Project acronym FUTURESOC
Project Forecasting Societies Adaptive Capacities to Climate Change
Researcher (PI) Wolfgang Lutz
Host Institution (HI) INTERNATIONALES INSTITUT FUER ANGEWANDTE SYSTEMANALYSE
Country Austria
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), SH3, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary This interdisciplinary project (combining social and earth sciences) addresses a key gap in the knowledge of global assessments concerning the likely consequences of future climate change on future human wellbeing. More information about the determinants of future adaptive capacity is necessary for setting policy priorities today: Should the significant funds allocated for adaptation be invested in enhancing existing infrastructure or currently practiced agricultural strategies (some of which may not be tenable under future climates), or should they invest alternatively in enhancing human empowerment through education and health which in consequence will enable affected societies to better cope with whatever challenges the future will bring? This study is expected to bring significant progress in this difficult multidisciplinary, yet highly relevant, field through a combination of: (a) New global science-based, long-term projections of human capital (population by age, sex and level of education) as a key element of adaptive capacity; (b) Three empirical multi-national studies on key factors involved in past vulnerability and adaptations to the Sahelian drought, Hurricane Mitch and the Asian tsunami; (c) Three prospective case studies assessing future adaptive capacity for the Phuket region, Mauritius and the Nicobar islands; (d) All held together and put into perspective by the elaboration of a new demographic theory of long-term social change with predictive power. This rather complex project structure is necessary for reaching generalizable and useful results. All components have been designed to complement each other to maximize the chances of achieving path-breaking and at the same time tangible results in this highly complex, multidisciplinary field. All components of the study will build on previous work of IIASA and Wolfgang Lutz and hence minimize the need to acquire additional experience for the case study sites or for the methodology used.
Summary
This interdisciplinary project (combining social and earth sciences) addresses a key gap in the knowledge of global assessments concerning the likely consequences of future climate change on future human wellbeing. More information about the determinants of future adaptive capacity is necessary for setting policy priorities today: Should the significant funds allocated for adaptation be invested in enhancing existing infrastructure or currently practiced agricultural strategies (some of which may not be tenable under future climates), or should they invest alternatively in enhancing human empowerment through education and health which in consequence will enable affected societies to better cope with whatever challenges the future will bring? This study is expected to bring significant progress in this difficult multidisciplinary, yet highly relevant, field through a combination of: (a) New global science-based, long-term projections of human capital (population by age, sex and level of education) as a key element of adaptive capacity; (b) Three empirical multi-national studies on key factors involved in past vulnerability and adaptations to the Sahelian drought, Hurricane Mitch and the Asian tsunami; (c) Three prospective case studies assessing future adaptive capacity for the Phuket region, Mauritius and the Nicobar islands; (d) All held together and put into perspective by the elaboration of a new demographic theory of long-term social change with predictive power. This rather complex project structure is necessary for reaching generalizable and useful results. All components have been designed to complement each other to maximize the chances of achieving path-breaking and at the same time tangible results in this highly complex, multidisciplinary field. All components of the study will build on previous work of IIASA and Wolfgang Lutz and hence minimize the need to acquire additional experience for the case study sites or for the methodology used.
Max ERC Funding
2 438 402 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-03-01, End date: 2014-07-31
