The Academy of Europe

‘THE TREE’ NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 issue 24

Scientists and scholars who collectively aim Academia to promote learning, Europaea The Academy education and research. of Europe

criticised it for not being relevant enough to scientists and scholars in their fields. 21ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE So, in order to be able to remedy this Risk, environment & perception in a real way, I need to get sustainable development the suggestions and proposals from Naples 24-26 September 2009 ordinary members. Ideas for actions can , be communicated through your Section see www.acadeuro.org Committee –the Chairs of which are disciplines and countries. The main members of the Council, directly to the reason seems to be a perception that the Secretariat, or to me and the members of nomination process is too complicated. the Board. I will establish an investigation on how This year (2009), our annual members to simplify the process. As of now many meeting will take place in Naples. The members seem reluctant to nominate From the President programme should be of great interest even the very obvious candidates. There is no reason for this. I hope This is my first year as President of to scientists and scholars over a wide that a simplified process will make it Academia Europaea, so it is both range of disciplines, and there will be possible for most members to nominate reasonable and understandable that plenty of interdisciplinary discussions and candidates for election. In the meantime, members should ask as to the ideas I presentations. So, I hope that many more I will use other approaches to get have on the future of the Academy, both academy members will decide to come elected those who are most deserving for my term and after. The Academia and many will also look at the website of membership, but who have been Europaea has been in existence for just and decide to participate in the other forgotten and missed. My long term over twenty years. It is time to ask if the events planned for this year. Five such goal is that all scientists and scholars in academy has developed in line with the events are now listed on the homepage. Europe should be aware of the academy wishes and expectations of its founders. My most worrying concern is the lack and value it sufficiently to feel that is it My own view is that a definitive yes is of ‘visibility’ of the Academia Europaea essential to seek election. not the answer. But, as with most visions amongst those scientists and scholars there are both positive and negative who are not (yet) members. My sad What is the benefit for the individual elements. I think we could all agree that experience is that most university scientist and scholar of being a member the quality, type and range of activities professors and science administrators of Academia Europaea, in addition supported have increased over the last that I meet at conferences, or in Brussels to the honour? Well, Europe has a few years. The programmes of the annual and Strasbourg, have never heard about very long academic history. We have meetings have always been interesting, the Academy. This situation has to be heterogeneous academic traditions, but in my opinion the programmes radically improved. both between countries and between of the last two - the ones in Toledo in disciplines. My experience from within a 2007 and in Liverpool last year, were Our Academy now has about 2200 national academy that is an academy for exceptionally good. The negative aspect European members. That may seem a both natural scientists, social scientists is that the number of members who large number, but it is not. The fact is and scholars from the humanities, is that participate in these events remains that there are very many distinguished the understanding of the different types disappointingly low. I am not sure that all scientists and scholars in Europe who of problems and of the different methods members realize how cheap air transport should already have been elected as used to investigate these problems really is within Europe today, as long as members, but who have been missed. In increases among the members as a result planning and bookings are done well the long run this is a serious problem. The of interdisciplinary dialogue. In a similar ahead of the event. At present, some authority and respect of the Academia way, I believe that in a pan-European of our members appear to be satisfied Europaea will suffer considerably if this academy such as ours, the opportunities with the organisation and its current situation is allowed to continue. The for dialogue of this sort increases the list of activities, whereas others have problem differs in magnitude between 2 ACADEMIA EUROPAEA understanding and respect for academic Announcements traditions in other countries and in other language areas. The forging of Announcing the 2009 INVITATION FOR common values and shared experiences Annual Business NOMINATIONS AS can only be of great benefit, both for the individual member of Academia Meeting of members TREASURER OF THE Europaea, but especially also for the of the Academy. ACADEMIA EUROPAEA students at all levels that are taught This will take place at 15:30pm on 24th and supervised by our members, and of Professor Peter Day FRS, has been our September in Naples. PRIOR TO THE course in the long run, for the European Honorary Treasurer for almost ten years, FORMAL START OF THE 21ST ANNUAL cultural tradition of scholarship. has announced his intention to retire at CONFERENCE. The European Research Area is in the Annual Business Meeting in Naples, a period of rapid development. The meeting is open to all members of in September the Academy. This meeting is a legal The establishment of new research Any member who is interested in requirement. institutions and of new organisations taking up this challenging role of for the coordination and funding of This year will be an important meeting honorary Treasurer (pro bono), should European research has crated a new for all members. The Trustees and Council send a brief formal letter of candidature paradigm for the way that Scholarship will seek approval of the membership addressed to the President of the and learning are undertaken and for a change to the legal status of the Academia setting out their reasons. delivered. Many of these structures and Academia Europaea. Professor Day will be pleased to the policy processes that define them respond to informal enquiries about Other agenda items will include: Reports are, or will be in need of expert scientific the role of the Treasurer (profpday@ from the President, Treasurer and advice. The European Academies Science msn.com). The Treasurer is appointed Sections. Elections and re-appointments, Advisory Council (EASAC) was established by the Council and is an officer of the including auditors. to provide such independent advice. The Academia. It is anticipated that future Academia Europaea plays an important It is also an opportunity to question the changes to the legal structure of the role in the work of this council. Current President Lars Walløe about his ideas and Academia expected from 2009, will developments indicate that the European plans for his term of office. require the Treasurer to become a institutions will need advice not only ANY MEMBER WISHING TO TABLE AN Director of the Board of Management of from experts in the natural sciences, but ITEM FOR DISCUSSION MUST PROVIDE Academia Europaea. also from social scientists and scholars in THE MOTION ,OR ITEM TO THE EXECUTIVE Offers and/or nominations and the humanities. With an improved and SECRETARY NO LATER THAN 31ST JULY. suggestions (with the nominees explicit extended list of members from these permission) to reach the Executive disciplines, the Academia Europaea FULL DETAILS, Draft agenda and papers Secretary by the 20th April. will be in a unique position to give the will be made available on the AE website authoritative and independent advice in the members only section from May that our European Society expects. onwards, or on request from the London office ([email protected]). The Finally, over the coming months, I will Agenda will be published in a future issue be taking the opportunity of our events of the newsletter that will be sent out to also meet with members. In addition, with the European Review. more social gatherings of national members will be arranged. These will start in March with meetings for Dutch members (in Amsterdam) and Belgian members (in Leuven), followed hopefully by a meeting in April for German members (in Berlin) and possibly in May for Italian members (in Venice). If any member wishes to arrange a ‘National AE members meeting’, then please let me know.

Lars Walløe THE TREE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 issue 24 3

NEWS OF MEMBERS Abel Prize in 2003 for Jean-Pierre Serre, NOMINATIONS of new Fields Medal in 2006 to Wendelin members Jaques Tits Werner, prices Clay in 2008 to Claire receives the 2008 ABEL Prize Voisin and Crafoord prize in 2008 for ALL MEMBERS OF THE Le mathématicien français Jacques Maxim Kontsevitch . ACADEMIA are encouraged Tits a officiellement reçu des mains to consider nominating du Roi Harald de Norvège le prix Dario DiFrancesco candidates for election Abel, récompense norvégienne Awarded the 2008 Grand Prix from April 1st onwards. couronnant des avancées dans le Scientifique of the Fondation domaine des mathématiques. Ce prix, Lefoulon-Delalande- Institut de The forms for nomination and the qu’il partage avec l’Américain John France, procedures can be downloaded Griggs Thompson, lui avait été décerné a prestigious prize awarded once a year from the website (www.acadeuro.org) le 27 mars dernier par l’Académie by the French Academy of Sciences or sent on request from Betty Lim norvégienne des Sciences pour for achievements in the cardiovascular (Membership secretary) at the London «leurs découvertes fondamentales en field. Some information on the prize office ([email protected] ) algèbre». Cette nouvelle récompense can be found at: www.institut-de-france. pour un scientifique français fait suite à fr/minisite/grands_prix_2008/1097_faites_ Council would like to see many une série de nombreuses distinctions: connaissance_avec_les_huit_laureats_des_ more nominations in newer and prix Abel en 2003 pour Jean-Pierre sept_grands_prix.html emerging disciplines, for example in Serre, médaille Fields en 2006 pour the Nanosciences and technologies; Wendelin Werner, prix Clay en 2008 The Prize awarded in Paris (11th June) Management and related sciences. It is pour Claire Voisin, et prix Crafoord was for the work leading to the also becoming clear that with time, the en 2008 pour Maxim Kontsevitch. discovery of the “pacemaker” (“funny”) balance of our membership discplines Elle confirme, pour Valérie Pécresse, ion channels (back in 1979, in Oxford does not reflect current European «l’excellence de la recherche française while working in Denis Noble’s group) Research landscapes. Some fields for en mathématiques and the way this discovery has led example, Law, Education, Geography, to the development of therapeutic Engineering (in a broad sense), The French mathematician Jacques interventions, among which the drug Architecture and many of the liberal Tits officially received from the hands ivabradine, presently prescribed as a and performance arts are now severely of King Harald of Norway the Abel therapy against chronic angina. under represented by current expertise. Prize, Norwegian crown reward This is not an exclusive or exhaustive list. progress in the field of mathematics. Thomas Henzinger This award, which he shares with the to be President of the newly founded American John Griggs Thompson, had The 2009 nominations Austrian elite Institute for Science been awarded on March 27 by the timetable and Technology near Vienna http:// Norwegian Academy of Science for derstandard.at/?url=/?id=1227287832259 “their discoveries in algebra.” 1 NOVEMBER 2009 This new award for a French scientist All nomination dossiers to be followed a series of many distinctions: received by Section chairs 31 DECEMBER 2009 Completion of Section Committee assessments To mark the twentieth anniversary of the 28 FEBRUARY 2010 founding of the Academia Europaea Assessment, rankings and dossiers The Council were pleased to be able to honour the member who played an to the AE Office instrumental part in getting the organisation started and who has continued to play APRIL 2010 a significant role in the life of the Academia ever since. This immense contribution Nominations committee meeting to international scholarship and dialogue, was recognised through the creation and APRIL 2010 award of the title of ‘Life President (in perpetuity)’ to Arnold Burgen, at the opening COUNCIL ceremony of the annual conference that took place in Liverpool in September 2008. MAY 2010 Citation reads: At the occasion of the Twentieth anniversary meeting of the Academia Invitations sent to elected candidates Europaea. In recognition of the most distinguished service given to the Academia Europaea: the Council have under their authority, decided to honour Arnold Burgen, SEPTEMBER 2010 with the title of ‘Life President’ honoris causa, as a mark of their extreme gratitude. Introduction of new members at the annual conference 4 ACADEMIA EUROPAEA

New members The Council of the Academia Europaea at a meeting held in Heidelberg, Germany on 25th April, 2008: decided to invite the following scholars to accept membership of the Academia Europaea. [F = Foreign member]

History & Archaeology Behavioural Sciences Informatics Earth & Cosmic Sciences Horst Pietschmann Germany Janette Atkinson UK Cristian S. Calude New Zealand Hans-Peter Bunge Munich (F) Timothy Garton-Ash UK Lisa F. Berkman (F) USA Claudio Faccenna Rome Peter Druschel Germany Oliver Braddick UK Gerald H. Haug Zurich Steve Furber UK Classics & Oriental Studies Johan P. Netherlands Angelo Peccerillo Perugia Mackenbach Yuri Gurevich (F) USA Carmela Baffioni Italy Ronald van der Brussels Josef Perner Austria Oscar H. Ibarra (F) USA Linden Andrea Giardina Italy Heinz Wimmer Austria Nick R. Jennings UK Christos S. Zerefos Athens Juha Janhunen Helsinki Joseph Sifakis France Eugenio La Rocca Italy Social Sciences Reinhard Wilhelm Germany Biochemistry & Molecular Gotthard Germany Biology Strohmaier Peter Nijkamp Netherlands Maurice Wilkes UK Christopher Higgins UK Emmanuel Voutyras Greece Willy Zwaenepoel Switzerland Alain Jacquier France Mathematics João José Santos Portugal Sentieiro Adi Kimchi Israel Linguistic Studies Noga Alon Israel Peter O’Hare UK Anne Abeillé France Luigi Ambrosio Italy Physics & Engineering Sciences Félix A. Rey France Greville G. Corbett UK John Ball UK Harald Budelmann Germany Titia K. Sixma Netherlands Maya Hickmann Paris Jean Bourgain (F) USA/ Belgium Giovanni Gallavotti Rome Ernst Hakon Jahr Norway John Coates UK Emmanuel E. Greece Cell Biology Marina Nespor Italy Gdoutos Alain Connes France Jonathan C Howard Germany Ian Roberts UK Karl-Heinz Germany Robbert Dijkgraaf The Glassmeier Netherlands Physiology & Medicine Etienne Guyon France Literary & Theatrical Studies Gerd Faltings Germany c. A. Verkhratsky Muhsin N Harakeh Netherlands Horace Engdahl Stockholm William T Gowers UK Corinne Antignac Paris François Mudry France Angela Zurich Helmut Hofer (F) USA/ Wolfgang F. Graier Austria Esterhammer Germany Laszlo Pap Budapest Gerry G Melino UK Monika Fludernik Germany Frances Kirwan UK Jose A R Salcedo Portugal Martin C. Michel Netherlands Patrizia Lombardo Geneva Arjen K Lenstra The Laszlo Sarkadi Hungary Susan Wray UK Netherlands Deborah Madsen Geneva Wolfgang P Schleich Germany Leszek Borysiewicz UK Angus J Macintyre UK Françoise Meltzer USA Pol D Spanos (F) USA (F) Paul Malliavin France Jürgen Mlynek Germany Organismic & Evolutionary Susana Onega Spain Grigori Perelman Russia Roger Elliott UK Biology Alexander Schrijver The Dieter Imboden Switzerland Michael John UK Netherlands Musicology & History of Art & Crawley James Slevin Ireland Architecture Yakov G Sinai (F) USA/Russia Lorna Casselton UK Nicola Cabbibo Italy Harlad Herresthal Oslo Alain-Sol Sznitman France/ Pierre-Henri Paris Switzerland Hans-Joachim Zurich Gouyon Hinrichsen Wendelin Werner France Chemical Sciences Laurenz Lütteken Zurich Gisbert Wüstholz Germany Masakazu Anpo (F) Japan Philippe Vendrix France Jean-Christophe France Can Li (F) China Yoccoz Kari Rissanen Finland Philosophy, Theology & Marc Yor France David King UK Religious Studies Julia Goodfellow UK Tim Crane UK Julia Higgins UK Onora O’Neill UK THE TREE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 issue 24 5

20th anniversary 2008 Erasmus Medal DID YOU KNOW? Burgen Scholars – and Lecture – Members can register to gain access Semir Zeki to the restricted pages of the website- awarded at the 20th just follow the instructions on the Annual conference The Erasmus Medal of the Academia homepage bottom right hand side – of the Academia in Europaea, is awarded on the Liverpool 2008 recommendation of the Council, to a member who has maintained over a sustained period, the highest Sir Arnold Burgen presented the level of international scholarship and 20th Anniversary Scholarships to recognition by peers. The medallist Click here the following young researchers at is invited to give the annual Erasmus to start the the opening ceremony of the 2008 Lecture, which in 2008 was sponsored process Liverpool annual conference. by the Medical Research Council of the UK. The lecture was given at the The list of Burgen scholars: Once you have your own password, annual conference in Liverpool in you can then enter the restricted David Brough Sepetmber. Univ. Manchester. Biochemistry and pages at any time and edit your Physiology personal information directly on the AE database. In due course you will also be Cécile Knai able to pay your subscriptions securely, London School of Hygiene and tropical use online forms for nominations Medicine. Public Health The title was: and events and also order Academy Chi-Hua Chen “The Neurobiology of Human publications and other “memorabilia”. Dept. Anatomy and Developmental Discontent” Gradually over 2009,we will move away Biology, UCL. Neurobiology The paper will be published in a future from expensive printing and Europe Guillaume de Lartigue issue of “The European Review”. wide surface mailing of publications Univ. Liverpool. Physiology such as ‘The Tree’ and our annual Profile of Semir Zeki reports and the Members’ Directory. Sergiy O. Sylantyev ‘E- zines’ will be sent out to members Institute of Neurology, UCL. Since 1970 Zeki by email with hypertext links to online Pharmacology has been based at publications and to fuller articles. This University College, Edoardo Zamuner approach will allow us to increase the being appointed the Anatomy Dept. UCL. Philosophy frequency of communication with Professor of Neurobiology in 1981. members. It will also give us greater He was Co-Head of the Wellcome flexibility to develop Section specific Department of Cognitive Neuroscience publications of narrower interest. at University College London from 1994 to 2001. From March 2008 he will be As always, those members who do the first Professor of Neuroesthetics at not use the web or email will not be University College London forgotten. Hard copies will be sent to He studied medicine then anatomy them and to others who may request We were honoured that the Cambridge at University College London. He is a them from the office. University Press provided book prizes Fellow of the Royal Society, a Fellow and were pleased to have the support I would welcome help from members of the Academy of Medical Sciences, of the Leverhulme Trust for the (anywhere in Europe) who may be London and he is a foreign Member of scholars. interested and have time on their hands the American Philosophical Society, a to assist in these developments; in the Member of the Academia Europaea, stimulation, collection and production Each Scholar gave a short oral resumé and the European Academy of Sciences and editing of material for our of their research and presented a and Arts. He is a member of the newsletters etc. Any (retired) members poster for discussion. Board of Scientific Governors, Scripps who have an expertise and interest in Scientific Research Institute, La Jolla, web development and content are also California and of the National Science very welcome to contact me. Depending on what can be done, some financial help Council of France and Editor of The may be available. Contact me – David Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Coates ([email protected]) Society. He has written many articles on vision and the brain. 6 ACADEMIA EUROPAEA

Eurodoc Survey on the REPORT ON THE Les Académies face à Situation of Doctoral REPRESENTATION OF THE l’État et à la société Candidates in Europe ACADEMIA EUROPAEA AT THE INSTITUT DE FRANCE, Paper presented by Prof. Barbara Wright 21-23 0CT0BER 2007 (Trinity Dublin,) on behalf of the Academia EURODOC – Europaea, at the Institut de France, 2007. the European by Barbara Wright (Dublin) [with editorial translation into English] Council of “Les Académies en Europe Doctoral au XXIe Siècle” L’Academia Europaea, en commun Candidates avec toutes les Académies d’Europe, and Junior The formal reopening of the five dont certaines sont subventionnées Researchers – is conducting a Europe- Academies, which constitute the Institut par l’État et d’autres ne le sont pas, wide survey of doctoral researchers. de France, took place on 23 October a comme mission de sauvegarder et Within this framework, a group of 2007. Building on a series of long- de promouvoir l’érudition. Elle a, de young volunteers has set up a Europe- standing exchanges, the Chancellor, M. plus, la vocation de poursuivre cette wide online survey. The results of this Gabriel de Broglie, invited representatives mission en franchissant les frontières survey will help EURODOC in its efforts of over sixty European Academies to nationales des différents pays to improve the training and research participate in this formal ceremony européens, tout en perfectionnant les conditions of doctoral researchers. and to reflect on the pan-European différents domaines du savoir selon le The term “doctoral researcher” is used dimensions of our various activities. Jean- principe de la pluridisciplinarité. as a synonym for doctoral candidates, Paul Poirier and Barbara Wright were doctoral students, aspirants, PhD- honoured to represent the Academia The Academia Europaea, in common students etc. Europaea on this occasion. with all the Academies in Europe, some This is the first survey of its kind and Preceded by a conference on the history of which are subsidized by the state roughly 100,000 European doctoral of the European Academies at the and others are not, has a mission to researchers will be asked to take part in Fondation Singer-Polignac on 20 October, safeguard and promote the scholarship. this study. The survey will be conducted the debates took place at the Institut de It [the AE] has, moreover, extended in Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Bulgaria, France, on the Quai de Conti, Paris, on 22 this mission in crossing the borders Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, and 23 October, with visits to the historic of different European countries, while Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, institutions for which the Institut de developing the various domains of Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, France is responsible: the Musée Condé, knowledge according to the principle Latvia, Lithuania, FYR Macedonia, Chantilly; the Musée Jacquemart-André, of multidisciplinarity. Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Paris; the Bibliothèque Mazarine and the Le défi actuel des Académies face Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Bibliothèque de l’Institut. à l’État et à la société vient, d’une Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, and The dominant theme was that of national part, de l’acceptation courante de Ukraine. All other European countries are identity and minds transcending borders. cette notion de « pluridisciplinarité welcome to participate as well. The borders to be straddled were, first » et, d’autre part, du rôle que les Go to www.eurodoc.net/survey/ of all territorial, forging, from the past Académies sont amenées à jouer, history of war and violence in Europe, relatif aux instances des pouvoirs Future planning for a deep and lasting respect for human publics et privés. AE involvement in rights, as argued by Otto de Habsbourg- “International Years” Lorraine. Borders between traditionally The current challenge facing established disciplines were shown by Academies of the State and society The Council would like to hear from Fotis Kafatos to meld in the crucible of has, on the one hand, the current members who would be interested fundamental scientific research, and acceptance of this concept of in helping with forward planning at an ever-quickening pace, thanks to ‘multidisciplinary’ and, secondly, the of Academia Europaea sponsored digitization. In the humanities, Philippe role that the academies have come to initiatives in support of future Roberts-Jones characterized the tension play, relating to the government and “International year celebrations”. between the local and the universal private sectors. Council will consider ideas for in art, reflecting a comparable tension support from such celebrations between regionalism and globalization, La notion de « pluridisciplinarité that are planned for 2010 onwards. on the social and economic front. The », ce beau « faisceau » évoqué par Any suggestions on how the AE common theme was that, by combining Ernest Renan en 1867, composé de could mark future “International its diverse strengths, European academic « tous les efforts de l’esprit humain Years” should be sent by email to achievement can strive to attain a result », s’est vue contaminée, dans la David Coates or to your Section potentially greater than the sum of its dernière décennie, par un concept chair. parts. d’« interdisciplinarité », susceptible de miner les « disciplines » qui en THE TREE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 issue 24 7 forment les bases. Le patronat prône Furthermore, the role of ‘guardianship’ les exigences du marché et l’État relevant to the general public, [the croit devoir lui emboîter le pas, other side of the dual mission of the en encourageant deux initiatives Academies], could be undermined complémentaires en principe, mais by the pressures/demands placed by donnant lieu à des séquelles tout à higher education and the objectives of fait paradoxales. short-term managers.

The concept of “multidisciplinarity:” Face à ces difficultés, les Académies the beautiful “bundles” referred to by devront chercher un juste milieu Ernest Renan in 1867, consisting of “all entre, d’une part, le besoin d’être « the efforts of the human spirit”, was pertinentes », à une époque où la contaminated in the last decade, with société a un besoin croissant d’être Profs. Barbara Wright (left) and Jean-Paul Poirier a concept of an “interdisciplinarity”, bien informée sur les données de (right) at the Institut de France. that undermines the [pure] “disciplines” plus en plus complexes de la vie which form the basis of the contemporaine, et, d’autre part, le multidisciplinary concept. Employers besoin de préserver leur indépendance The European advocate market requirements and et leur autonomie. Il serait inadmissible Commission the state feels obliged to follow suit, que les Académies se tiennent à has launched: promoting two complementary l’écart, mais répréhensible qu’elles initiatives in principle, but giving rise tombent victimes d’une dépendance to effects that are quite paradoxical in à l’égard des entreprises. Les savoir- “Harnessing reality. faire ne devront pas être privilégiés au European research détriment des savoirs. for sustainable Ainsi l’État encourage les sciences expérimentales à aller de l’avant dans Faced with these difficulties, the development “… des spécialisations de plus en plus Academies should seek a balance étroites, tout en orientant les sciences between, [on the one hand] the need An exercise on how to ensure that humaines vers une formation générale to be “relevant” at a time when society European research is put at the service de plus en plus superficielle. has a growing need to be well informed of sustainable development is being on the complexities of contemporary launched. More information will soon The State encourages experimental life: and secondly, [Academies] need be available on http://ec.europa.eu/ sciences to move forward with to preserve their independence and research/sd/index_en.html. specializations, while orienting autonomy. It is unacceptable that the In this exercise, the Commission will (encouraging)the humanities towards Academies are held on the sidelines, examine how sustainable development a more general education role that is but also wrong that they (inevitably?)fall calls for change (i) in the way we do increasingly superficial. victim of a dependence on businesses. research, (ii) in the way we design and implement research policy. Du coup, le rôle des Académies The ‘skills’ should not take precendence Furthermore, we will look at the kind comme lieu de « sauvegarde » et at the expense of knowledge. of indicators that we need to develop d’encouragement de la communauté Les Académies ne peuvent pas se in order to measure the contribution of scientifique se voit confronté à une permettre de se retirer dans une tour R&D to sustainable development. situation sociologique différente de d’ivoire, sinon elles risquent d’être The exercise will include a web-based toutes celles qu’elles ont pu connaître à dépassées et de voir diminuer leur consultation that should take place des époques antérieures. dynamisme. Mais il va falloir qu’elles between mid-February until mid-April. Thus, the role of academies as a place « gardent leur distance », au prix de Please be prepared to take part in of “safeguarding” and encouraging the perdre leur ancrage dans l’érudition, this web-based consultation. Another scientific community is confronted with la condition primordiale de leur message will be sent to you as soon as a sociological situation unlike any they existence. it is launched. Contact: Nicole Dewandre have known in earlier times. Academies can not afford to retreat Head of Unit “Sustainable (entirely) into an ivory tower or they Par ailleurs, le rôle de tutelle auprès Development” may see their dynamism decline. But, du grand public, l’autre versant de Directorate Environment they [the Academies] will have to “keep la double mission des Académies, DG Research their distance, at the price of losing their risque de se voir compromettre par la European Commission foothold in the world of scholarship, commodification de l’enseignement [email protected] supérieur et par les objectifs de court which was the primary focus of their terme des chefs d’entreprises. existence. 8 ACADEMIA EUROPAEA

Group meetings specialized mechanisms fostering their Report on the reportS ability to process linguistic data. But 20th Annual the efficiency of these mechanisms Conference “The Origin of Language: often derives from general perceptual, In the Perspective of mnemonic, and attentional constraints. Linguistics, Psychology, and University of Cognitive Neuroscience” The contributions of the linguists B. Comrie, and W. Dressler demonstrated Liverpool, UK that language development is marked “Promoting a Global by stages of complexity of language Science Culture” Held at the Singer-Polignac form in syntax and morphology. This Foundation, Paris December 2007. was particularly well demonstrated by The anniversary conference was held systematic comparison for “exotic” as appropriately, in the European Capital by Helmut Schnelle well as for familiar languages. of Culture for 2008 – Liverpool. The competence of meaningful Local organiser and member Ole The neurologist B. Johansson discussed language is a unique endowment of Petersen and his wife Nina Burdokova, the increasing evidence that music the human species. But how did it put together a wonderful and varied and language share a number of basic emerge during the development of programme, hosted at the Sherrington processing mechanisms in the brain. the hominids and of homo sapiens? complex, courtesy of the Vice In the perception of language and And how does a human embryo Chancellor of the University – Howard music complex acoustic sequences and an infant develop pre-linguistic Newby. are converted into perceptually competences allowing to acquire discrete elements such as words or form and meaning of the language chords organized into hierarchical spoken in the infants environment? structures that convey meaning (factual The workshop focused on some information in language and mainly of relevance for answering these emotional states in music). . One questions. difference that has attracted attention The relaxed ambiance was augmented is the higher need for temporal by a captivating display of original Particularly interesting results of resolution in language than in music artworks created by Anton Burdokova, recent research were presented and and for spatial (pitch) resolution in who had driven over from Berlin to set discussed by the Neuroscientists. G. music. up the display. Rizzolatti presented and discussed the essentials of his discovery of mirror- The linguist H. Schnelle emphasized The anniversary theme was given neurons, which organize a surprising the methodological problem of a sparkling start with a keynote cognitive competence of macaque interdisciplinary theorizing: Our presentation on the history of the monkeys. It also suggests a neuronal common aim is understanding Academia Europaea, by the Founding basis that might have led to primitive language competence, but the way President and newly installed honorary language competence. S. Dehaene in which linguists, psychologists and life president – Arnold Burgen. and Gh. Dehaene-Lambertz presented neurologists present models and The new President – Lars Walløe, fascinating results of empirical studies theories which explain the results of counterbalanced Arnold’s historical of brain-imaging concerning prenatal their empirical studies are basically views with his own future perspectives and postnatal brain-development in different. Schnelle indicated how to – no doubt we will hear more of these the cortical areas typical for language translate formal linguistic structure over the coming weeks, months and competence. representations into working model years. representations that are empirically The studies of the psychologists Of the many highlights from the plausible in a context of functional contradicted the assumption that programme, this year we included a neuroscience Such translations aim basic innate competence properties number of talks given by members at an interdisciplinary meta-language in children are sufficient for language elected in 2007. These were: for organisation processes in mind acquisition . E Lieven’s results clearly o Donald Bruce Dingwell MAE and brain, in which both functional suggest that, in particular during (University of Munich). “Dance on neuroscientists and linguists represent the first year, social and cognitive a volcano: Experimental views of their empirical results and check capacities are necessary to support the eruptive processes”, whether they correspond. learning of words, morphological and o Robert Zorec MAE (Ljubljana syntactic structure in subsequent years. University). “Fusion pore: An J.Mehler agrees with the common evolutionary invention of linguistic assumption that infants have nucleated cells”, THE TREE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 issue 24 9 o Angela Friederici MAE (Max Planck We are indebted to our all our sponsors Institute for Human Cognitive and that also included: Brain Sciences, Leipzig). “Language in the developing and adult brain”, o Caroline Humphrey MAE (University This session was linked to a major UK of Cambridge). ”The Future of Socio- and international study programme on Cultural Anthropology”, And the social determinants of health and o Danielle Jacquart MAE (Sorbonne, locally in Liverpool, to the “Health is Paris). ‘Medieval reading of Greek Wealth Commission”. and Arabic texts: The health of slaves”. The final session of the meeting Who generously provided bursaries for covered a fascinating topic that the Burgen Scholars. This ‘tradition will continue into future resonated strongly with Liverpool as years, with a dedicated ‘new members’ a city. Peter Emmer (Leiden) chaired As always, the Erasmus Lecture and a session already included into the a round table debate on Liverpool’s range of papers from the programme Naples 09 programme. historical role in the international slave will be published in the European trade. Speakers included: We were also lucky this year to have Review. The programme, delegate lists a second ‘Keynote’ lecture, sponsored Pieter Emmer MAE, Richard Benjamin, and abstracts for the papers can be by the University as their 2008 Seymour Drescher (University of accessed from the meetings archive on Sherrington Lecture and included into Pittsburgh), David Eltis (Emory our website, together with a range of our programme. Katsuhiko Mikoshiba University Atlanta), Olivier Pétré- photos taken over the week which can (Riken Brain Science Institute, Japan) Grenouilleau (Institut d’etude politique be downloaded. spoke on: The Role of Calcium Ions de Paris, France) in Development, Brain Function and For details on the Disorders. To cap all of this, the conference was perfectly brought to a close with a 2009 Conference in Naples This was followed by a special wonderful dinner, held at the new see page 12 session held at the Liverpool Medical Liverpool Maritime Museum and Institution, where Ian Gilmore Museum of Slavery, right on the point From top left to right: (President of the Royal College of Arnold Burgen receiving his Life president scroll of embarkation of the many thousands from Jürgen Mittelstrass Physicians) chaired an evening session who moved in and out of Liverpool Inge Jonsson (Wenner Gren Foundations) and working dinner entitled: ”Alcohol in the earlier decades and centuries. receiving the Gold Medal from the President abuse and its consequences”. Brian Heap introducing Lord Parekh – To my personal regret, no singing Prof. Fotis Kafatos of any local pop favourites, or more The President We were especially pleased this year to colourful sea shanties was heard- have sponsorship from the UK Medical Bottom left to right: even after a good dinner! Although, Research Council, both for the 2008 Prof. Lorna Casselton (Foreign Secretary of to mark the retirement of President ERASMUS Lecture and also for a session The Royal Society) receiving her membership Jürgen Mittelstrass, and Vice- president from the President. Ole Petersen is in the entitled “Health is Wealth and Wealth Denis Weaire, there was a degree of background. is Health, chaired by our Vice President Lord Rees, President of The Royal Society (prolonged) colourful speechmaking. Michael Marmot. Sherrington Lecturer- Katsuhiko Mikoshiba 2009 Erasmus Lecturer – Semir Zeki 10 ACADEMIA EUROPAEA

Russian Prizes scheme newspapers and in universities. Initial Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SB proposals are sifted by the committee RAS, “Synthesis and reactivity of novel 2008 – from Moscow and the best are sent to international chalcogenide clusters of tantalum, experts for assessment. About 25 prize molybdenum and tungsten”, by Vladimir Skulachev winners are selected each year. Novosibirsk o Mikhail A. Kiskin, 1980, N.S. The scheme was launched in 1992 The scheme is highly regarded and Kurnakov Institute of General for young scientists and scholars in attracts substantial local publicity. and Inorganic Chemistry of RAS, Russia, and now applies to young “Magnetoactive manganese(II) and scholars under 33 years of age and The 2008 laureates were: iron(II) polymeric pivalates: synthesis, with a publications record, from across structure, magnetic properties and the Federation. Since 1992, some 339 Mathematics/Mechanics: chemical activity”, Moscow awards have been made o Denis I. Borisov, 1978, Bashkir State o Ekaterina A. Mainicheva, 1984, Pedagogical University, “Elliptic Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Past sponsors include: The International operators with geometric, distant, Chemistry SB RAS, “Supramolecular Science Foundation, New York (Soros); non-self-adjoint and singular adducts of polynuclear metal Amersham International, UK; the perturbations” , Ufa aqua complexes with macrocyclic Rayne Foundation, London; and the organic cavitands cucurbit[n]urils”, Danish Physical Society. In previous Physics: Novosibirsk years additional sponsors have been o Victor V. Braguta, 1977, Institute o Ivan P. Pozdnyakov, 1979, the Robert Koch Microbiological for High Energy Physics, “The Study Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Society, Heidelberg; and Mr T Mann of of leading twist light cone wave Combustion, “From photochemistry Cleveland. functions of 2S state charmonium of model systems to photoprocesses mesons”, Protvino in natural waters”, Novosibirsk Current sponsors include: MAIK – Nauka o Innokenty I. Novikov, 1979, Ioffe Interperiodica and Rosbusinessbank Physico-Technical Institute RAS, Earth sciences: “Optical waveguides based on o Roman V. Veselovskiy, 1980, The award consists of a medal, one- and two-dimensional photonic Geology Faculty, Moscow State a certificate and a cash award of band crystals for the creation of the University, “Some aspects of the US$1000. These prizes are given at a coherent and spontaneous radiation Siberian platform paleotectonics dedicated ceremony in Moscow. semiconductor sources”, Saint- at the Late Proterozoic and the Petersburg state of the geomagnetic field at Prizes are awarded in Mathematics, o Vasily F. Sharipov, 1983, Department the Paleozoic-Mesozoic boundary”, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth of Physics, Saint Petersburg State Moscow Sciences, Medicine and Humanities. University, “Anti-hydrogen atom and o Elena A. Volkova, 1978, Geology molecular systems containing it”, Faculty, Moscow State University, The scheme is supervised by a Saint-Petersburg “Synthesis and properties of highly committee of “Russian club” members efficient oxide crystals for integrated of the Academia Europaea, led by the Chemistry: optics of new generation”, Moscow chair - Professor Vladimir Skulachev o Pavel A. Abramov, 1985, A.V. o Andrey V. Korsakov, 1974, Institute and including A.A. Bogdanov, V.B. Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic of Geology and Mineralogy SB RAS, Braginskij, M.O. Chudakova, G.P. Chemistry SB RAS, “New approaches “Peculiarities of mineral-forming Georgiev, I.I. Moiseev, A.M. Nikishin, to synthesis of chalcogenide clusters processes under ultrahigh-pressure V.A. Sadovnichij. Information about the of transition metals”, Novosibirsk metamorphism”, Novosibirsk scheme is advertised in appropriate o Artem L. Gushchin, 1981, Nikolaev Biology: o Marina V. Arkhipenko, 1974, Moscow State University, “Role of protein-protein interactions in potexvirus genomic RNA translational activation”, Moscow o Mikhail S. Klenov, 1979, Institute of Molecular Genetics RAS, “Dissection of short RNA-mediated silencing of transposable elements in Drosophila”, Professor Skulachev and the Moscow sponsors at the prizegiving o Tatyana D. Kolesnikova, 1978, THE TREE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 issue 24 11

Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB The Council of the European Academies’ RAS, “Study of functional significance Academia Europaea Science Advisory of Drosophila melanogaster were pleased to award Council (EASAC) SUUR protein and its fragments”, a Gold Medal Novosibirsk “Legislation urgently o Sofya A. Kuznetsova, 1974, Centre TO: The Wenner Gren needed to protect Europe’s for Theoretical Problems in Physico- Foundations, Stockholm. threatened environmental Chemical Pharmacology RAS, “A new Sweden at the 2008 Annual life-support systems “ generic method for the fluorescence conference in Liverpool “readout” of single redox enzymes Is the banner headline of the latest press activity”, Moscow The medal release for an EASAC publication. o Maria M. Kurshakova, 1980, Institute is given: “in This organisation of Gene Biology RAS, “Investigation of recognition of of European the novel transcriptional factor E(y)2,”, the sustained Academies of Sciences, undertakes Moscow support that collective high level expert analyses o Alexey A. Pakhomov, 1982, the Foundation of the latest science that is relevant Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of has given to European science and to our modern day societal issues. Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, “Chemical European scholarship over the past Reports are published, that seek reactions of the chromophore twenty years and including support to advise policymakers nationally synthesis within red fluorescent given in furtherance of the aims and and internationally and so to proteins”, Moscow objectives of the Academia Europaea.” better promote a culture of sound o Vladimir A. Trifonov, 1974, Institute and sustainable ‘Evidence Based of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Policymaking’ by the politicians. “Generation of painting probes by flow sorting and microdissection The Academia Europaea was a and their application in karyotype founding member of EASAC and evolution studies”, Novosibirsk through the participation of Professors o Yulii V. Shidlovskii, 1979, Institute Brian Heap, Marie-Lise Chanin, Lars of Gene Biology RAS, “Studying The Wenner-Gren Foundations (The Walløe, Jan Vaagen and others in of mechanism of action of novel Wenner-Gren Center Foundation various working groups, we will transcription factors in higher for Scientific Research, The Axel continue to work with our sister eukaryotes”, Moscow Wenner-Gren Foundation for national academies in this important International Exchange of Scientists area of policy Humanities: and The Foundation Wenner-Grenska support work. o Tatyana V. Bukina, 1978, St. Samfundet) support international Petersburg University of Humanities scientific exchange. The Foundations All reports can be and Social Sciences, “Reception have programs: accessed from the studies and musicology in the 1. to supply guest apartments at the EASAC website epoch of postmodern: searching of Wenner-Gren Center in Stockholm; www.easac.eu We compromise”, Saint-Petersburg 2. to award fellowships to Swedish hold copies of the o Sergey V. Lyubichankovsky, 1979, researchers, who want to go abroad, most recent report: Volga Region’s Branch of Institute of and to guest scientists, who want to Number 9 – “Ecosystem Services and Russian History RAS, Orenburg State visit Sweden; biodiversity in Europe” – contact the Pedagogical University, “The province 3. to support the invitation of foreign office to ask for one. administration and the problem of guest lecturers; authority’s crisis in the late-imperial 4. to organize international symposia; During March, two further reports will Russia (on materials of Ural region, or be published: “Multi drug resistant 1892-1914)”, Orenburg 5. in other ways to support exchange of TB” and “Bulk electrical energy knowledge over the borders. transmission in Europe”. The medal was accepted on behalf of the Foundations by Prof. dr. Inge Brian Heap and Lars Walløe would Jonsson MAE, Chairman of the Board of welcome any suggestions for the Foundations. consideration by the EASAC Council for topics suitable as new expert study reports and offers from members to act as experts to the study panels. 12 ACADEMIA EUROPAEA

21st Annual Conference Risks, Environment and Sustainable Development Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 September 2009, Naples

All Sessions will be held in the Church of ‘SS. Marcellino and Session 2: Natural Risks 2: Opportunities for science, Festo, Largo S. Marcellino 10, University Frederico II see http:// energy and sustainable development www.panoramio.com/photo/750574 and http://www.napoli.com/ english/blog27.php#oct7 for images Speakers:

The local coordinator: is Giuseppe De Natale (Naples) (pino@ Pieter Nijkamp MAE (Amsterdam): “The economics of ov.ingv.it) natural hazards” The programme group: Carmela Baffioni (Rome), Alessandro Franco Barberi (Rome): “Volcanic risks“ Cavalli (Pavia), Sierd Cloetingh (Amsterdam), Peter Day (Oxford) Luigia Santella (Naples) and Lars Walløe (Oslo) . Giuseppe De Natale MAE (Napoli)

John Ludden MAE (Nottingham): “Living with the earth: managing its natural hazards and resources” Provisional programme and Session 3: The risks of intellectual life: sciences, timetable humanities and society in 18th-19th century Naples

Wednesday 23rd September - Pre-conference day Speakers:

Available for Section meetings and/or “mini symposia”. See Brendan Dooley (Bremen): “The trials of history in the age the website for details or contact your section chair. of Giannone”

Thursday 24th September - Day 1 Takashi Yamada (Tokyo) : “Notes on revolution and 14.00 Conference registration desk opens restoration: Cimarosa and changing one’s tune”

15.00-16.30 Annual Business meeting (Academia Edvige Schettino (Naples): “The Disenchantment of Europaea members only) Mermaids: cultural and existential risks of a working scientist in 19th Century Naples” 17.30 Opening Session of the 21st Congress Session 4: Presentations by new members (elected in Welcome by the President and VIP(s) 2008)

2009 Awards: Speakers:

Erasmus Medal 2009 to Carlo GINZBURG (see separate Carmela Baffioni MAE (Napoli) piece) Karl-Heinz Glaßmeier MAE (Braunschweig): “Planetary Presentation of the 2009 Burgen Scholars magnetic fields”

Introduction of New Members of the Academia Europaea Claudio Faccenna MAE (Roma Tre): “Origin and evolution of the Mediterranean” 19.00 2009 ERASMUS LECTURE: Carlo Ginzburg Gerald Haug MAE (Zurich): “Climate and societies “ Friday 25th September - Day 2 Saturday 26th September - Day 3 Session 1: Natural risks 1: interdisciplinary perspectives of science, art and literature Session 5: Natural risks 3: the maritime environment

Speakers: Speakers:

Heikki Solin MAE (Helsinki) Paul Dayton

Michele Cometa (Palermo): “Visualizing the risks of nature: Enrico Bonatti the visual culture of catastrophes” Session 6: The great migration waves: Naples, Europe Eleonora Pasotti (Santa Cruz, US): “Cities at risk: Naples, and the World Bogota, Chicago” Panel debate: speakers & discussants: Pierpaolo Petrone Horst Pietscmann (Hamburg): “Early migration in the Spanish empire (1500-1800) including Naples” THE TREE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 issue 24 13

Leo Lucassen (Leiden): “The migrations of 19th and 20th 2009 ERASMUS Medallist and century Italy, north and south” lecturer J.L. Blussé (Leiden): “Migration in Asia” The Council are pleased to announce that Migration and the literary Imagination in the the award of the Erasmus Medal for 2009 Twentieth Century will take place at the opening ceremony of our annual conference in Naples, in Elleke Boehmer (Oxford): “Great Britain” September Otmar Ette (Potsdam): “The Hispanic World” This year the award will be made to the Anke Gilleir: “Germany” internationally renowned historian Carlo Ginzburg [Franklin D. Murphy Followed by Closing remarks and lunch Professor of Italian renaissance Studies at UCLA] Sunday 27th to Wednesday 30th Professor Ginzburg will also give the 2009 Erasmus lecture The Earth and Cosmic Sciences Section have arranged a Biography in brief: He was born in 1939 in Turin, Italy. He received Geological Excursion in the Napoli region. a PhD from the University of Pisa in 1961. He has subsequently held teaching positions at the University of Bologna and at the Open to any interested participants. Details will be University of California, Los Angeles (1988–2006); currently he found on a separate AE events web page. Or contact teaches at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa. His fields of Donald Dingwell, chair of the Earth Sciences Section interest range from the Italian Renaissance to early modern [email protected] European History, with contributions to art history, literary studies, and the theory of historiography. Bibliography Conference announcement The Cheese and the Worms: The Cosmos of a Sixteenth Century Miller, received Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1980, ISBN 0-8018- 4387-1. First published in Italian as Il formaggio e I vermi, 1976. This is the 2nd Announcement for the 41st The Night Battles: Witchcraft and Agrarian Cults in the Sixteenth and International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Dynamics Seventeenth Centuries, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, hosted in University of Liège, Belgium. 1983, ISBN 0-8018-4386-3. First published in Italian as I benandanti, 1966. Title: “Science based management of the coastal The Enigma of Piero, London, 1985 (revised edition, 2000), ISBN waters” Period: 4-9 May, 2009 0-86091-904-8. http://modb.oce.ulg.ac.be/colloquium/ Clues, Myths and the Historical Method, Johns Hopkins University The 41st International Liege Colloquium on Ocean Press, Baltimore, 1989, ISBN 0-8018-4388-X. Dynamics will provide a forum to present and discuss Ecstasies. Deciphering the Witches’ Sabbath, New York, 1991, ISBN recent scientific advances in the field of Integrated 0-226-29693-8. First published in Italian as Storia notturna: Una Coastal Zone Management, to compare the modelling decifrazione del Sabba, 1989. and experimental approaches set up in various Wooden Eyes, Milan, 1998, ISBN 0-231-11960-7. case studies and to identify the need for future developments. The emphasis will be particularly The Judge and the Historian. Marginal Notes and a Late-Twentieth- put on the understanding of the dynamics of coastal century Miscarriage of Justice, London 1999, ISBN 1-85984-371-9. waters and on the development of appropriate tools First published in Italian as Il giudice e la storico (1991). and methodologies to address the issues of History, Rhetoric, and Proof. The Menachem Stern Jerusalem Lectures, • coastal oceanography; London and Hanover 1999, ISBN 0-87451-933-0. • prevention and mitigation of coastal hazards and Das Schwert und die Glühbirne. Eine neue Lektüre von Picassos pollution (including coastal eutrophication); Guernica, Frankfurt am Main 1999, ISBN 3-518-12103-0. • long term geomorphological changes; • global changes in the coastal zone (including No Island is an Island. Four Glances at English Literature in a World downscaling issues); Perspective, New York 2000, ISBN 0-231-11628-4. • operational oceanography and monitoring systems; Un dialogo, Milano, 2003. • social and economic aspects of ICZM Articles in Past and Present, Annales, Quaderni storici, Rivista storica multifunctionality and evaluation. italiana, Critical Inquiry, Elementa etc. Latitude, Slaves and the Bible: An Experiment in Microhistory (PDF) Online paper by Carlo Ginzberg. 14 ACADEMIA EUROPAEA

REPORT on the 3rd workshop, including a large number Namely, to integrate national of members of the Earth and Cosmic research programs into a common International TOPO- Sciences section of Academia Europaea. European network and, furthermore, EUROPE Workshop to integrate activities among TOPO- TOPO-EUROPE addresses the 4-D EUROPE institutes and participants. Accademia Nazionale dei topographic evolution of the orogens Key objectives are to provide an Lincei, Roma and intra-plate regions of Europe interdisciplinary forum to share 2nd–5th May, 2007 through a multidisciplinary approach knowledge and information in the field linking geology, geophysics, geodesy of the neotectonic and topographic Sierd Cloetingh, Earth & Cosmic and geotechnology. TOPO-EUROPE evolution of Europe, to promote and Sciences integrates monitoring, imaging, encourage multidisciplinary research reconstruction and modelling of on a truly European scale, to increase TOPO-EUROPE is the regional the interplay between processes mobility of scientists and to train young coordinating committee for Europe controlling continental topography scientists. of the International Lithosphere and related natural hazards. Until Programme (ILP). Financial support now, research on neotectonics and to the TOPO-EUROPE preparatory related topography development of workshops held in Budapest and orogens and intra-plate regions has Heidelberg, received from the received little attention. TOPO-EUROPE Academia Europaea, the Klaus Tschira initiates a number of novel studies on Foundation, the European Science the quantification of rates of vertical Foundation (ESF), the Netherlands motions, related tectonically controlled Organization for Scientific Research river evolution and land subsidence in (NWO), the Eötvös Lorant University carefully selected natural laboratories Budapest (ELTE), and the Netherlands in Europe. From orogen through Research Centre for Integrated Solid platform to continental margin, these Earth Science (ISES), is gratefully natural laboratories include the Alps/ acknowledged. TOPO-EUROPE has Carpathians-Pannonian Basin System, The image above is a seismicity map of been selected by ESF as a EUROCORES the West and Central European Europe, illustrating present-day active programme in September 2006, with Platform, the Apennines-Aegean- intraplate deformation. Also shown are participation from 23 countries. Anatolian region, the Iberian Peninsula, intraplate areas of Late Neogene the Scandinavian Continental Margin, uplift (circles with plus symbols) From 2nd till 5th May 2007 the 3rd the East-European Platform, and and subsidence (circles with minus TOPO-EUROPE Workshop took place at the Caucasus-Levant area. TOPO- symbols). Background elevation images the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in EUROPE integrates European research are extracted from the ETOPO2 data Rome. facilities and know-how essential to set. Earthquake epicentres are from the advance the understanding of the NEIC data centre, and are shown as red • 34 oral presentations were given. role of topography in Environmental dots. Inset map: Cenozoic rift system of • 32 posters were presented. Earth System Dynamics. The principal Europe (after Dèzes et al., 2004). • 95 participants attended the objective of the network is twofold.

The image above is an examples of natural laboratories selected for TOPO- EUROPE THE TREE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 issue 24 15

2009 is Darwin Year Words spoken by G.L. Huxley At the Inauguration of the Huxley-Whitaker Collection of Old Irish Texts and Editions in University College Dublin

It is kind of the organisers of this happy gathering to allow me to speak in English. I have no wish to cause you toe-curling embarrrassment at my Saxon enunciation of Irish.

Some years ago in talking with my friend Professor Próinséas Ni Chatháin I suggested that an Old Irish Department deserved to have an Old Irish departmental library. Some funds were found and texts were from time to time purchased. They have now been impressively augmented by the addition of Dr. Whitaker’s books. It is an honour indedd to have my name linked to his, since his wisdom is the fons et The list of international events to origo of much that has blessed Ireland in the last three decades or so. celebrate the 200th anniversary of Purchases have been continued by Dr. Kelly, and I shall hopr to find Darwin’s birth and his collected works more money for books in future, although the decline of the United are almost incalculable. But, a quick States dollar makes matters harder at present. ‘Google search’ has come up with the following links and portals for members Old Irish is a vitally important subject – even if one subscribes to the who may be interested: notion that ‘importance is not important; facts are’. Old Irish studies, the more so when linked to archaeology, tell us whence we grow; to www.darwin200.org/ understand ourselves we have to understand our roots – that is true http://darwin-online.org.uk/2009.html for me too, though I am at best a hypothetical Irishman. In an epoch www.darwinday.org/ of increasing social and ethnic diversity we need to think clearly www.nature.com/news/specials/darwin/ about what it means nowadays to be Irish and to be European. Old index.html Irish studies help us to ask the right questions and at least to suggest some answers. To look back far into the past enables us to see more Other specific notices we have recently deeply than do the exponents of Irish historical revisionism. It has been received for ‘Darwin’ themed events depressing to hear repetition of the fashionable remark that criticism of include: the revised Irish historiography is ‘nationalism with footnotes’. Das Symposium «Darwin in Science and The syudy of Old Irish is also a powerful component in Indo-European Society» wird am 4. und 5. comparative philology. In the Royal Irish Academy some of us tried to foster Indo-European studies. I still hope that the long tradition of Irish September 2009 in Zürich stattfinden. scholars going to the continent and beyond to engage in philological Weitere Informationen und das study and exchanges will not die out. The example set by Whitley Stokes Anmeldeformular finden Sie ab sofort and Osborn Bergin and Myles Dillon and others deserves to be heeded. unter: http://darwin-symposium.swiss-academies.ch Old Irish in University College Dublin is no longer and autonomous and in case anyone wants the counter- department, but I hope that the subject will keep and autonomous view? dignity. Perhaps the collection we now celebrate will strengthen the dignity. It is bewildering to me, in my senile obsolescence, that U.C.D. http://zenoferox.blogspot.com/2009/01/ can afford to spend in one year 4.4 million euros on consultants but darwin-anti-celebration.html terminates a full final honours single subjects degree in Old Irish. The http://creationontheweb.com/content/ merit of learned, humane, subjects, even in an idolatrous world of the view/6263/ corporate image, is not to be measured by numbers of students. Let us bear in mind the precept given to the ruler in Audacht Morainn: Is 2009 is also the year of Astronomy. tre fir flathemon ro-saig cech dán mochtide mide suíthe. ‘It is through Useful links can be found through: the justice of the ruler that every man of art attains the crown of knowledge’. www.astronomy2009.co.uk/index.php/ about-mainmenu-45 16 ACADEMIA EUROPAEA

Section chairs & committee members (as at December 8th, 2008)

Section: Chairperson: Committee B2. Informatics A1. History & Archaeology Dines Bjørner Jozef Gruska Pieter C. Emmer Colin Renfrew Fredsvej 11 Erol Gelenbe Leiden University Peer Vries DK-2840 Holte David Harel Dept. of History, P O Box 9515 Olivier Pétré- DENMARK Hermann Maurer 2300 RA Leiden Grenouilleau [email protected] THE NETHERLANDS Danielle Jacquart B3.Physics and Engineering Sciences [email protected] David Abulafia Lászlo Csernai Robert Dautray A2. Classics & Oriental Studies University of Bergen Heinz Duddeck Heikki Solin Margarethe Billerbeck Section for Theoretical & Vladimir Klyuev Klassillisen Filologian Laitos I. Hijiya-Kirschnereit Computational Physics Horst Stöcker Helsingin Yliopisto Tonio Hölscher Allégaten 55 Marie Farge PL4, (Yliopistonkatu 3) Barbara Kellner- N-5007 Bergen NORWAY P. de Witt Huberts FIN-00014, HelsinkiFINLAND Heinkele [email protected] Norbert Kroo [email protected] Harm Pinkster B4.Chemical Sciences A3. Linguistic Studies Michel Ché Torbjörn Norin Wolfgang Dressler Eva Hajicová Lab. de Réactivité de Surface Frigyes Solymosi Inst. Für Sprachwissenschaft Fred Karlsson UMR 7609, CNRS John MeurigThomas University of Vienna Ferenc Kiefer 4 Place Jussieu FRANCE Bergasse 11, Hemut Schnelle [email protected] A-1090, Vienna, Austria Bernard Comrie B5.Earth and Cosmic Sciences [email protected] Anna Siewierska Donald Dingwell André Berger Alain Peyraube University of Munich Paul Crutzen A4. Literary & Theatrical Studies Earth Sciences Jean Dercourt Theo D’haen Douwe Fokkema Teresienstra. 41/111 Jean-Claude Duplessy Dept. Literatuurwetenschap Erika Fischer-Lichte 80333, Munich Kerstin Fredga Leuven University Maria-Alzira Seixo [email protected] Sierd Cloetingh Blijde Inkomststr. 21/3311 Mihály Szegedy- C1. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B-3000 Leuven BELGIUM Maszák Moshe Yaniv Riccardo Cortese [email protected] Svend Erik Larsen Institut Pasteur Michel Lazdunski A.5 Musicology & History of Art & Architecture Dept. des Biotechnologies Tomas Lindahl David Hiley Laszlo Dobszay 25 rue du Docteur Roux Margarita Salas Insitute für Musikwissenschaft Rudolf Flotzinger 75724 Paris Cedex 15 Gottfried Schatz Universität Regensburg Roger Stalley FRANCE D-93040 Regensburg GERMANY C2. Cell Biology [email protected] Margaret Buckingham (2010) Michael Ashburner A.6 Philosophy, Theology & Religious Studies Institut Pasteur Francesco Blasi Dagfinn Føllesdal Dept. Biologie du Développement Meinrad Busslinger Staverhagan 7 CNRS URA2578 Carl-Henrik Heldin 1341 Slependen NORWAY 25 rue du Dr Roux Ingrid Grummt [email protected] Paris Cedex 75724 [email protected] A7. Behavioural Sciences C3.Physiology and Medicine Johannes Siegrist Andrew Steptoe Heinrich Heine University of Töres Theorell Alexei Verkhratsky Eva Syková Düsseldorf Terrie Moffit University of Manchester Marie Roncarolo Dept. of Medical Sociology Michael Marmot School of Biological Sciences Oleg Krishtal P B 101007 1.124 Stopford Building András Spät D-40001 Düsseldorf GERMANY Oxford Road Bernd Nilius [email protected] Manchester M13 9PT Pierluigi Nicotera Alexej.verkhratsky@manchester. Bertil Fredholm A8.Social Sciences ac.uk Alessandro Cavalli (Temporary) Jean Blondel C4.Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Via XX Setembre Elina Haavio-Mannila 8/25 Genova Konstantinos Yvon Le Maho Roy Anderson I-16121 Kerameus Centre d’Ecologie et Physiologie Gotthilf Hempel Italy Walther Manshard Energetique Carlos Herrera [email protected] CNRS, 23, rue Becquerel Lars Walloe 67087, Strasbourg, Cedex 2 B1. Mathematics France Jean-Pierre Bourguignon Hans Föllmer I.H.E.S Nigel Hitchin 35 route de Chartres John Kingman F-91440 Bures-sur-Yvette FRANCE [email protected] THE TREE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 issue 24 17

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Under the HERCULES [Higher Education http://journals.cambridge.org/action/ How to access European Review Research and CULture in European displayJournal?jid=ERW online: Society] Group banner: In order to set up online access to Volume 17 is now available. European Review, you need to know September 2007: “Quality Assessment your Subscriber Number. This in Higher Education” Edited by JOIN THE EDITORIAL AND number is listed on your address Alessandro Cavalli www.portlandpress. DEVELOPMENT GROUP OF THE label when issues of European Review com/pp/books/online/qahee/default.htm EUROPEAN REVIEW are sent to you. If you don’t have The Editor-in-chief – Theo D’Haen a label, please contact the Journals August 2008: “The University in the - would welcome contact with any Customer Service Department at Market” Edited by Lars Engwall and members who would be interested Cambridge University Press, email Denis Weaire. www.portlandpress.com/ in assisting him in the future [email protected] or tel. pp/books/online/univmark/default.htm development of the Journal of the +44(0)1223 326070. Academia Europaea. Interested For past volumes in the series go to: members should email him at theo. Once you have your Subscriber www.portlandpress.com/pp/books/prod_ [email protected] Number, follow these steps: list.cfm?product_class=PPWG

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Obituary V. N. Constantinescu lubrifica_iei turbulente (1965), Tratatul Hongrie. For his scientific achievements, de dinamica fluidelor (1993), some of he was a recipient of the Gold Medal It is with profound sadness that the which have been translated in other for Tribology (Great Britain 1996), of Romanian Academy announced the languages, as a measure of their the Gustave Trasenster Medal of the passing away, on January 31 2009, of international impact (Gas Lubrication, Engineers of Belgium. In Romania he Professor Virgiliu N. Constantinescu, published by the American Society of was distinguished with the Order of one of Romania’s leading scientists and Mechanical Engineers in 1969; Theory “Steaua României” ( Mare Ofi_er). scholars, President of the Section of of turbulent lubrication, translated Technical Sciences of the Academy and into English by the U.S. Atomic Energy Between 1997-2003 Virgiliu N. its former President . Commission and published by the Constantinescu has been Romania’s U. S. Governement Printing Office; Ambassador to Belgium, where he Virgiliu N. Constantinescu was born or Laminar Viscous Flow published represented with honor and brilliance in 1931 în Bucharest, Romania. His by Springer in 1995). His last book, our country, contributing to the distinguished career started with Dinamica fluidelor în regim turbulent integration of Romania in the European engineering studies at the Polytechnic was published in 2008 at the Romanian Union family. Institute, Faculty of Mechanics, from Academy Printing House. He has which he graduated in 1952, as an published over 200 research articles In both his life and in his career, as aircraft engineer. He has received in prestigious journals and had been Professor, Rector, President of the his PhD in aerodynamics and fluid awarded seven patents. He was the Romanian Academy and Ambassador, mechanics at the Institute of Applied fist President of the Romanian Space Virgiliu Constantinescu was known Mechanics of the Romanian Academy Agency and, up to his death, President for his discretion, elegance and in 1956. In 1974 he was awarded the D. of its Scientific Council. competence. His word was listened to Sc. (doctor docent) title. He has been and followed with respect. a professor at the Military Technical Virgiliu Constantinescu was elected Academy of Romania and joined in corresponding member of the The name of Virgiliu Niculae 1954 the Faculty of the Polytechnic Romanian Academy in November 1990 Constantinescu will remain engraved Institute in Bucharest where he became and full member of the Academy in with golden letters in the history of the in Professor in 1971. His research and December 1991. He was President of Romanian Academy. teaching at the Institute in Bucharest the Academy between 1994 and 1998. spanned 55 years and focused on fluid February 3, 2009 mechanics, aerodynamics, aircraft and Virgiliu N. Constantinescu has been (Translated/adapted into English from the Romanian Academy Necrolog of V. rocket engineering, special materials elected a Member of the Académie N. Constantinescu and from the Obituary and tribology. Royale des Sciences, des Lettres and des Beaux-Arts de Belgique (membre written by Acad. Ionel Haiduc, President of the Romanian Academy) Between 1990-1992 he was Rector of associé), of the Academia Europaea, the Polytechnic Institute and President of the International Academy of of the National Rectors Conference of Astronautics, of the World Academy Romania. of Arts and Sciences and has been awarded honorary degrees (Doctor Virgiliu N. Constantinescu was a pioneer honoris causa) of the Université of applied mechanics, a founder of the de Poitiers (France), Université de gas lubrication field and has brought Liége (Belgium), of the Polytechnic major contributions to fluid mechanics, University of Cluj-Napoca, of The tribology and aerodynamics. In 1969 Technical University of Timisoara, of and 1970 he was Visiting Scientist at the University of Suceava and of the Mechanical Technology Inc., Latham, Military Technical Academy of Romania New York, and in 1972-1974 Visiting in Bucharest. Professor at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. În 1993 he Virgiliu N. Constantinescu was awarded was visiting professor at the Université in 1995 the “Légion d’honneur of de Poitiers, and in 1994 was an Invited France (Officier de l’Ordre National Professor at the Institut National des de la Légion d’honneur de France). Sciences Appliquées de Lyon. In 2003 he was awarded the order of He has published 19 books, such as Leopold II (Grand Croix) of Belgium. He Lubrifica_ia cu gaze (1963), Teoria was a knight of the order of Marie de THE TREE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 issue 24 19

Deceased members Future events

It is with great sorrow, that we record The following events are already planned for 2009 here the names of members of this Academy whose deaths were notified All events can be found on the website at www.acadeuro.org. after the publication of the 2008 Directory. Details can be requested from the office ([email protected]) or by phone. 26-28 March. Turin. “Diversification of Higher Education and the Academic Professor John Barron, London April 1934 – August 2008 Profession” - an international symposium. Organised by Profs Alessandro Cavalli (Pavia) and Ulrich Teichler (Kassel). This is one of our ‘HERCULES’ group series Professor Oscar Botto, CESMEO, Italy (Higher Education, Research and CULture in European Society) of symposia July 1922 – August 2008 Organised by Profs Alessandro Cavalli (Pavia) and Ulrich Teichler (Kassel). The event is sponsored by the Compagnia di San Paolo Professor Francesco Degrada, Milan 22 – 23 May, Venice. “Basic Concepts in Science”. The third of the high-level May 1940 – May 2005 workshop series exploring ‘basic concepts’, will take place in late spring 2009. The Professor Manuel Fortes, Instituto topic will be “Causality”. The programme will be organised by prof. J. Mittelstrass, K. Superior Técnico, Lisbon Mainzer and J. Deutsch. October 1938 - 2007 June, 4 – 6. Helsinki. Symposium on “Constantine the African and his ‘Liber Pantegni’ . Europe’s First Textbook of Medicine”. Organisers: Prof. Matti Haltia Professor Claudio Gallico, Montova, (Physiology & Medicine Section), and Heikki Solin (Classics & Oriental Studies Italy December 1929 - 2006 Section). Sponsored by the Academia Europaea ‘New Initiatives Fund’ and the Gyllenberg Foundation. Dr. Susan Hollán, Central Inst. of September, 24 – 26. Naples. 21st Annual conference. “Risks, Environment and Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Sustainable Development”. Local organisers: Alessandro Cavalli, Guiseppe de Natale, October 1920 - October 2008 Luigia Santella. Professor Gerhard Neuweiler, October, 15 – 17. Heidelberg. Earth and Cosmic Sciences Section workshop: “Topo- Universität München, Germany Europe: the Geoscience of Coupled Deep Earth Processes”. Organiser, Prof. Sierd May 1935 – August 2008 Cloetingh (Amsterdam). Sponsored by the Klaus Tschira Foundation.

Professor Olga Oleinik, Moscow State November, 5 – 7. Stockholm. International workshop and symposium. “From University Information to Knowledge: From Knowledge to Wisdom”. One of the AE ‘HERCULES’ July 1925 - date unknown series of events. AE coordinator: Prof. Erik de Corte, Univ. Leuven. Sponsored by the Wenner Gren Foundations. Professor Wolfgang Osthoff, Events planned but without a fixed date or venue Würzburg, Germany March 1927 – summer 2008 ‘Structuring the European Humanities’. A policy workshop will look at the prospects for and practicalities of establishing a virtual European Institute for Professor Laurence Picken, Jesus ‘applied and conceptual Humanities research’. Date and venue to be agreed: College, Cambridge organisers are Profs. J. Mittelstrass, D. Føllesdal and G. Stöck. July 1909 – March 2007

Professor Andrej Popov, St Petersburg October 1939 - January, 2009

Professor Pierre Potier, Paris August 1934 – date unknown

Professor Gilbert Reaney, University of California January 1924 - March 2008

Professor Virgiliu. N. Constantinescu, Bucharest March 1931 – January 2009

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