Academia Europaea Cardiff Knowledge Hub

The Academia Europaea Cardiff Knowledge Hub is based in our Brain Research Imaging Centre.

The Academia Europaea Cardiff Knowledge Hub plays a major role in making scientific advice available for policymaking in Europe. It is also involved in promoting gender equality in European research and innovation.

It is part of a European network of hubs that raises the profile of outstanding international research and stimulates new interdisciplinary networks.

Academia Europaea

Founded in 1988, Academia Europaea is a non-governmental association acting as a pan-European academy.

Members are leading scientists and scholars who collectively promote research, learning and education. Members of Academia Europaea, known as MAEs, are elected on academic distinction. Academia Europaea now has over 5000 members worldwide, including more than 70 Nobel laureates.

Membership is open to the best scientists and scholars from anywhere in the world.

Members in Wales

• Professor Yves Barde, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
• Professor Michael Charlton, Physics, Swansea University
• Professor Vincenzo Crunelli, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
• Professor Alun Davies, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
• Professor Dianne Edwards, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University
• Professor Sir Martin Evans, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
• Professor Kevin Fox, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
• Professor Kenneth Harris, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University
• Professor Graham Hutchings, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University
• Professor Simon Jones, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
• Professor Guo-Ping Liu, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales
• Professor Ronan Lyons, Swansea University Medical School
• Professor Paul Morgan, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
• Professor Jim Murray, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
• Professor Valerie O’Donnell, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
• Professor Sir Michael Owen, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
• Professor Ole Petersen, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
• Professor Colin Riordan, President and Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff University
• Professor Hywel Thomas, School of Engineering, Cardiff University
• Professor John V. Tucker, Computer Science, Swansea University
• Professor Rory Wilson, Aquatic Biology/Sustainable Aquaculture, Swansea University

Regional knowledge hubs

Academia Europaea operates through a network of regional knowledge hubs:

• Barcelona
• Bergen
• Budapest
• Cardiff
• Munich
• Tbilisi
• Wroclaw

The Cardiff Hub

The Cardiff Hub was set up in 2016 after the signing of a collaboration agreement between Academia Europaea and Cardiff University.

The Hub aims to signpost research excellence throughout Europe and benefit the University and wider region by stimulating new linkages and networks of expertise.

Partners

The Hub has been working closely with a range of partners, including:

• International academies, including the Young Academy of Europe, ALLEA (All European Academies), the Royal Society
• Cardiff University’s strategic partners in Europe, including the University of Bremen
• International policy engagement organisations like UPEN (Universities Policy Engagement Network), Research Impact Canada (RIC), Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS) and  South African Higher Education Community Engagement Forum (SAHECEF)
• Welsh Government, the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) and the Learned Society of Wales (LSW)

Our work

We have an ambitious programme of work, aiming to strengthen pan-European scientific collaboration and infrastructure across all disciplines. Supporting policymaking in Europe is an essential part of our mission.

The Hub works on science for policy through the funded project SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies), which is part of the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism. The European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors uses SAPEA reports to make policy recommendations to the Commission. This transparent process ensures that the Commission’s proposals for policy and legislation are evidence-informed.

The Hub is a key partner in the CALIPER project, which promotes gender equality in European research and innovation.

Achievements

The first SAPEA evidence review report, Food from the oceans, was coordinated by the Cardiff Hub. Since then the Hub has led the coordination of two more  evidence reviews on Making sense of science for policy under conditions of complexity and uncertainty and Biodegradability of plastics in the open environment.

Working in partnership with Cardiff University Library Services, the Cardiff Hub manages the process of systematic reviews for the SAPEA project. In 2019, Cardiff conducted a major systematic review for the project Towards an EU sustainable food system. In 2020/21, it produced a mapping review on the Biodegradability of plastics in the open environment and, in 2021/22,  three rapid reviews for Improving Cancer Screening in the European Union.  Cardiff also undertakes topic-related mappings of the European policy landscape, in close cooperation between the Hub and the European Documentation Centre.

The Cardiff Hub has produced a series of videos for the CALIPER project, which feature remarkable women acting as role models for gender equality in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Events

We offer an exciting programme of activities, which are normally free and open to all. Previous events have focused on current topics such as science for policy, innovation in research practices, open science and translational medicine.

More information

Visit the Academia Europaea Cardiff Knowledge Hub website

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