The proposed legislation published by the European Commission (EC) on 11 July reinforces the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), enabling it to impact on innovation policy in member states and on the performance and funding of European institutes of higher education (HEI).  YERUN previously advocated more openness of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), as well as more outreach to and collaboration with non-member HEI.  

A research study (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid - UC3M) analyses the concept of post-truth in terms of a rhetorical stratagem with highly charged ideological and conservative content from a theoretical as well as a social, political and cultural perspective. 

University of Rome Tor Vergata has organised an International Conference on Open Data and Open Access, focusing on archives and digital platforms dedicated to performing arts. This is being an opportunity to connect nationally with the work done within the YERUN WG on Open Science, co-chaired by the Open Science champion Eva Mendez @evamen

Adults consuming whole grain rye have lower plasma serotonin levels than people eating low-fibre wheat bread, according to a recent study by the University of Eastern Finland and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In the study, the consumption of cereal fibre from rye or wheat was also found to reduce serotonin levels in the colon of mice. In light of the results, the health benefits of whole grain cereals may be linked, at least in part, to the alteration of serotonin production in the intestines, where the majority of the body’s serotonin is produced. The results of were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Last 27 and 28 March, Antwerp University organised the YERUN Staff Week on Quality Culture, with the objective of sharing practices among YERUN members within a culture of quality on the areas of Human Resources, Research and Education. Various presentations outlined different practices and described good examples on how to implement the European HR Excellence Strategy for Researchers, on the employability of early career researchers, on maximising the quality research grant applications, or programme evaluations and the impact on quality development, among others.