The current circumstances are unprecedented: the outbreak of the Covid-19 is putting our communities, our countries, and the whole globe under great pressure, forcing us to re-think our habits, our priorities, our way of working and collaborating. 

The YERUN office would like to express its full support to its members, which are working tirelessly to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak, ensuring to the greatest possible extent the continuation of their activities, providing online solutions and services and, most importantly, guaranteeing the wellbeing of their students and staff. In light of these developments, together collectively, we have therefore decided to postpone our upcoming meetings to a later date or, whenever possible, hold them in an online format. 

The YERUN office stays at full disposal of its members for any support they might need and wishes them all the best in this challenging moment. 

According to four top scientists, plasma will play a crucial role in how we tackle climate change. “With the help of plasma, we can convert methane, CO₂ and nitrogen into renewable fuels and new chemicals in a sustainable way”, explains Annemie Bogaerts, professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Antwerp. The European Research Council is investing ten million in the research.

Despite uncertainties on the future of post-Brexit academic cooperation, YERUN members continue to promote research collaboration across the Channel. Between 30-31  January 2020, 11 early career and established researchers from the University of Essex have visited the University of Konstanz and explored new research opportunities.

"Research has always been a truly trans-boundary endeavour. YERUN provides a unique network of outstanding European universities. In a post-Brexit uncertainty it will be of vital importance to stay united." These are the words of Prof. Dr. Michael Stürner, Vice Rector for Teaching and Curricular Affairs at the University of Konstanz.

Humans, throughout history, have played a variety of games that are often embedded in a particular culture. Games also serve as social lubricants that help people interact with one another across cultural, linguistic, and other social boundaries. But while there exists ample evidence of games in the archaeological and historical records, we know very little about how these games were actually played until relatively recently, creating huge gaps in our knowledge of this important part of our cultural heritage.