Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, researchers at Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands have for the first time detected dimethyl ether in a planet-forming disc. With nine atoms, this is the largest molecule identified in such a disc to date. It is also a precursor of larger organic molecules that can lead to the emergence of life.

“From these results, we can learn more about the origin of life on our planet and therefore get a better idea of the potential for life in other planetary systems. It is very exciting to see how these findings fit into the bigger picture,” says Nashanty Brunken, a Master’s student at Leiden Observatory, part of Leiden University, and lead author of the study published today in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Dimethyl ether is an organic molecule commonly seen in star-forming clouds, but had never before been found in a planet-forming disc. The researchers also made a tentative detection of methyl formate, a complex molecule similar to dimethyl ether that is also a building block for even larger organic molecules.

Read more here

Welcome to the recap of the new and improved season of #ENRIITCyourCoffee. As Anne-Charlotte Joubert, ENRIITC project coordinator and Grant Officer at the European Spallation Source (ESS) declares at the beginning of our coffee break: We are already at season five! At the season’s inaugural coffee break we had the pleasure to hear from Sven Fahrner, Project Manager at Forschungszentrum Jülich–EMPHASIS on the topic of RI-VIS project.

While RI-VIS ended earlier this year, there is much to learn and share. Sven was kind enough to share the parts of the project dealing with industry cooperation beyond Europe.

Sven summarises the aim of the project as increasing the visibility of research infrastructures beyond Europe and form sustainable global partnerships and access to services and expertise.

Below are the resources that Sven introduced that are the most relevant to the ENRIITC community:

1. Communication Strategy

A step-by-step approach on how scientific institutions could come up with their own communications strategy to target different stakeholders such as industry (see Sven talk about this in the video at 05:18). This tool has been developed with the help of global experts.

2. Communication Toolkit

A more specific collection of resources for the research infrastructures (RIs) to come up with their own methods of communication. This includes tips on websites, social media and style guides. See the segment in the video at 06:57 including the three key pieces of advice when targeting the private sector.

3. White papers

These three white papers have gathered recommendations from the three large regions RI-VIS had its symposia: Africa, Australia and Latin-America. These are gathered from interviews with experts in the given regions and their suggestions for best practices and good advice to policymakers or RI representatives. See what other key pieces of information are gathered in these white papers in the video at 10:27.

4. Communicator Community

This is a network developed by the project and maintained on the Slack platform. The value of this is further explained by Sven at 12:58.

All the resources Sven demonstrated are available on RI-VIS.eu under the tab Resources.

Find out what our audience thought of these resources and who is already on Slack at 16:17 in the video.

Our next coffee break will be on Thursday 7 April 2022 at our usual time of 15:00. Stay tuned for more details!

In preparation for the ICRI2022 congress (Brno, 19-21 October 2022; https://www.icri2022.cz/) and the given opportunity to organise a side event, MOSBRI infrastructure (https://www.mosbri.eu/), together with several Horizon2020-funded INFRAIA research infrastructures, has successfully proposed to the conference organisers to set-up a side event on the topic “Mid and long-term sustainability of Horizon2020-funded INFRAIA Research Infrastructures”.

The objective is to bring together many “starting” and “advanced” community Horizon2020-funded research infrastructures, together with stakeholders from the European Commission and ESFRI, and representatives of authorities responsible of the national roadmaps for research infrastructures.

The side event will include a small number of preliminary presentations, followed by a round table allowing everyone to participate to the discussion and brainstorming on this topic of general interest.

MOSBRI Scientific coordinator, Patrick England, invites you to reach out directly to him (patrick.england@pasteur.fr) expressing your interest to participate in this bottom-up event either in person or on line before 24 March.

More information on MOSBRI can be found here: www.mosbri.eu

If you think you can provide an advanced analytical technique that is of interest for science-driven SMEs and/or large industrial R&D departments, tell us about your skills and ideas and join us for the CAROTS 2.0 STARTUP SCHOOL for Scientific Service Companies!

Are you…

• a scientist or engineer with experience in an advanced analytical method?
• interested in bridging the gap between science and industry by providing consulting services based on advanced scientific measurement methods?
• playing with the idea of becoming a #sciencepreneur and turning your skills into a business??
  

The focus of the CAROTS Startup School is on practical knowledge transfer. To this end, experienced CEOs of successful scientific service companies will share their knowledge with the Startup School participants in facilitated webinars and 1-to-1 coaching sessions from May until the end of October 2022.

After completing the programme participants will write a short business plan/ canvas and pitch their idea in front of a jury. Deadline for application is 21st March 2022.

Read more and register here!