This content has been created by the European Science-Media Hub Team.
Contributor: ESMH
Civic AI: Reconnecting citizens with EU democracy
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way societies communicate, organise information and participate in public debate. At the same time, many European citizens still feel disconnected from EU decision-making, often perceiving Brussels as distant, complex and difficult to access. Can digital technologies help close that democratic gap? And if so, under what conditions? A STOA ...
The future of science journalism: AI, trust and democracy
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way information is created, distributed and consumed. Newsrooms are experimenting with AI-powered tools, audiences are increasingly exposed to algorithmically curated content, and concerns about misinformation continue to grow. At the same time, public trust in institutions, media and scientific expertise is being tested. In this rapidly evolving landscape, science journalism ...
ESMH Summer School 2026: Science Communication in the age of Artificial Intelligence
On 22-25 June 2026, the European Science-Media Hub (ESMH) of the European Parliament held its sixth Summer School for young science journalists and content creators in Brussels, following a call for application published earlier this year. The 2026 ESMH Summer School focused on science communication in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). It explored the ...
Towards a planetary boundary framework
In 2009, a team, led by the climate scientist Prof Johan Rockström, identified nine natural processes that regulate Earth’s biosphere and keep it stable. These include climate change, biosphere integrity, land-system change, freshwater change, biogeochemical flows, novel entities, ocean acidification, stratospheric ozone depletion and aerosol loading. For each of these processes the team defined the ...
Academic Freedom in Europe: safeguarding democracy, science and innovation
Academic freedom and democracy are not parallel values — they are interdependent. Where democracy weakens, academic freedom erodes. And where academic freedom is constrained, democracy itself is undermined. This is the central question that brought together policymakers, researchers and institutional leaders at the House of European History on March 4th, for the annual STOA high-level ...
Planetary health: a critical discipline for the future
Seven of nine planetary boundaries have now been breached which means that humanity is pushing Earth's critical support systems beyond their safe operating limits. The consequences are not distant threats but present realities: destabilized ecosystems, compromised food security, and mounting risks to human health and well-being. Planetary health has emerged as the scientific discipline that ...
The future of water availability and use in the EU: A STOA foresight study
Water is essential for life, food production, energy supply, and economic activity. Yet Europe increasingly faces a water crisis, with droughts and floods compromising both water quality and quantity across the continent. Climate change is already affecting water availability, and the situation is expected to worsen. Many EU regions face a growing mismatch between water ...
Unveiling the human exposome: A new frontier in environmental health science
While genomics has revolutionised our understanding of hereditary health conditions, research suggests that up to 90% of disease risks are actually linked to environmental exposures rather than genetics alone. Improved understanding and prevention of chronic illnesses, which account for most healthcare costs in Europe, can be achieved by focusing on the human exposome: the measure ...