prevention
A scientist’s opinion: interview with Prof. Juan Picos about solutions against wildfires
How can we make the European landscape more resilient to wildfires? Experts are testing out different prevention strategies on different areas through predictive models and computer simulations. One of them is Prof. Juan Picos from the University of Vigo (Spain), co-coordinator of the cross-border EU-funded FIREPOCTEP+ project. He will speak at the workshop ‘Nature-based solutions ...
Solutions to make Europe more resilient to raging wildfires
Fuelled by climate change and a shift in land-use practices, wildfires are increasing in number and intensity across Europe. In fact, last year was the worst year for wildfires in Europe in 20 years, according to an EUMETSAT report. Its authors contribute the intensity of the fires to factors like increasingly dry vegetation, low soil ...
The changing attitudes of Generation Z towards substance use and risky behaviours
For approximately 30 years, the Italian National Research Council has partnered with the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) to survey more than 113,800 students aged 15–16 across Europe to monitor adolescent risk behaviours. The latest findings reveal that, although cannabis, alcohol, and traditional cigarettes use among European teenagers has steadily declined, new behavioural and health ...
A scientist’s opinion: interview with Dr Margreet de Looze on adolescent health and risk behaviours
Margreet de Looze is an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Science at Utrecht University. Her research examines how social and cultural contexts shape young people’s health and well-being, with a particular focus on adolescent substance use, mental health, and sexual health. Over the past 17 years, her interdisciplinary and cross-national research has documented how adolescent ...
A scientist’s opinion: interview with Dr Sabrina Molinaro on substance use among adolescents
Sabrina Molinaro is the Director of the Laboratory of Epidemiology and Health Services Research at the Institute of Clinical Physiology of the National Research Council (IFC-CNR) in Italy. Over the years, she has conceived and led more than 50 research projects, including both competitive (European and national) calls and institutional collaborations with the Presidency of ...
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 ...
A scientist’s opinion: Interview with Dr. Francisca Vargas Lopes about the mental health of young people
A woman sitting on the floor in front of a couchWHO data show that young people aged 18-29 are 30% to 80% more likely to report symptoms of depression or anxiety than adults. What are the primary reasons for this, and how have these trends evolved? Francisca Vargas Lopes: I think this is a very ...
A scientist’s opinion: Interview with Hannes Jarke about the mental health of young people
WHO data show that young people aged 18-29 are 30% to 80% more likely to report symptoms of depression or anxiety than adults. What are the primary reasons for this, and how have these trends evolved? Hannes Jarke: This is a highly complex issue. The answer depends on which country and what other determinants we're ...