Month: October 2013

  • Indian summer 2013 in Heidelberg

    Indian summer 2013 in Heidelberg

    By Olga Baklitskaya-Kameneva

    Heidelberg-2013-1

    The last week of September a group of EUSJA journalists attended the Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF). The history of the HLF, where 200 young researchers from 49 different countries met with 39 Laureates of Turing Award, Fields Medal, Abel Prize and Nevanlinna Prize, just begins. The Organizers of the Forum did their best to make the event really interesting and prepared an extensive program in and around Heidelberg. The credo was announced by Dr. Klaus Tschira, a founder of the Klaus Tschira Foundation and inspirer of the HLF: “Mathematics as one of the oldest and computer science as a very new scientific discipline provide the grounds of today’s highly engineered and modern life, and belong to our culture. Their social relevance will continue to grow”. He has started this for the first time and plans for it to be an annual event.

     Of course, it was a fantastic chance not only for the young researchers to get the privilege to attend the Forum but also for the science journalists. You are in the right place at the right time – this idea comes up to you, when you see so many famous outstanding scientists and even can listen to their talks on their award-winning research. The lectures covered a wide range of different topics. For example, one of the first talks has been given by Ray Reddy, one of the pioneers in the artificial intelligence. He received the Turing Award as the highest distinction in computer science in 1994. His topic about who invented computing was a very interesting and unexpected look backward. Or can you imagine how billiard balls on a frictionless surface would bounce off? The answer knows the Fields Medalist Curtis T. McMullen who used computer programs to find unusual structures and patterns. He showed this presentation as a gateway to current research of complex surfaces and spaces. Stephen Smale (Fields Medal) talked about award-winning algorithms that can predict the folding of proteins. His main idea is to introduce a geometry on the space of protein.

    Surprisingly, Leslie Valiant (Nevanlinna Prize and Turing Award) explained how computational learning theory with Darwinian evolution within a computational framework can be applied to determine life. Is our universe deterministic or probabilistic? Awi Wigderson, received the Nevanlinna Prize, talked about difference between these two worlds, using his theory of “pseudorandomness”. Michael Francis Atiyah (Fields Medal and Abel Prize) during his talk gave some advice to young mathematicians. His words are useful for everyone: always be curious, don’t get disheartened in your early years, manage how much you get sidetracked, collaboration is important. One could tell more about all laureates, their lectures really were impressive, but you may watch them on the HLF website (http://www.heidelberg-laureate-forum.org/).

    What about young researchers? The atmosphere during the Forum was quite open. The organizers have prepared for them visits to local institutes and companies, workshops and panel discussions, giving them an opportunity to gain inspiration and exchange ideas. Here is the mix of their impressions: “How approachable all of laureates were!”, “Great experience!”, “I feel extremely lucky to be participating”, “The HLF provided the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”, “It was both inspiring and comforting to hear that many of the Laureates were starting to turn their interests to apply mathematical and computational approaches to disciplines”, “That was an enormous step towards a successful career, fruitful for my own ambitions and dreams”.

    And we, journalists, have got another opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of pure science and communicate to current and future geniuses and, of course, colleagues (thanks to the organizers!). I met my EUSJA friends, many local journalists and colleagues from different countries – the USA, Australia, even from Philippines. We were welcome to take part in the press conferences and interview some of the laureates. The famous French mathematician Cédric Villani, who received the Fields medal for his work on Landau damping and the Boltzmann equation in 2010, had a mini press conference. Most of the reporters like to interview him not only for his romantic poet looking and the large spider brooch he always wears, he is one of the inspiring popularizers of mathematics.

    I was lucky to interview the Russian mathematician Vladimir Voevodsky from the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton whose talk was considered as a “Voevodsky’s mathematical revolution” at the forum. He told about Univalent Foundations of Mathematics. In spite of this inscrutable title it means that Voevodsky with collaborators are developing “software” that mathematicians can use in their research to proof different theories.

    During the event I heard not once how important are for mathematicians the beauty and the «elegance» of any proof, where the different parts mesh together in harmony, like music. And I would say that musical part of the HLF was brilliant: the eccentric saxophone quartet, the jazz concert and, of course, Mozartiana con spirito scientifico, but that’s another story.

     

    Heidelberg-2013-2

    The Heidelberg Laureate Forum is the result of a joint initiative of the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies and the Klaus Tschira Stiftung. The latter has been a supporter of the Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting for many years, and the experience of this event spawned the idea of creating something similar for the two crucial scientific disciplines Mathematics and Computer Science. The Forum was organized by the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation in cooperation with the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the international Mathematical Union (IMU) and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. 

     

  • Support of science journalist

     

    Andrey Allahverdov

    When I heard about imprisoned Greenpeace activists who tried to protest against a powerful Russian gas company in the Arctic I took it as one of numerous political events were happening around us. It was a big shock when I realized that along with 29 others from Arctic Sunrise who were arrested and stayed in a prison of Murmansk to very North of Russia was Andrey Allahverdov, science journalist and a member of our association.

    I believe, many of our colleagues from abroad, especially radio folks remember Andrey – intelligent and very devoted to his profession science journalist. He was very happy when we joined EUSJA, actually it was him who translated our Constitution to English. He participated EUSJA events not once and from every trip he tried to present his audience interesting stories, his broadcasting was always honest and informative. Fine journalist and fine friend! He moved to Greenpeace as its press officer a few months ago. He was doing his job of science journalist when he was arrested. He followed his duties to be a journalist. But he was blamed in “piracy”.
    Yesterday it was a trial in a court. Andrey’s friends hoped that he would be set free from a prison because it was an absurd to blame a journalist who did his job. There were many letters sent to the court of Murmansk. Me too wrote a letter of defense of a member of our association. There was a slender hope that Andrey would get free. But the court left him in prison.

    Journalist cannot be judged for his profession! I ask you for your support, friends! Andrey is not a pirate! He is science journalist. Please rise a voice in defense of your colleague. See below a statement has been drafted in support of Andrey Allahverdov by his friends.

    Andrey Allahverdov1

    Free Radio Journalist Andrey Allakhverdov and the Arctic 30 At this moment, our Russian friend and radio colleague Andrey Allakhverdov is in a jail cell in Murmansk, a city in the far north of Russia. He is there along with 29 others from countries in the CIS, Europe, North America, Australia and Latin America for their participation in a Greenpeace campaign against offshore oil drilling in the Arctic. As a result of a non-violent protest against Gazprom, a Russian gas company that ranks among the world’s largest, their ship was overrun by Russian special forces in international waters. All are now in prison and have been formally charged with ‘piracy’, a crime that brings the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence in Russia. Greenpeace is seeking to raise awareness of the collective plight of those in the so-called ‘Arctic 30’. This is both understandable and admirable. But while we hope to learn about each of these individuals in time, this letter seeks to tell you about one person we know well — Andrey Allakhverdov.

    Andrey would be the first to say he’s no better than most. But if your interests are in radio, media, or the sciences, Andrey is one of those people you’ve either met, or, should to get to know. As a radio producer with Radio Rossiya in the early 1990’s, he produced a national program series about the challenges facing Russia’s environment — receiving prizes and recognition along the way. A skilled linguist dating back to his days as a translator in the Soviet army, Andrey embraced opportunities to promote cultural exchange in every way imaginable. He presented at international media and radio conferences such as the Prix Europa, the International Features Conference, and the Third Coast International Audio Festival. He authored, co-authored, or translated articles and programs for the journal Science, the BBC, and other outlets. He hosted countless visiting foreign journalists and friends to Russia over the years. Most of all, he clued the rest of us into what the story – or joke or idea – was all about. For context has always been important to Andrey. As the editor-in-chief at the Foundation for Independent Radio Broadcasting (FNR) for more than a decade, he mentored hundreds upon hundreds of Russian journalists about the meaning of words. He lectured on journalistic ethics. He berated over grammatical mistakes. He worried over stories that were often not his own. He took late night phone calls. He counseled interns and students. He translated scripts and interviews. He showed us how wide, creative, and diverse the radio medium can be. His affiliation with Greenpeace was not accidental. As a journalist covering the environment, he’d come to view Greenpeace’s work as essential — eventually taking a job with them as a press officer earlier this year.

    Ever the ethicist, Andrey would insist he left the journalism profession under difficult circumstances. And he would be right. Yet to those who know him, Andrey’s new position with Greenpeace made perfect sense. Just as he once did over the airwaves, Andrey was there to tell us stories. About the environment and why it matters. This week, a Russian court formally charged Andrey and all others involved in the case with piracy and held pending trial. We feel these charges unjust and their continued detention unwarranted. While Russian courts are not known for their independence, public awareness of the plight of ‘the Arctic 30’ can impact the outcome of their case. Please join us in supporting efforts to gain their release. We ask that you share this statement and sign this petition: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/arctic-impacts/free-our-activists/) In addition, we are encouraging journalists to consider giving wider attention to the events unfolding in Murmansk. Those wishing to hear more about Andrey’s story should feel free to contact individuals listed below. Thank you for your support. Friends and Colleagues of Andrey Allakhverdov Veronica Dmitriyeva veronica.dmitriyeva@gmail.com +7 985 763 4631 Charles Maynes charlesmaynes@gmail.com +7 926 606 2192 Lena Uporova lenauporova@gmail.com +7 925 139 9581

  • e-e-e-stonia: The new BALTIC TIGER

    e-e-e-stonia: The new BALTIC TIGER

    No, this is not stuttered. The title stands for one of the most advanced e-States on the globe. Everything in Estonia revolves around connectivity and how to beef it up. Spiced up with plenty of sci-tech – with all risks accepted. Welcome to a Baltic tiger state!

    Estonia Skype

    This is where the past meets the future. A medieval town center with cobble stones, constructed by German knights, mixed with concrete structures, leftovers from the Soviet Russian empire: This is how Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, greets visitors from around the world. Charmingly and laid-back, you don’t feel the hustle and bustle of the place.

    This little country of only 1.3 million inhabitants, tucked away between Finland and Russia, wants to become one of the global leaders in science and technology. And it has come a long way. Only few people know that the modern communication revolution started here, in former Reval. Remember, how we used to spend fortunes on long distance phone calls? And for how long telecom had wanted to introduce phones with monitors to see our communication partners?

    Both were resolved, live conferences with partners from all continents, free of charge. And this technology came from Tallinn. The Skype headquarter makes you feel like amidst Silicon Valley, at the rim of the Baltic Sea.

    Its CEO, Tiit Pananen, is one of those modern “hands-on” managers, blond long hair, tall, “just like a Viking”, whispered one of the female journalists, only without horns.

    “Did you know that 34 percent the conversations around the globe are handled by Skype?”, asked Tiit, half of which use the video function.

    E-stonia Skye CEO

    Yes, a communication dream has come true: 320 million people use Skype more than 100 minutes each month, he reveals. And gets into all the complicated techniques how the pictures of the videos are constantly improved with the goal to send them as sharp as possible and in real time, “to see the wonder of all emotions”. A real down-earth person, despite his success and power, who is not afraid of his own emotions and blushes when a journalist asks him about data, which indicates that skype has also triggered a sexual revolution because it enables people to enjoy intimacy over long distances.

    This could have been a good story about Skype. But besides of impressive statistics and intentions to further growth this and other questions were not really answered. Most likely there are no official answers because Estonia’s business model ticks differently with apparently little critical reflection. Anna Piperal, marketing and communication professional of the Estonian ICT Demo Center, presents, again, most surprising figures which show: Almost everything is handled electronically in this Baltic country.

    All schools are connected to the net, 99.8 percent of money transfers are done electronically (which actually makes real money, bills and coins obsolete), 95 percent of the income tax declarations don’t need paper any more, 93 percent of the population has an e-identity which entails: With your ID you run all your electronic operations and have access to everything.

    Estonia waterfront

    Compared to these figures still fairly low, but still a lonesome record in comparison to other countries: 24 percent of the vote in the election of 2011 were cast electronically. And, of course, very comfortable for the visitors: There are more than a thousand public places with open access to the internet.

    Wifi has become an social right in e-stonia!

    Breathtaking: Estonia, until two decades ago a part of the Communist Russia, has become the worldwide hub and a prototype of an e-society. It rests on almost a dozen columns, for example: e-banking, e-pensions, e-schools, e-voting, e-parking, e-police, e-health, e-diagnoses, e-prescriptions and the latest, “because we want to save trees”, argues Anna: e-receipts. Unique in the world:

    “In only 20 minutes you have opened your business”, she explains, of course electronically.

    While Estonia has turned into a big lab for the totally electronically organized society of the future, which makes it very interesting for many companies, one gnawing question remains: What about the security of the data and the data flows? Is big brother watching, reading, listening? Some journalists raised the question of data security within Estonia. Between citizens, banks, governmental agencies the information flow is so well encoded that abuse is impossible, is the official answer.

    Estonia Chips PRODUCTION

    Less than a thousand kilometers away at Moscow airport the NSA leaker Ed Snowdon is waiting for a country to grant him asylum. In the US, he could be accused for high treason and eventually end up on the electric chair. After weeks of alarming disclosures it seems that our data is unsafer than ever. No answers in Estonia, only an uneasiness that this question has never been pondered by the political, economical and academic leadership of this country as well as its civil society.

    The Skype Headquarters visit was embedded in 14 visits to University laboratories and institutions of the Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Tartu. It turned out a scientific firework, everything was well explained, in mostly perfect English, by friendly and open researchers who seem to be really devoted to what they are doing.

    Estonia Robot Fish

    No doubt, Estonia is not only being driven by the ambition  to become the most advanced e-society of the world, but the entire country is a hotbed of innovation, with also some very visionary perspectives. Professor Maarja Kruusmaa, for example,  investigates robotic fish. A sea vessel constructed like a fish “could harvest the energy of the ocean”, she explains, such as eddies and use them to move forward.

    The next day in Tartu, close to the Russian border, is divided between life sciences and astronomy. Professor Andres Metspalu, Director of the Estonian Genome Center, advocates “a gene chip for every adult Estonian who wants to have it”. He believes that many people would change their habits if they learned their disease risks.

    Will ailments also be registered on the electronic ID of every citizen and what does that do to insurances? Metspalu answer was pragmatical:

    “We have the obligation to inform people about their risks.” Ignoring it, despite the scientific knowledge, would be like watching someone on the rail while the train approaches and not reacting, he said.

    Tartu’s famous historical observatory is a must for any scientific study trip to Estonia. In the 19. century it became the first point in the geodetic arc. The old telescopes takes visitors back to the age of discovery. Nowadays satellites are much more efficient and they look all the way to the edge of the universe. As of May this year Estonia is a space nation with its own satellite, as rocket scientist Mart Noorma proudly pronounced in the observatory.

    Estonia E-Sails

    The next one will be one with “e-sails”, he explained, panels which use the electrically charged solar wind as a means of propulsion. His colleague, Priit Kull, pitched in and presented a self-deployable habitat for extreme environments, on earth or in space. Both, self-sustaining satellites and habitats have been under study by NASA and ESA, without results so far. Perhaps Estonia will show the US and Europe how to implement these visions. After all, their researchers seem to reach out, in any field for the skies.

    Which leads to the question, many times asked: What is the motivation for this strive and excellency? On the way to the ferry back to Helsinki one participant offered an answer:

    “Estonians must feel like David against Goliath, surrounded by powerful nations.”

    20 years ago the bells of freedom rang. The harsh grip of the Soviet regime vanished. Finland rose and declined significantly during the last years. Now the time has come for the Estonian miracle.

    The Baltic Tiger has a heart. This is Jaak Aaviksoo, Estonian Minister of Education and Research. He joined the group for lunch (he is the tallest in the picture below), very unpretentious on this hot summer day, without body guards and entourage. He was so casual that a colleague thought he was a waiter and asked him whether the windows could be opened. He just laughed.

    Estonia Minister.neu

    Estonia’s second most important decision maker right next to the prime minister is always fully accessible, joins the country’s science journalists for debate on scientific issues and, of course, is part of an “e-Cabinet” which e-estonia.com describes like this:

    “The multi-user database and scheduler has cut weekly cabinet meetings from 4-5 hours to just 30-90 minutes. It offers remote participation and paperless handling of all governmental tasks.”

    e-e-e-stonia at its best.

    Presentation Anna Piperal, Estonian ICT Demo Center
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/a5qx7wlmd8m68cl/20120822%20Estonian%20ICT%20%26%20DC%20New_%20ENG.pptx

    MAJOR FIELDS of Estonian Sci-Tech

    • New photovoltaic cells, CHEAP & ROBUST. Monograin powders lead to monograin layer design. Enn Mellikov, Dept. of Material Science, Tallinn University of Technology, ennm@staff.ttu.ee
    • Optimized fairways for sea traffic, more ECONOMICAL & ECOLOGICAL. Tarmo Soomere, Wave Engineering Dept, Tallinn University of Technology , tarmo.soomere@cs.ioc.ee
    • Robotic Fish: Using the currents and dynamics of the sea – design and technology of future boats.  Maarja Kruusmaa: Center of Biorobotics, Tallinn, maarja.kruusmaa@ttu.ee
    • Upcycled clothes, WASTE REDUCTION 50 %! Reet Aus – Estonian Academy of Art, reet@ausdesign.ee
    • Gene Chip for every Estonian to educate on health risks. Andres Metspalu, Estonian Genom Center, Unversity of Tartu, andres.metspalu@ut.ee
    • Historians’ new tool: Population genetics research. Mari Järve, Estonian Biocentre, marijarve@ut.ee
    • Graphene wonders, one atom thick. Harry Alles, Inst. of Physics, University of Tartu, harry@fi.tartu.ee
    • How plants contribute to climate change. Role of trace gas emissions. Ülo Niinemets, Inst. of Agriculture and environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, yloniinemets@emu.ee
    • Genetic changes make animals produce human insulin and other pharmaceutical substances. Mario Plaas, Inst. of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Tartu, Mario.plaas@ut.ee
    • Space Nation Estonian: Its first satelite uses electric solar wind sails. Mart Norma, Science & Technology, Tartu University, mart.norma@ut.ee
    • Self-deployable habitat for extreme Environments  (on earth or in space). Priit Kull, Inst. of Technology, University of Tartu, priit.kull@ut.ee

    RESPECTIVE PRESENTATIONS

    Entire Program of the  Science Journalists Trip to Tallinn and Tartu
    http://www.etag.ee/international-research-cooperation/research-journalists-trip-to-tallinn-and-tartu/?lang=en

    Download of the Guide to Estonian Research >>>
    a very handy digest for all science journalists:
    http://de.scribd.com/doc/153852180/Estonian-Research

    The two-day study trip right after WCSJ 2013 to Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, and the university town of Tartu was organized by the Estonian Association of Science Journalists and the Estonian Research Council and was funded by the European Regional Development Fund.  The persons in charge Priit Ennet, President of the Estonian Association of Science Journalists (2nd r.), Karin Patune  (r.), Estonian Research Council, and Aare Baumer (2nd l. with Minister of Research, l), Energy Discovery Center, deserve hearty thanks!

     

    Estonia Organizers m. Minister

     

    Photos (c): W.C. Goede, group picture (c) Estonian Assoc. of Science Journalists