This document discusses the European Academies' Science Advisory Council (EASAC) and its work reviewing science and technology to inform European policymaking. It provides details on EASAC's membership of national science academies across Europe and observer organizations. The document lists EASAC reports from 2011-2013 on topics including synthetic biology, infectious diseases, biofuels and more. It outlines current EASAC projects on issues like extreme weather, nuclear fuel cycles, and providing off-grid energy in developing countries. The document also briefly describes the Biosciences for Farming in Africa project and its funders, the John Templeton Foundation and Malaysian Commonwealth Studies Centre.

1. New technologies for off-grid
villages – a look ahead
Cambridge Workshop 15 January 2014
Professor Sir Brian Heap
EASAC Past President
MCSC Scientific Adviser
St Edmund‘s College
Cambridge CB3 0BN
UK
MALAYSIAN COMMONWEALTH
STUDIES CENTRE at CAMBRIDGE (MCSC)

2. The mission of EASAC
• To identify by horizon-scanning upcoming issues for which
science and technology could play a key role
• To review and critique the latest science and technology for
the formulation of evidence-based policies within Europe
institutions
• To raise questions about policies and programmes that do not
take into account the scientific evidence
207/02/2014

3. EASAC Membership
• 24 National Academies of Science of EU Member States (not
Malta, Luxemburg, Cyprus)
• One pan-European Academy of Science (Academia Europaea)
• The association of all Academies in geographical Europe (ALLEA)
• Observer: Federation European Academies of Medicine (FEAM)

4. EASAC reports and statements 2011-2013
 Realising European Potential in Synthetic Biology (Jan 2011)
 EU Public Health & Innovation Policy for Infectious Disease (Apr 2011)
 Impact of Nanomaterials on Health (with JRC, Oct 2011)
 Infectious diseases and the future: policies for Europe (Oct 2011)
 Concentrating Solar Power: its potential contribution to a sustainable energy
future (Oct 2011)
 Plant Genetic Resources for food and agriculture (December 2011)
 Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing (with FEAM, July 2012)
 The Current Status of Biofuels in the EU (December 2012)
 Carbon Capture and Storage in Europe (May 2013)
 Planting the Future: crop genetic improvement technologies (June 2013)

5. Current EASAC projects
• Extreme Weather Events in Europe (November 2013)
• Nuclear Fuel Cycle (January 2014; with JRC)
• The need for new anti-microbial drugs
• Breakthrough technologies for a low carbon economy
• Marine Sustainability in Europe
• Space Exploration
• AND ongoing collaboration with Network of African Science
Academies (NASAC) on dialogue between science and policy, and a
new initiative on the provision of off-grid energy in developing
countries (smart villages)

6. www.b4fa.org
Biosciences for farming in Africa

7. B4FA – The Project
3 years long
Encourage dialogue and understanding
– Biosciences
– Farming
– Africa

8. What does B4FA consist of ?
 Insights
 Media Development Fellowships
 Series of studies on extension services
and innovation farms
 Finding synergies with others

9. Funders
John Templeton Foundation
focus on the big questions of human purpose and ultimate reality. The
Foundation takes a particular interest in how genetics might serve to
empower individuals, leading to spiritually beneficial social and cultural
changes.
Malaysia Commonwealth Studies Centre at
Cambridge
focus on affordable education, affordable healthcare, sustainable
development, food security, mitigating climate change, the promotion of
electoral democracy and good governance.