Climate impact research needs more real-world data

Radboud University Nijmegen

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European cities are experimenting with hundreds of climate solutions, from green roofs to electric vehicles, all in the hopes of adapting to the warmer world around us. But despite more and more research on these solutions, we still only barely have an idea of what actually works in practice. That’s according to a study published in Environmental Research Letters today, co-authored by researchers at Radboud University.

The study reviewed more than 1600 papers about climate mitigation and adaption measures in more than 1200 European cities. “We wanted to identify which climate actions work best in which type of city, and what cities can learn from each other,” explains Natascha Wagner, one of the authors of the study, professor of Development Economics at Radboud University and director of the Global Data Lab. 

Comparing similar cities 

“Something that works for a big, growing metropolis in Spain might not work for a shrinking, older town in Poland. They may face very different problems: Southern Europe is dealing with extremely high temperatures and water scarcity, while Eastern European cities are more likely to be affected by flooding and high-intensity industrial emissions”, adds Olexiy Kyrychenko, assistant professor at Radboud and a co-author. “By looking at cities with similar characteristics across Europe, policymakers can get a better understanding of what measures might succeed, because they’re already successful in comparable locations.” 

However, the researchers also realized that the studies they looked at were rather fragmented. Wagner: “One study looks at electric vehicles in one specific city, while another might look at renewing the infrastructure in a different, completely dissimilar location. That makes it a lot harder to identify broader patterns, and to learn from what works.”  

 More observational data needed 

In addition to being fragmented, most of the studies were based on models and simulations, rather than on observations of real-world outcomes. Wagner points out that those studies often provide limited insights into the effectiveness of adaptation and mitigation strategies: “Some models are based on situations that are extremely unlikely to happen in the real world, such as a study on what would happen if the entire population of a city like Amsterdam switched to vegan food.“ 

If we want climate policy to be more effective, we need observational data, the researchers argue. “Many studies estimate what should happen under certain assumptions, but we have far fewer assessments of what happens on the ground. To understand possible changes, we need local data on behaviour, health, mobility and environmental conditions, for example”, says Kyrychenko. Wagner adds: “What we need now, in particular in response to the recent heat wave, is the systematic collection of observational data across cities to determine what truly works, under which conditions, and for whom. The next step for climate research isn’t necessarily about developing more new solutions, but about evaluation existing ones more rigorously.”  

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Journal

Environmental Research Letters

DOI

10.1088/1748-9326/ae7e97 

Article Title

Climate mitigation and adaptation strategies tailored for different types of European cities: a typology and associated systematic review

Transport transition for Berlin, heat protection for Tirana: new study identifies suitable climate measures for European cities

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)

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For the study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, the researchers classified 1,263 European cities into four city types based on shared characteristics – metropolitan, established, growing, and shrinking cities – and linked these with a systematic review of 1,613 studies on urban climate mitigation and adaptation measures. This allowed them to identify which mitigation and adaptation measures are particularly suitable for cities with similar climatic, infrastructural, and socioeconomic conditions:

• Rapidly growing cities in Southern and Southeastern Europe, such as Tirana and Barletta, need infrastructure investment in heat protection and water management.

• Economically established cities such as Landshut and Seville should advance building retrofits, urban greening, and the transport transition.

• Metropolises such as Paris and London particularly benefit from electrification, expanded public transport, and early warning systems for heat and other extreme events.

• In shrinking cities in Eastern Europe, such as Daugavpils and Bydgoszcz, nature-based solutions and infrastructure upgrades can contribute to climate action and flood protection.

 

“Rapidly growing cities in Southern and Southeastern Europe are already heavily affected by heat and have less urban greenery to mitigate heat stress,” says lead author Mira Kopp, a PIK researcher. “In addition to the necessary adaptation to climate risks, affluent cities in particular bear a significant responsibility to reduce emissions and thus protect the climate. This requires creative approaches and active public participation to drive the transition to environmentally friendly modes of transport and the retrofitting of existing buildings.”

 

The findings can also be applied to Berlin: with its “Baumgesetz” (tree law), the metropolis aims to plant more than 400,000 additional street trees. “This can help slightly mitigate heatwaves,” says Felix Creutzig, PIK researcher and co-author of the study. “But overall, Berlin is not on track to meet even its moderate 2030 climate targets with current measures. There is a lack of policy instruments to achieve emissions reductions, particularly in the transport sector.”

Kopp, M., Montfort, S., Pflieger, G., Wagner, N., Kyrychenko, O., Nogherotto, R., Zharova, A., Baklanov, A., Cheval, S., Nair, A., Ulpiani, G., Aue, T., Creutzig, F. (2026): Climate mitigation and adaptation strategies tailored for different types of European cities: A typology and associated systematic review. Environmental Research Letters. [DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ae7e97]

Link: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ae7e97

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Journal

Environmental Research Letters

DOI

10.1088/1748-9326/ae7e97 

Method of Research

Literature review

Article Title

Climate mitigation and adaptation strategies tailored for different types of European cities: A typology and associated systematic review.

Article Publication Date

14-Jul-2026

 

Radical reform of resident doctor training required to reduce prescribing errors, UK parliamentarians told

Taylor & Francis policy briefing at Sense about Science Evidence Week highlights positive impact of feedback in education programs

Taylor & Francis Group

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A cost-effective training intervention that halves prescribing errors by newly qualified doctors has been presented to UK parliamentarians, highlighting a need for radical reform of medical education to protect patient safety.

In their first two years after graduation, resident doctors are currently twice as likely as other healthcare professionals to make prescribing errors. However, new evidence presented by Taylor & Francis during Sense about Science Evidence Week demonstrates that incorporating structured, video-enhanced feedback into training programs can dramatically reduce these mistakes.

Taylor & Francis partnered with Rakesh Patel, Professor of Medical Education and Director of Undergraduate Medicine at the School of Medicine, St Mary's University, to highlight the policy implications of his research, published in the journal Medical Teacher.

Professor Patel and his co-authors investigated the impact of incorporating personalized, structured, video-enhanced feedback into resident doctor training. The study found that this approach closes the performance gap between novice and experienced prescribers.

The intervention is cost-effective and scalable, demonstrating how evidence-based educational design can drive measurable improvements in clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Several key policy implications were presented at Evidence Week, including the need for accreditation of prescribing competence to shift emphasis from covering the curriculum, or passing an examination alone, to also demonstrating safe prescribing performance metrics in practice.

“This evidence makes clear that education without structured feedback is not enough. Newly qualified doctors need training that develops safe prescribing behaviours in real clinical uncertainty, supported by personalised feedback and performance data,” said Professor Patel. “Scaling this approach across Foundation Training would be a practical, cost-effective step towards reducing avoidable harm and improving patient safety across the NHS.”

Professor Patel added: “I was really encouraged by the interest shown by parliamentarians in this vital topic and I hope they will seriously consider the clear policy implications, in the interests of patients and resident doctors themselves.”

Evidence Week, now in its ninth year, is run by the campaigning charity Sense about Science, in partnership with communities and research institutions from across the UK. During the week, MPs meet with leading scientists to get the latest insights on pressing issues covering topics as varied as clean energy to AI sovereignty. It is an opportunity for the public, parliamentarians and researchers to come together to share knowledge and insights.

Tracey Brown, Chief Executive of Sense about Science, said: “Between elections, Parliament is responsible for the checks and balances on government policy, for making sure that policy matches the real world and that it is based on sound evidence. Evidence Week offers politicians the chance to engage with leading research groups to discuss their latest findings and tools in rapid-fire briefings that fit between parliamentary business.”

Visitors to the Taylor & Francis Evidence Week pod included Dr Peter Prinsley MP, Baroness Coffey, Baroness Grey-Thompson, Baroness Stuart and The Lord Bishop of Manchester.

 

Tips to help teachers in 21st century classrooms

New book provides valuable advice for teachers

t

Flinders University

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Where to Now? Teaching in the 21st Century is a research-informed book roviding in-depth discussions of teaching, from junior primary to Year 10 levels, while identifying and addressing the multi-faceted challenges that pre-service and early career teachers can face.

Dr Loretta Bowshall-Freeman, co-author of the book and Deputy Teaching Program Director (Education) at Flinders University’s College of Human Sciences and Culture, says the role of teachers has expanded in recent years – and key strategies are required to help pre-service and early career teachers navigate professional challenges while they also maintain focus on teaching priorities.

“This extends beyond the classroom. It includes ways to support pre-service and early career teachers as they prepare for a new teaching role, day-to-day and long-term professional logistic solutions, and effective approaches for working with curriculum and education policies,” says Dr Bowshall-Freeman.

The book also examines how teachers can prepare for new roles within their teaching responsibilities, embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, navigate curriculum and policy demands, manage classrooms effectively, and design inclusive, engaging and assessable learning opportunities.

It explores strategies for professional collaboration and networking to sustain long-term growth and reflective practice – and also provides case studies, recommended readings and guided responses.

“Teaching today is not a script that teachers simply follow. In every lesson, teachers are reading the room, noticing who is engaging, who is struggling, who’s thinking is emerging, and what needs to happen next,” says book co-author and Flinders University colleague Dr Rozi Binte Rahmat.

“This book was written for those real classroom moments, offering practical, research-informed strategies that help teachers make confident and responsive decisions.”

Teaching Strategies in the 21st Century supports new educators to transition into their roles with confidence, while laying the foundations for a reflective, adaptive and student-centred practice.

“My work in assessment has always reminded me that teaching is not just about what teachers do, but about how students experience learning,” says Dr Rozi. “A strategy is only powerful when it helps teachers notice student thinking, respond to different needs, and create opportunities for all learners to show what they know and can do. That is the kind of practical, responsive teaching this book supports.”

The book – Teaching Strategies in the 21st Century: Where to Now?, by Loretta Bowshall-Freeman, Rozi Binte Rahmat and Michael Colbung (published by Cambridge University Press) – is available as an eBook from 16 July, with hardcopy versions available from 30 July.

 

Films shape the way we remember World War II and Soviet repression

Estonian Research Council

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Hanna Maria Aunin, Tallinn University

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Credit: Marten Puidak, Tallinn University

Films are often watched for entertainment, but beyond providing a pastime, they also play an important role in shaping people’s memories. Moreover, films also shape how society in general remembers its history. Hanna Maria Aunin’s research reveals that post-Soviet Estonian films tend to gloss over certain difficult historical topics.

 

Hanna Maria Aunin, a recent PhD graduate from Tallinn University’s School of Humanities, studied post-Soviet Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian films from the late 1980s to the present day in her doctoral thesis, examining how World War II and the Soviet past are depicted in these films, and what conclusions can be drawn from this about the cultures of remembrance in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The research reveals that stories of victimhood and resistance dominate Baltic films, while more complex topics, such as the Holocaust and collaboration with the Nazi occupying forces, are addressed considerably less frequently.

 

Stories of victimhood and resistance dominate

The research highlights that narratives of victimhood and resistance – particularly films dealing with deportation and Estonian partisans – are widespread in Baltic cinemas. Violence is often portrayed in these films as an external force, with the focus on so-called innocent victims – that is, women and children. The analysis also demonstrates how the memory of the deportation and its portrayal have changed over time.

Early films, such as Awakening (1989, Jüri Sillart), address the historical complexities associated with the mass deportations. They focus on local collaborators and new settlers, and the events are depicted from the perspective of the people responsible for deportation.

In contrast, 21st-century films such as In the Crosswind (2014, Martti Helde) and The Chronicles of Melanie (2016, Viesturs Kairišs), focus on the victims’ experience and individual trauma. The films draw a connection between the Holocaust and the Soviet mass deportations to convey the gravity of the deportation memory to an international audience and to highlight its significance in the Baltic states. From an ethical standpoint, however, such comparisons are questionable and highlight the challenges involved in translating national memories to a broader world.

 

The complexities of history that are avoided

There are also significant differences between the Baltic cinemas: while Lithuanian and Latvian filmmakers have produced numerous documentaries and some feature films focusing on the Holocaust and local collaboration with the German occupying forces, Estonia has no full-length feature films addressing these topics at all.

The analysis suggests that many films reinforce dominant narratives of memory, while avoiding engagement with the complexities of history.

 

Films play an important role in remembering history

In the study of cultural memory, film has taken somewhat of a back seat to biographies, literature, art and monuments. Hanna Maria Aunin’s research fills this gap by placing Baltic films within the context of both local and international memory culture. Her thesis shows that films play an important role in diversifying narratives of memory and introducing the history of the Baltic states to an international audience. It is important to recognise that films do not merely reflect the past, but actively help shape what is remembered and how.

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DOI

10.60518/etera/147 

Method of Research

Observational study

 

Ancient Egyptian princesses born 4,000 years ago were skilled archers, new study shows

Strong muscle attachments and healed fractures show that royal women could use the weapons they were buried with — but also that high status didn’t prevent hardship

Frontiers

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The dagger buried with Princess Ita. Photograph by Sameh Abdel Mohsen, Egyptian Museum photographer.

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Credit: Sameh Abdel Mohsen

For decades, scientists have disputed the meaning of the weapons found in the burial chambers of some ancient Egyptian princesses. Were they symbolic or practical tools? Now a reassessment of five royal women’s mummies from the Middle Kingdom has shown that some princesses buried with weapons could use them.  

“Members of the royal family, especially the women, were active participants in skilled, physically demanding activities such as archery and hunting,” said Dr Zeinab Hashesh, lead author of the article in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology. “This conclusion is supported by the way their bones developed to sustain heavy muscle use, which corresponds directly to the weapons discovered in their tombs.” 

Rediscovered skeletons 

The researchers studied six royal mummies found at Dahshur, a funerary complex of pyramids and shaft tombs, in the 1890s. These mummies had been lost for years, and were rediscovered in the Egyptian Museum during a curation project in 2020.  

Four of the six were sisters, daughters of the pharaoh Amenemhat II, buried in matching underground chambers: Princess Ita next to Princess Khenmet, and Princess Itaweret alongside an anonymous woman provisionally identified as Princess Sathathormeryt. They were buried with items like bows and arrows which are traditionally associated with men; Princess Ita’s coffin contained a particularly beautiful dagger. Similar regalia was buried with the other two royals evaluated: Princess Noub-Hotep and King Hor. 

Although all six had been carefully mummified, the soft tissue had turned into powder, and some of the bones weren’t preserved. Unfortunately, this includes the princesses’ skulls, which were lost in the early 1900s. However, the remaining bones were in good condition, which allowed the archaeologists to estimate individuals’ age at death, height, and sex, as well as to uncover evidence of illnesses or injuries.  

“Princess Ita was a young woman aged between 28 and 34 with strong upper-body muscle attachments, suggesting she habitually used weapons like maces or daggers,” said Hashesh. “Princess Khenmet was a woman in her late 30s or 40s who showed signs of thinning bones, but had very robust ligament attachments. Princess Itaweret was a young woman aged between 20 and 34 who survived broken ribs and foot fractures; her skeleton shows she was a skilled archer.”  

The robust muscle attachments on the sisters’ bones indicate that they were highly physically active in ways that align with the use of the weapons in their burials. Similar evidence shows that Princess Noub-Hotep and King Hor were also archers.  

“We found pronounced development in the upper limbs of these individuals, which correlates to repetitive, high-intensity actions like pulling a bowstring or stabilizing a weapon, proving these activities were habitual throughout their lives,” explained Hashesh. “This directly explains the presence of bows, arrows, and maces in the women’s tombs; these were not just symbolic gifts but tools they actively used.” 

Injuries, like Princess Itaweret’s broken ribs — probably caused by a blow or a fall from a height — were common, while several individuals had infections and nutritional deficiencies. The sisters also shared rare spinal abnormalities, which indicates that their parents and wider family were closely related. 

“These injuries were most likely caused by accidents, falls, hard blows, or other impacts linked to an active lifestyle, whether through hunting, military training, or other demanding activities,” said Hashesh. “What is remarkable is that the injuries healed well, which suggests they had access to advanced medical care for their time.” 

Uncovering life stories 

However, the archaeologists point out that the loss of the princesses’ skulls limits their analyses. They also haven’t yet been able to carry out all the analyses they intend to – for example, stable isotope analysis, which could shed more light on possible nutritional deficiencies. 

“Our dream would be to go far beyond simply identifying the Dahshur royals,” said Hashesh. “We would try to tell their full life stories, their families, health, and even their political roles, with as much detail as possible. Beyond the science, we would preserve the remains, create 3D prints for teaching and virtual exhibitions, and display them alongside their jewelry, weapons, and funerary objects. All of this would be done with respect, ensuring the remains are presented ethically, just as they were originally buried. 

“Their objects and jewelry are truly fascinating, breathtaking in their craftsmanship. Yet, while archaeologists have long focused on preserving these treasures, the people themselves were often forgotten. Our study seeks to change that.” 

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Journal

Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology

DOI

10.3389/fearc.2026.1844402 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Bioarcheological Reassessment of Dahshur Royal Skeletal Remains from the late middle kingdom (c. 1850 to 1700 BCE)

Article Publication Date

17-Jul-2026

 

Multi-Grammy prizewinner Terence Blanchard receives Gutenberg Teaching Award

One of the currently most influential jazz musicians and teachers wins JGU's highest endowed teaching award

Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz

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Terence Blanchard, American jazz trumpeter, jazz teacher and composer

 

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Credit: photo/©: Cedric Angeles

The 2025 Gutenberg Teaching Award has been conferred on American Terence Blanchard, who is among the world's most authoritative jazz musicians and teachers. He will be visiting Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) tomorrow and the day after tomorrow to accept the award and to participate in various events. The award ceremony was originally scheduled for last November but had to be postponed due to an illness in Blanchard's family. The Gutenberg Teaching Award, worth EUR 10,000, is the highest endowed teaching award bestowed by JGU. It is presented every two years to notable individuals who are not members of the university by the Gutenberg Teaching Council (GTC), an institution established to promote teaching at JGU. "Terence Blanchard is receiving the Gutenberg Teaching Award in recognition of his outstanding work as a musician, composer and, specifically, as a teacher and mentor," pointed out JGU President Professor Georg Krausch. "He has already won seven Grammys and has been twice nominated for an Oscar for best original film score. We are delighted that he will be our guest."

Terence Blanchard was born in New Orleans in 1962 and already learned to play piano and trumpet as a child. At the age of 15, he was accepted by the eminent New Orleans Center of Creative Arts to study composition. He was a member of drummer Art Blakey's The Jazz Messengers from 1982 to 1986 and has since been considered to be among the world's leading jazz trumpeters. He subsequently began to compose music for films and operas. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his scores for the films BlacKkKlansman (2018) and Da 5 Bloods (2020), which were directed by Spike Lee. He has released more than 20 music albums. "In addition, Terence Blanchard is also one of the most influential teachers of jazz of our time," added the Director of the GTC, Prof. Andrej Gill. "Among other things, he was Artistic Director at the then Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Washington (now the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz) and from 2023 became Executive Artistic Director of the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco. He is celebrated for his promotion of an experimental and egalitarian teaching environment. His work represents a prime example of what can be achieved by a combination of artistic and educational excellence."

Concert and film review with Terence Blanchard at JGU

On Thursday, July 16, there will be the presentation ceremony for the Gutenberg Teaching Award and Terence Blanchard will be invited to sign the university's Golden Book. He will then give a concert together with the Gutenberg Jazz Collective led by Professor Sebastian Sternal. The concert is a facet of the Jazz Campus Mainz excellence program and will be staged in cooperation with the Villa Musica foundation of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate. Then, on Friday, July 17, at noon, there will be the opportunity to be present during a masterclass at the Mainz School of Music given by Blanchard. In the afternoon, there will be a discussion with Blanchard on social justice and culture in the United States. This event is organized by the Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies at JGU. In the evening, in cooperation with the FILMZ film festival and the Institute for Film, Theater, Media, and Cultural Studies at JGU, the film “BlacKkKLansman” will be screened, followed by a discussion with Blanchard. The discussion will also cover general topics such as film music, civil rights, and the current cultural situation in the U.S. Students and staff at JGU, as well as the general public, are cordially invited to the events on July 17. The awards ceremony and concert on Thursday, July 16, are already sold out.

The Gutenberg Teaching Council: a constituent part of the innovative Mainz model of university governance

Together with the Gutenberg Research College (GRC) and the Gutenberg Council for Academic Careers (GCC), the Gutenberg Teaching Council is at the heart of the innovative Mainz model of university governance that involves the participation of outstanding academics. Its executive committee consists of teaching staff at JGU who have distinguished themselves by their exceptional work together with students. It contributes to the strategic development of learning and teaching at JGU by advising the Executive University Board. In addition, the GTC has various financial instruments at its disposal and contributes in the form of white papers and events to the dialogue across disciplines and faculties. The GTC has been presenting the Gutenberg Teaching Award to eminent individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of teaching since 2014. Prior to Terence Blanchard, former winners of the award include Professor John Hattie, the New Zealand-born leading researcher in the field of education, the Botswana theologian and HIV/AIDS commissioner to the World Council of Churches, Professor Musa Dube, the American physicist and Nobel laureate Professor Carl Wieman and also the Japanese conductor and founder of the Bach Collegium Japan, Professor Masaaki Suzuki.