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  • Last modified on Wednesday, 17 January 2024 08:26

Decoding the Secrets of Tamdult’s Metalworking Legacy in Medieval Morocco

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CyI researchers from STARC’s Archaeological Science group are participating in an important project to unravel the technology of silver, copper and brass production in medieval Morocco.

The Moyenne Vallee du Draa in southern Morocco is home to the hilltop settlement and oasis of Tamdult, a major early medieval city. It was an important stepping stone in the trans-Saharan trade network that brought gold and slaves from Africa to the North and copper alloys and other commodities to the South. Tamdult, however, was more than a mere provisioning point for caravans preparing to cross the Sahara on their epic journeys. It has been long known as a source for silver, contributing to the massive supply of dirham coins that fuelled the early medieval economy from Central Asia to Arabia, northern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
 
A collaborative effort for unravelling the technology of the silver, copper and brass production in this area, called the Moyenne Vallee du Draa project, is led by Dr. Youssef Bokbot of the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Science (INSAP) of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. Sam Nixon of the Sainsbury Research Unit of the University of East Anglia, and CyI Professor Thilo Rehren. Also participating from CyI are STARC researchers, Dr. Brunella Santarelli, Ms. Biyang Wang, and Ms. Meghna Desai.
 
At the centre of the research is deciphering the ancient technology behind silver production, via analysis of ore remains, furnace wall fragments, and the glassy slag forming large heaps all over the landscape. This will be accomplished using techniques such as Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive Spectrometry, and handheld X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis, all being carried out in CyI’s Archaeological Science Laboratories.
 
During recent fieldwork in southern Morocco, the team also identified unique evidence for the production of brass, a copper-zinc alloy known widely from medieval and early modern Europe, and often found in Islamic metalwork including the famous Benin Bronzes currently being repatriated to Nigeria. Until now, no evidence for brass production was known anywhere in the Islamic or African world; this discovery will re-write the history of technology of global medieval metallurgy.
 
What began as a routine medieval archaeology project tracing the trans-Saharan trade network has now evolved into a unique study of major archaeometallurgical significance and with huge public health ramifications for contemporary populations.
 
Other important discoveries in Tamdult this season included the first evidence for silver refining using cupellation from the African continent and the significant environmental impact of this millennium-old mining and metallurgy. Even today, certain areas of the settlement and the surrounding fields have severely elevated lead content, as a result of the medieval silver production. The industrial scale of this technology is particularly impressive considering today’s barren desert landscape with hardly any vegetation suitable for sustained fuel production to feed the furnaces.
 
Future research will focus on unravelling the details of early medieval brass making at Tamdult and comparing it to the contemporary practice in Carolingian Europe. Two different types of crucible fragments already point to a multi-step cementation process, using zinc ore and locally smelted lead-rich copper metal to produce the golden-looking brass. In addition to the technology reconstruction, researchers will use lead isotope analyses to link the local production from Tamdult to the widely traded brass and silver known from excavations and numismatic collections elsewhere, positioning Tamdult in its wider economic context.
 
This research is conducted under the auspices of the A. G. Leventis Chair in Archaeological Sciences at The Cyprus Institute, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Morocco and the University of East Anglia, UK.
 

 

 

 

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  • Last modified on Thursday, 11 January 2024 12:20

Wood Burning Can Cause Intense Air Pollution in Areas with Restricted Air Movement, a New Study by CARE-C Researchers Shows

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Air-pollution can become more severe during wintertime due to residential wood burning, finds a new study recently published in collaboration with researchers from the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) of The Cyprus Institute.
 
This tends to be more prevalent in urban centres, where the topography does not allow for air movement, causing air-pollution to be trapped in specific areas for longer periods. An example of such location is the city of Ioannina in Greece, where the study was conducted and where air pollution during wintertime was shown to reach levels as high as those observed in large, global megacities, such as Paris or Beijing.
 
The study, conducted by CyI researchers in collaboration with the National Observatory of Athens and the University of Ioannina, Greece, has highlighted the occurrence of intense air pollution events during winter in Ioannina, primarily from wood burning. The city of Ioannina is surrounded by mountains prohibiting atmosphere to be well mixed. During winter, a common method for home heating is wood burning particularly as the city is not connected to the national gas grid. Wood burning is also commonly used for social and cultural occasions, for instance at Christmas and New Year celebration gatherings.
 
Wood burning is an extremely important source of numerous atmospheric pollutants such as carbon dioxides, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. Researchers focused on understanding the origin, and levels of those volatile organic molecules by deploying a state-of-the-art Proton Transfer Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS), capable of detecting several toxic organic molecules in the atmosphere by their precise mass, with a very high temporal resolution of one second. The study found that the levels of those volatile organic species during winter nights in Ioannina, were comparable to those experienced in large global megacities, such as Paris or Beijing.
 
The researchers also used advanced computational statistical algorithms (Positive Matrix Factorization) to separate groups of molecules being emitted together. That information allowed the identification of the pollution sources contributing to the deterioration of air quality. Specifically, 55% of the organic mixture was attributed to residential wood burning, while 28% was found to be emitted by fossil fuel combustion (traffic and heating). The remaining 17% was the product of daytime photochemical production. The study also utilises the source apportioned volatile organic data to provide updated emission factors for residential wood burning, as current emission inventories have not updated those numbers for over a decade.
 
The study highlights the important implications of heavy reliance on wood burning as a primary heat source for poorly ventilated urban centres around the world, and underscores the need for taking measures to tackle this issue as a critical step towards bettering air quality and human health.
 
Original publication:  Desservettaz, M., Pikridas, M., Stavroulas, I., Bougiatioti A., Liakakou E., Hatzianastasiou N., Sciare J., Mihalopoulos N. & Bourtsoukidis E. Emission of volatile organic compounds from residential biomass burning and their rapid chemical transformations, Science Total Environ., Vol. 903, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166592.
 
For more information please contact:
  • Dr Maximilien Desservettaz, post-doctoral fellow at Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C), The Cyprus Institute at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (English)
  • Prof Nikos Mihalopoulos, Professor at the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C), The Cyprus Institute This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Greek)

 

  • Last modified on Tuesday, 19 December 2023 10:13

CyI Commits to Iraqi Education and Cooperation in Addressing Climate Change, During Visit by President of Iraq, Dr. Abdul Latif Rashid

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On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, a high-profile delegation from Iraq, led by the President of the Republic of Iraq, H.E. Dr. Abdul Latif Rashid, visited The Cyprus Institute’s premises in Athalassa, Nicosia. The visit took place within the context of an official visit of the President of Iraq to Cyprus. This marked the first ever official visit of an Iraqi President to Cyprus, and laid the foundations for a new era of bilateral relations between the two countries.

In his welcome address, Prof. Stavros Malas expressed solidarity with the resilient people of Iraq as they navigate socio-economic and political challenges. He highlighted The Cyprus Institute’s commitment to fostering international cooperation and supporting initiatives that promote Iraq’s well-being and development. Prof. Malas emphasized the power of unity, dialogue, and collaboration to address challenges and pave the way for a brighter future.

Prof. Malas further announced The Cyprus Institute’s intention to establish a scholarship program, specifically designed for Iraqi students to attend postgraduate programs at The Cyprus Institute. The program aims to provide opportunities for Iraqi students to pursue quality education and research in Europe, enhancing human capital development in Iraq and the broader Middle East region. The scholarship program includes five (5) full tuition scholarships for Ph.D. programs in Computational Sciences, Energy, Environment and Atmospheric Sciences, and Science and Technology in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. Additionally, five (5) 50% tuition fee scholarships will be offered for Master’s programs in Simulation and Data Science, Environmental Sciences, and Digital Cultural Heritage. The program is expected to commence starting in the academic year 2024-2025.

The President of Iraq, H.E. Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, expressed his gratitude to The Cyprus Institute for granting scholarships, stating that Iraq, after a long period of wars with neighbouring countries and internal conflicts, has realized that confrontations not only do not contribute to the well-being of its citizens, but have also hindered the progress of science and society. However, the advancement of science, beyond progress, requires alliances to address significant challenges such as climate change, calling on the countries of the Persian Gulf to unite in a joint effort to mitigate its impact, noted the Iraqi President.

Iraq is particularly sensitive to issues related to water resource management and agriculture and in its national statement at this year’s COP28 summit in Dubai (November 30 - December 12, 2023), the Iraqi President pledged to accelerate efforts in completing national plans for climate change adaptation and mitigation, urging Gulf States, including Iran, to form a regional group to enhance negotiating power in climate change discussions.

On that note, the critical role of The Cyprus Institute as a regional hub of science and innovation to address climate challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East region was also underlined during COP28 Summit in Dubai. CyI’s strong commitment in facilitating regional cooperation on climate science to inform collective regional climate action is fully aligned with the announcement of next steps for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate Change Initiative (EMME-CCI), by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Nikos Christodoulides during his delivery of Cyprus’ National Statement (Brief Intervention) at the COP28 Summit. The EMME-CCI was initiated by Cyprus in 2019 and coordination of its scientific component and interim Secretariat have been assigned to, and led by, CyI.

Present at the meeting on behalf of CyI were CyI President, Prof. Stavros Malas, Institute Professor, President Emeritus and CEO of The Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation (CREF), Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, CyI Vice-President of Operations, Dr Michalis Yiangou, CyI Asst. Vice President of Policy and Internal Communications, Mrs. Eleni Sophocleous, STARC Director, Prof. Michel Menu, and CyI Director of Research and Technical Support, Dr Vassilis Tsakalos.

The Iraqi delegation included the Chief to the Presidency's Advisors and Experts Committee, Mr. Ali Yousif Abdulnabi, Parliament Member P.M. Ms. Hayfaa Hussein Hatem, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Mohammed Hussein M A, Ambassador Non-Resident of the Republic of Iraq to the Republic of Cyprus and the Hellenic Republic H.E. Mr. Mouayed Saleh, Director-General of the Presidency's Legal Department Mr. Salah Lazem Shamkhi, H.E.'s Secretary Mr. Saad Nawkhas Almas, and Deputy Director-General, Presidency's Media Department Mr. Abdulameer Hammood Qasim.

The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Cyprus to Iraq, Mr. Michalis Ioannou, and the Diplomat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Mrs. Koula Sophianou.

 

 

 

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  • Last modified on Monday, 30 November -0001 00:00

NOUS: A Pioneering Urban Sustainability Hub for a Greener Future

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The ground-breaking Urban Sustainability Hub “NOUS” was inaugurated on Friday, December 8, 2023, by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, alongside political and state representatives.
 
“NOUS”, which is now fully operational and ready to serve citizens, aims to promote a model of urban development based on innovative entrepreneurship, making our cities sustainable, livable, and resilient to the negative impacts of climate change. Additionally, “NOUS” is expected to contribute to adopting a sustainability culture and creating a networking environment for actions related to sustainable urban development.
 
In his welcoming address, the Mayor of Strovolos, Mr. Andreas Papacharalambous, noted that the creation of the Urban Sustainability Hub “NOUS” is a step towards the broader development of the historical center of Strovolos, in alignment with the municipal council's plans for implementation by 2030. “In Strovolos, we are fostering green development, rooted in environmental consciousness, and highlighted that at “NOUS”, citizens can collaborate with the Municipal Council in shaping the future of our city”, he emphasized.
 
The President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Nikos Christodoulides praised “NOUS” Hub as a pioneering collaborative project, where the contributions of local academic and scientific institutions play a crucial role in implementing an innovative development model that positively transforms the character of our municipalities. “NOUS” provides an excellent opportunity for exchanging views, networking, and cultivating a sustainability culture while addressing significant environmental and social challenges”, he stated. He also, underscored the importance of investing in research and innovation, leveraging opportunities offered by the EU.
 
CyI President, Prof. Stavros Malas, highlighted the Institute’s role in cultivating a sustainability culture in collaboration with the University of Cyprus and the Municipality of Strovolos. “Promoting sustainable development goals is fundamental for creating a sustainable and healthy economy. Taking action to promote innovative business ideas is crucial for addressing key challenges related to environmental and social development”, he concluded.
 
Rector of the University of Cyprus, Prof. Tasos Christofides, indicated that “NOUS” would be the center uniting efforts for a better tomorrow, supporting those who wish to create innovative solutions for the challenges we face. “The space will serve as a platform where the educational community, the municipality, and society collaborate to develop sustainable solutions”, he noted.
 
During the inauguration of the Urban Sustainability Hub “NOUS”, PwC Cyprus presented the strategy and corresponding sustainability action plan for the Hub.
 
“NOUS” is part of the European U-SOLVE strategic project, funded by ENI CBC MED, focusing on the environment, green economy, innovation, digital reform, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Project partners in Cyprus include The Cyprus Institute, who is leading the project, the University of Cyprus and the Municipality of Strovolos. U-SOLVE involves similar actions in Italy, Greece, Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine.

 

 

 

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  • Last modified on Friday, 01 December 2023 13:38

Green Transition Through Solar Energy: Path to a Greener Future

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The Cyprus Institute, in collaboration with the Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus, the Embassy of Spain in Cyprus, and the Commissioner of the Environment organised a workshop entitled “Progressing in Green Transition: Advancing the Clean Energy Agenda Through Industrial Applications of Solar Energy”. The event took place at CyI’s premises, on Friday, 1st of December 2023, in the presence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Annita Demetriou.

The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the progress made in achieving the objectives set by the European Union towards green transition, with a particular emphasis on the potential use of solar energy in industrial applications.

Given the priority placed on advancing the green transition by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the event highlighted the collaborative framework between Spain and Cyprus in policy, technology, know-how, and applications. Experts from both countries deliberated on policy issues, joint initiatives, and actions in the field of solar energy and energy storage. Additionally, the event showcased collaborative projects implemented in Cyprus by local research organizations and companies.

In his welcome address, CyI President, Prof. Stavros Malas, expressed the obligation for Cyprus, as an energy-isolated country, to engage in discussions towards the green transition. He emphasized the need for informed decisions in contrast to past erroneous policies and shared insights from CyI researchers. He highlighted the important role of solar energy for a country like Cyprus which, as he noted, if it was covered with photovoltaics, it could meet the entire energy needs of Europe.

In her speech, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Annita Demetriou, stressed the urgent need to adopt correct policies towards green transition, given Cyprus’ current lag. She stated that the people of Cyprus cannot continue to bear high penalty fees due to the failure to achieve the European Union's set goals.

Taking the floor, the Commissioner for the Environment, Mrs. Maria Panayiotou, highlighted the significant threat of climate change and stressed the necessity of transitioning to renewable energy sources. She added that the green transition should include adopting the circular economy and reducing electricity consumption.

Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Cyprus, Mrs. Myrto Zambarta, noted that the transition to green energy aligns with a substantial part of the European Union’s Green Deal. She proposed setting a goal for every home, public building, and industrial unit to become energy self-sufficient.

The Ambassador of Spain to Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Gabriel Ferrán Carrión, congratulated The Cyprus Institute for co-organizing the workshop to provide a platform for the exchange of views, experiences, and policies on the green transition and the achievement of EU goals. He highlighted that green transition is a crucial pillar for Spain's presidency of the European Council.

Following the workshop, a panel discussion on the state of progress towards the European Union's goals for the Green Transition took place, featuring representatives of Ministries, academic and research institutions, private companies and societal stakeholders. 

 

 

 

 

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  • Last modified on Friday, 10 November 2023 14:16

CyI Supplies Department of Forests with Custom-Built Drones, Donated by Exness, to Combat Wildfires

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In a significant move to combat the escalating threat of wildfires in Cyprus, multi-asset broker Exness has pledged €300,000 towards the deployment of three state-of-the-art fire-detecting drones (unmanned aerial systems), developed by The Cyprus Institute’s Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory, for the Department of Forests. These drones are specifically tailored to Cyprus’ unique terrain and are set to significantly enhance the Department of Forests’ firefighting capabilities and early wildfire detection efforts.

During a press conference on November 10th, Exness announced the second phase of its initiative, highlighting the ongoing collaboration with The Cyprus Institute. Two of the specialized drones are already in operation, with a third expected to be in service by early 2024. This strategic contribution underscores CyI’s and Exness’ commitment to the preservation of Cyprus’ natural resources and the protection of its forests.

The Cyprus Institute’s role in developing customized drone technology showcases the power of collaboration between the private sector and research institutions in addressing critical environmental challenges. Also, during the event, additional four drones were handed over by The Cyprus Institute, related to the implementation of a contract that has been signed with the Department of Forests.

In his welcome address, Mr. Charalambos Alexandrou, Director of the Department of Forests, after expressing his graditude to Exness and The Cyprus Institute, praised the importance of using technology in the management of forest fires. He also mentioned that the use of drones will be an additional measure in both preventing fires for aerial patrols to detect fires or arsonists, and in extinguishing them by locating active fire sources, as well as mapping the area. 

Prof. Jean Sciare, Director of the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center and Head of the Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory at The Cyprus Institute, stated that this day marks a very important milestone in CyI’s collaboration with the Department of Forests and the joint efforts to better monitor and safeguard Cyprus’ forests, with the support of Exness. “The state-of-the-art drone technology we developed is tailor-made, to ensure the endurance and flexibility needed to perform in the challenging forest environment. At The Cyprus Institute, we remain committed to continuing to support the Department of Forests in the fight against wildfires, through the provision of advanced technology solutions, and training to help accelerate their wide-spread adoption in Cyprus”, he noted.

Mrs. Maria Christophides, representative of Exness, remarked that the growing wildfire issue has intensified over the recent years. “Through our continued contributions, we have made noteworthy progress. This donation is a continuation of others and will contribute to both fire prevention and extinguishing through the use of advanced methods”, she noted. She also stated that the technology developed by The Cyprus Institute is adapted to Cypriot lands and will benefit the protection of natural ecosystems throughout the country. In addition to equipment donation, Exness will cover the cost for three pilots for operating the drones for a period of two years. “Our drone donation equips the Department of Forests with technical resources to tackle the issue at its core. With this new technology, identifying wildfires and sending a dispatch to the exact location will become the new standard. Paired with the first phase of our donation last year, we are reducing response times and optimizing firefighting operations. We remain committed to our continued partnership with the Department of Forestry and The Cyprus Institute to further develop an intelligent and effective model for the protection of our forests and nature”, she concluded.

 

 

 

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  • Last modified on Thursday, 26 October 2023 12:52

CARE-C Researchers Play Crucial Role in EarthCARE Satellite Mission for Advancing Global Climate Research

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Researchers from The Cyprus Institute’s Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C), coordinated by Prof Franco Marenco, are actively involved with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) upcoming EarthCARE satellite mission, focused on cloud, aerosol and radiation exploration. EarthCARE is a joint venture between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and this latest mission is the most complex to date.
 
EarthCARE (Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) aims to significantly improve our understanding of how clouds and aerosols (atmospheric particulates such as pollution and Saharan dust) influence the climate by exploring how they affect reflecting incident solar radiation back into space and trapping infrared radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface. The data collected by the EarthCARE mission will provide information on the relationship of clouds, aerosols, and radiation at an unprecedented level of accuracy, helping to improve predictions about the weather and the future climate.
 
The EarthCARE mission is scheduled for launch in 2024 and the CARE-C team will be performing specific activities for the validation and calibration of this novel satellite. Specifically, an Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory (USRL) team will conduct highly advanced observations of atmospheric composition, including the number and properties of particles from the ground to an altitude of about 6,000m, using bespoke Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) developed in-house. Moreover, a Cyprus Atmospheric Observatory (CAO) team will collect information on the amount of dust and pollution suspended in the upper atmospheric layers. Sampling of the layers in the upper atmosphere is of significant importance for the calibration and validation of EarthCARE, which collects information on the 3-dimensional distribution of atmospheric particles and not just what is collected on the ground. Scientific activities in preparation of the launch of EarthCARE are already underway and on October 25, 2023, the first dedicated UAV flight took place. Additional activities are scheduled to take place for the duration of the EarthCARE mission.
 
A team from the Cyprus Atmospheric Remote Sensing Observatory (CARO) of the Eratosthenes Center of Excellence, is also participating in the campaign. The strong participation of Cyprus scientists, including the partnership of two European Research Centers of Excellence, strengthens Cyprus’ contribution to the success of this space mission and highlights our country’s research and innovation talent in advancing breakthrough science at an international level.
 
EarthCARE calibration and validation activities are organized by national facilities from 42 atmospheric measurements stations across 18 different countries, coordinated through the EU Horizon-2020 project ATMO-ACCESS and integrates observations to scientists’ networks across European, Asia and Africa.
 
ATMO-ACCESS is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme through the ATMO-ACCESS Integrating Activity under grant agreement No 101008004.
 
More information about EarthCARE at https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/earthcare

 

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  • Last modified on Wednesday, 27 September 2023 11:39

Unlocking the Mysteries of Ancient Andean Wooden Boards: A Multidisciplinary Journey at the Museo delle Culture of Milan (MUDEC)

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CyI researchers from STARC and APAC Labs are participating in an important project for the multi-modal analysis of Ancient Andean Wooden Boards, conserved at the Museo delle Culture of Milan (MUDEC). The project involves analysis of two pre-Hispanic Andean wooden boards, artefacts made around the 14th century and whose area of origin is not precisely known. They belong to a wider corpus of compartmentalized boards made of stone, wood, and clay often termed “yupanas” or “maquetas”. They are characterized by standardized features, which include the symmetrical opposition of two halves with a recurrent number of compartments that converge in a differently shaped hole/compartment in the centre. However, their precise forms and layouts also show great variability, giving rise to debates about their function (e.g., scale models of pre-Hispanic architecture, counting devices or gaming boards).
 
These items have been found as far away as Cerro Baúl, Moquegua, in southern Peru and Chordeleg, Azuay, in southern Ecuador, arguably making them some of the most widespread pre-Columbian artefacts and crossing several cultural and linguistic boundaries over a large span of time. Only a handful of the known examples were discovered in controlled excavations and the original context of most of them is unknown. Only a few known boards are made of wood and the two analysed boards constitute some of the best-preserved examples.
 
The two important pieces are now exhibited and conserved at the Museo delle Culture of Milan (MUDEC) whose facilities are at the site of an old factory, born out of a salvage operation of industrial archaeology. Today, it is a meeting place for cultures and communities, hosting a multi-cultures permanent collections’ museum.
 
The multidisciplinary research aims at investigating the archaeological artefacts through a set of analyses that will provide the opportunity to see them in a new light. The 3D documentation of these ancient boards will be significant for conservation and preservation purposes. It will allow for the monitoring of structural changes on the basis of environmental changes, and investigate the deformation and fracture mechanisms in order to evaluate the structural condition and plan conservation actions. Dendrochronological analysis will complement previous analysis which focuses on the radiocarbon dating of these two boards. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and biomolecular analyses will shed light on wood degradation and bio-deterioration, and the possible presence of microorganisms, as well as help the researchers to learn more about the type of wood utilized to make these boards.
 
This research is conducted as part of the European project IPERION HS (Integrating Platforms for the European Research Infrastructure on Heritage Science), the University of East Anglia (PhD research topic of Samule Tacconi, under the supervision of Prof. George Lau), the Museo delle Culture of Milan - MUDEC (under the direction of Dr Carolina Orsini, senior curator of MUDEC) that also provided the logistics and local support, the Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry of the RWTH Aachen University (Prof. Alina Adams), the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of Evora University (Prof. Ana Teresa Caldeira and Prof. António José Estevão Grande Candeias), in collaboration with The Cyprus Institute (Assoc. Prof. Sorin Hermon, Assoc. Prof. Nikolas Bakirtzis, Dr Valentina Vassallo, Dr Rahaf Orabi and Mehmetcan Soylouglu).

 

 

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  • Last modified on Friday, 22 September 2023 09:42

Celebrating Five Years of the A. G. Leventis Chair in Archaeological Sciences at The Cyprus Institute

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 Photo: From left to right: Prof. Patrick Degryse, Dr Michael Boyd, Dr Evi Margaritis, Dr Tasso Leventis, Prof. Thilo Rehren, Dr Efthymia Nikita and Prof. Cyprian Broodbank

On Thursday, September 21 and Friday, September 22, 2023, The Cyprus Institute celebrates the completion of five successful years of the A. G. Leventis Chair in Archaeological Sciences, held by CyI Professor Thilo Rehren. Established in 2018, as a result of generous support from the A. G. Leventis Foundation, research supported by this Chair has played a pivotal role in advancing archaeological research in the Eastern Mediterranean.
 

The event featured official addresses by dignitaries followed by lectures from researchers supported by the A. G. Leventis Foundation, offering profound insights into the Chair’s diverse results impact. The event was addressed by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Prof. Vasiliki Kassianidou, in the presence of Dr Tasso Leventis and Mr. George David.

In his welcoming address, CyI President Prof. Stavros Malas noted that the A. G. Leventis Foundation is at the forefront of supporting a successful ecosystem in Archaeological Sciences. “The Leventis family is a great example of philanthropy and philopatry in Cyprus. A small and young country requires collaboration among various stakeholders to collectively maximize output”, he added.

Dr Tasso Leventis highlighted that the A. G. Leventis Chair in Archaeological Sciences at The Cyprus Institute nicely aligns with the Leventis Foundation’s commitment to archaeological research, environmental protection, and providing humanitarian assistance to the local community.

“Creative talent from different origins and perspectives can contribute to novel approaches and solutions. I am pleased to confirm that The Cyprus Institute could not have advanced to its current level of achievements without such important and well-applied collaborations as those we have created”, he concluded.

The Deputy Minister of Culture stated that the A. G. Leventis Foundation has nurtured a generation of archaeologists who have been able to pursue their dreams in this field of study.

“The establishment of the A. G. Leventis Chair at The Cyprus Institute, along with the appointment of my dear friend, Prof. Thilo Rehren, has propelled STARC, and by extension, The Cyprus Institute, to the forefront of Archaeological Material Studies, making solid and valuable contributions to the field and opening up amazing potential for the study of Cypriot and Mediterranean cultures”, she noted.

In his address, Prof. Thilo Rehren emphasized that “the way to reach a healthy and diverse ecosystem with tangible results is through academic excellence and a set of core values that my colleagues and I share. With that in mind, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to everybody who has given us their support over these five years until today”.

In addition to the Deputy Minister of Culture, the Ambassador of the United States, Mrs. Julie D. Fisher, former Minister Dr. Yiannis Toumazis and former EU Commissioner Mrs. Androulla Vassiliou, the Director of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, Dr. Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou, members of the Board of Trustees and Friends of the Institute Association, as well as experts, scholars, students, and the general public attended the event.

As part of the celebrations, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, Professor Cyprian Broodbank of the University of Cambridge, delivered an enthralling lecture entitled “Remaking the Middle Sea with Archaeological Science: Eight Questions that Mediterranean Archaeologists Should be Interested in” that transported the attendees through time and science, celebrating the Mediterranean's rich history and the remarkable advances in archaeological science that have continuously reshaped our understanding of this ancient region.

In his talk, Professor Broodbank emphasized that the Mediterranean has played a longstanding role as a crucible for exciting breakthroughs in archaeological science. These advancements have already significantly enhanced our comprehension of its long-term history and dynamics. These milestones span from the groundbreaking radiocarbon revolution, environmental archaeology, and initial strides in provenance studies during the 1950s to the 1970s, all the way to the recent biomolecular innovations and those on the horizon.

The two-day event concluded on Friday, September 22, 2023, with a diverse array of academic lectures on archaeology and archaeological science in the Eastern Mediterranean, showcasing the depth and breadth of ongoing research in this field, under the title of “A Kaleidoscope of Archaeological Sciences”.

 

 

 

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  • Last modified on Friday, 04 August 2023 06:27

CyI at the Forefront of Energy and Climate Policy Research in Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East

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The Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East (EMME) region has been recognized as a global climate change hotspot with particularly high vulnerability to climate change impacts. The Cyprus Institute has been instrumental in leading the scientific part of the EMME Climate Change Initiative of the Republic of Cyprus, coordinating thirteen Scientific Task Forces that engaged over 240 scientists and experts in identifying gaps in knowledge and policy, for a concerted regional response to the climate crisis. It has also coordinated the preparation of a Regional Climate Action Plan for this purpose.

Building on this initiative, CyI researchers have worked on energy and climate policy analyses for the region, with the goal to contribute to the assessment of decarbonization challenges of EMME countries and provide insights for policymakers. This work has recently led to two scientific publications in internationally acclaimed journals:
 
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In collaboration with Steven Griffiths of Khalifa University of Science and Technology in the United Arab Emirates, CyI researchers addressed the question how to share the effort of greenhouse gas emission reductions between EMME countries if the entire region is to be aligned with the Paris Agreement[1]. Fairness of global decarbonization effort is foundational to climate change mitigation discussions. The authors explored fourteen approaches, based on the three main equity principles defined by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to determine equitable national emission allocations in the year 2030 for the seventeen EMME countries, on the road to achieving net zero carbon emissions in 2050 (for the 1.5-degree Celsius climate stabilization target) or 2070 (for the 2-degree target). The significant heterogeneity among EMME countries makes it particularly challenging to allocate such targets in a way that is both fair and politically acceptable. 

generation mixMoreover, CyI researchers have developed the first fully open-source energy systems model for the EMME region, relying solely on publicly available data[1]. This model is made freely available for researchers in the region or beyond who may wish to conduct more detailed analysis at regional or national level. Scenarios implemented with this model highlight that increased electricity interconnections between EMME countries can offer great benefits by unlocking the largely unexploited renewable energy potential of the region. Electricity trade can contribute very substantially to the cost-optimal achievement of greenhouse gas emission abatement targets, and can even lead the entire EMME region to net zero carbon emissions by the mid-21st century.
 
These two studies underline the huge environmental and socio-economic benefits that can result from cooperation among EMME countries. The Cyprus Institute continues partnering with knowledge institutions in EMME to improve prosperity in the region based on science, technology, and innovation. 

 

 

[1] Despina Yiakoumi, Constantinos Taliotis, Theodoros Zachariadis & Steven Griffiths (2023), Sharing the decarbonisation effort: getting Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East countries on the road to global carbon neutrality. Climate Policy, DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2023.2216178.

[2] Constantinos Taliotis, Marios Karmellos, Nestor Fylaktos & Theodoros Zachariadis (2023), Enhancing Decarbonization of Power Generation Through Electricity Trade in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Region. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, DOI: 10.1016/j.rset.2023.100060.

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