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Published in DiRROS: 19.12.2024; Views: 61; Downloads: 14
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Abstract: The WINBLUE project takes a multi-actor, data-driven, trans-sectoral and practice-cantered approach to accelerate the empowerment of women in the blue economy. For this reason, the collection qualitative data has been performed. The data collection exercise analysed in this Deliverable, is essential to identify challenges faced by women working in the WINBLUE selected sectors and to provide a basis for establishing future recommendations. The main messages identified in the Deliverable are: 1. Understanding gender and gender equality. For many years, gender equality was considered only as the gender distribution of women and men employed in an organization. This has been changed only in recent years, especially by requesting the adoption of the Gender Equality Plans. 2. Gender Equality Plan (GEP). The EU encouraged the mandatory adoption of GEPs in public organisations if the organisation wants obtain EU funding. If it was not enforced by the EU, many legal entities would not introduce it. However, many organizations see this as a formal “tick the box” exercise without its formal implementation. Nevertheless, in blue economy, where a lot of workforce operates in private or non-governmental entities, GEPs can also be of high value to make structural and cultural changes in individual organizations. 3. Obstacles, such as stereotypes, traditions, mentality and prejudices are still very present in today's society and represent one of the biggest obstacles for women when entering or trying to move up in the sectors of the blue economy selected by WINBLUE (Blue circular bioeconomy and biotechnology, Fisheries and aquaculture, Sustainable coastal and marine tourism, Offshore renewable energy, Cutting-edge marine technologies and others, such as marine education, marine policy, port management, navigation). An important obstacle to mention is motherhood and balancing work and family life. This is not only related to maternity leave and at least one year's absence from work, but also to caring responsibilities and domestic duties, as well as ineffective institutional or national policies on work-life balance. In addition, women are subject to enormous social pressure with regard to role models, family and their life choices. 4. Education plays a very important role in raising awareness, fighting stereotypes, changing mindsets and raising new generations who will understand the meaning and importance of gender equality. It starts at an early age with the first lessons learned from parents and continues at school, university and vocational training. Hence, educational activities should be an integral part of any GEPs. 5. Recruitment and promotion. Gender alone should not be a factor in hiring and promotion. The decision to recruit or promote a person should be made on the basis of the candidate’s skills, abilities, competencies and experience. However, to address unconscious bias and ensure transparent recruitment and promotion procedures, clear guidelines with standardized questions and tasks should be established and records of the selection/promotion process should be kept so that the transparency of the process can be reviewed if necessary. Recruitment and promotion committees should be composed of both male and female employees. 6. Creation of support networks is mostly seen as a valuable tool that can provide mutual support, exchange of good practices and introduce ambassadors with good practice examples. 7. The WINBLUE project, in particular the qualitative and quantitative data collection, as well as the GEP models can make a decisive contribution to introducing changes in the blue economy sector, improving the representation of women in this sector and increasing their number in leadership positions. The WINBLUE project is a good starting point to raise awareness and increase the visibility of women in the blue economy sector. 8. Sustainability of the results of this project should already be considered at this point, during its implementation stage. This entails that through identified stakeholders, activities and GEPs proposed, the systematic quantitative and qualitative data analysis should be maintained and regular monitoring of GEP implementation should be established, including the collaboration with national and international legislative/funding organizations and other organizations from the blue economy sector.
Keywords: gender equality, marine biotechnology, blue economy
Published in DiRROS: 19.12.2024; Views: 72; Downloads: 21
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Abstract: In this work, operando sulfur X-ray emission measurementson a Li−S battery cathode were performed using a laboratory setup as analternative to more common synchrotron radiation based absorptionstudies. Photoexcitation by an X-ray tube was used. Valence-to-core Kβ X-ray emission spectra were recorded with a wavelength dispersive crystalspectrometer in von Hamos geometry, providing excellent energyresolution and good detection efficiency. The setup was used to recordex situ S Kβ emission spectra from S cathodes from the Li−S battery andalso under operando conditions. Average S oxidation state within thebattery cathode during battery cycling was determined from the shape ofthe Kβ emission spectra. A more detailed S species characterization wasperformed by fitting a linear combination of previously measuredlaboratory synthesized standards to the measured spectra. Relative amounts of different S species in the cathode were determinedduring the cycling of the Li−S battery. The main advantage of X-ray emission spectroscopy is that it can be performed onconcentrated samples with S loading comparable to a real battery. The approach shows great promise for routine laboratory analysisof electrochemical processes in Li−S batteries and other sulfur-based systems under operando conditions.
Keywords: X-ray emission spectroscopy, lithium−sulfur batteries, operando measurements, oxidation state, von Hamos spectrometer
Published in DiRROS: 19.12.2024; Views: 58; Downloads: 34
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Published in DiRROS: 19.12.2024; Views: 79; Downloads: 44
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Abstract: It is necessary to improve the understanding of thermal comfort to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling in heritage buildings, which are often energy inefficient and where interventions are limited. Personal thermal comfort models based on measurements of environmental conditions and the individual's physiological and subjective responses represent a potential solution to ensure the optimization of existing systems. Past research shows that lighting could impact thermophysiology and subjective perception of thermal conditions, but it is not clear whether the impact is sufficient to make light adaptation an appropriate solution to reduce energy consumption in heritage buildings, where people live and work. The research conducted under realistic semi-controlled conditions in an office environment of an existing building addresses this research gap. The paper presents the first partial simplified analyses and preliminary results of a wider ongoing study, mainly showing a correlation between skin temperature and air temperature and a partially promising effect of light on subjective thermal perception. Our research on the effect of light on thermal comfort does not provide definitive conclusions but rather highlights the need for further investigation in actual heritage buildings.
Keywords: heritage buildings, minimal intervention renovation, thermal comfort, light
Published in DiRROS: 19.12.2024; Views: 85; Downloads: 32
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