Balkan Science Beat

News about science in South-East Europe by Mićo Tatalović.

Professor Balthazar: solving problems without inventions (plus, a full list of his many contraptions)

The image many of us have of Professor Balthazar is of him pacing up and down his study before rushing into the laboratory to start up his colorful invention machine. His “miraculous machine” then makes “one of his famous inventions”, and Read more [...]

Professor Balthazar’s biggest flops: how the cult 1960-70s Yugoslav animation series portrayed failure in science

Some of professor Balthazar's many frustrations If you’ve ever watched or heard of Professor Balthazar, the lead character of the eponymous cult Yugoslav animation series from the 1960-70s, you likely think of him as a successful inventor whose Read more [...]

Eastern European countries snub neighbours’ science policy

Looking East of an imaginary line going through Berlin and Rome all the way to the Urals creates a broad outline of what Eastern Europe is, in the widest geographical definition. What is striking about this broad region is the number of similarities between different countries, not least in science. And yet it is equally surprising how little these countries exchange good practice. Specifically, scientists and policymakers will talk for hours about problems in their country. But few will have much awareness of how similar problems have been overcome in neighbouring countries. Read more [...]

Exclusive: Q&A with Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, president of the ERC, on its work to engage East Europe

The next meeting of the scientific council of the European Research Council (ERC) takes place – for the first time – in Zagreb, Croatia, this month (20-22 October 2014). Mićo Tatalović recently spoke to Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, who took over as president of the ERC in January, about what the ERC can do to improve research in East Europe. Read more [...]