by Charlotte Alber and Dan Kolmer

Sailors of the Tall Ships period used to rely on the trade wind for their Atlantic crossings, that steady wind which blows for most of the year from east to west. The trades are part of a cyclical wind system north and south of the equator, which rotate around the Doldrums. Crossing the Doldrums going north or south, sailors would encounter the antitrade wind, which blows from west to east.

by Mary Kavanagh

European intellectuals have been aware for centuries of the knowledge, experience and insight that only contacts with other countries can bring. To strengthen this long tradition, the European Union has long supported programs to encourage mobility of students, teachers and researchers within Europe. However today European universities and research institutions are competing with those from other continents when it comes to attracting and keeping the best talent from all over the world. For this reason, European mobility programs have been expanded to include important international dimensions, some of particular interest to scientists and other academics in the USA.

by Sieglinde Gruber

http://europa.eu.int/eracareers

Europe’s administrative and economic borders have largely fallen away, while its political and cultural boundaries are gradually converging. This provides European scientists and researchers with potentially unprecedented opportunities to find their calling anywhere on the continent.

by Joseph Jamar

Undertaking a mobility experience represents a real challenge for many researchers and their families. Difficulties often start when trying to prepare the move to a foreign country and to deal with the thousand questions which naturally arise. These range from going though the lengthy procedures of settling visas and administrative matters to the difficulties of finding a house, accessing health services or identifying a language course. Many researchers consider this period as lengthy and somewhat discouraging. There may, however, be some good news in the months to come.

by Maria Fiala und Maria Bürgermeister

Austria is not necessarily among those countries regarded as leading locations in the global biotechnology industry. However, the country has made continuing efforts to improve its position in one of the most important technologies and industries of the future. A cornerstone of these activities is GEN-AU – the Austrian Genome Research Program. The program, financed and organised by the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture, covers a widespread variety of research activities. GEN-AU’s focus is medical biotechnology, but there are also projects in agricultural and animal genomics. Several programs targeting the improved networking and organisation of biotechnological research round out the GEN-AU plan.