Fast dynamics in glass-forming salol investigated by dielectric spectroscopy

We analyze dielectric-loss spectra of glass forming salol extending up to 400 GHz allowing for the detection of the high-frequency minimum, where the fast critical dynamics predicted by the mode-coupling theory of the glass transition should prevail. Indeed, we find such a minimum which, moreover, well fulfills the critical scaling predicted by the theory. This includes the spectral shape of the minimum, the critical temperature dependence of the minimum frequency and amplitude, and the critical temperature dependence of the alpha-relaxation rate at high temperatures. The minimum exponents a and b leading to a system parameter lambda = 0.63 and the critical temperature Tc = 256 K are all in reasonable agreement with previous investigations of salol using different methods. Salol was one of the first materials where mode-coupling theory was tested and initial dielectric measurements were taken as an argument against the universal applicability of this theory.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Glassy Aging Dynamics

We present time-dependent dielectric loss data at different frequencies for a variety of glass formers after cooling below the glass temperature. The observed aging dynamics is described using a modified Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts law, which takes into account the time-dependent variation of the relaxation time during aging. It leads to values for the aging relaxation time and stretching exponent that are fully consistent with the results from equilibrium measurements performed at higher temperatures. Irrespective of the dynamic process prevailing in the investigated frequency region, the aging dynamics is always determined by the structural relaxation process.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Opening science to society:how to progress societal engagement into (open) science policies

A broad understanding of the aims and objectives of the international open science movement was recently adopted with the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, expanding the focus of open science to include scientific knowledge, infrastructures, knowledge systems and the open engagement of societal actors. In response, recent discussions on science policy practice are shifting to the implementation of open science via national policy. While policy instruments to support some aspects of open science are well-studied, guidance on the emerging ‘social’ aspects of open science has lagged, prompting UNESCO to generate guidance. In this paper, authors of a UNESCO Open Science Toolkit guidance document on ‘Engaging societal actors in Open Science’ synthesize the scholarly underpinnings behind the guidance document's recommendations. This work draws upon a targeted search from academic, policy, and grey literature in the fields of open science and community engagement, with a special focus on citizen science, to derive guidance on how to overcome barriers to the uptake of societal engagement approaches. The results present building blocks of what an enabling environment for the open engagement of societal actors could look like, identifying key considerations and reflecting on opportunities and challenges for progressing and evaluating sound open engagement of societal actors into regional & national (open) science policies

Opening science to society:how to progress societal engagement into (open) science policies

A broad understanding of the aims and objectives of the international open science movement was recently adopted with the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, expanding the focus of open science to include scientific knowledge, infrastructures, knowledge systems and the open engagement of societal actors. In response, recent discussions on science policy practice are shifting to the implementation of open science via national policy. While policy instruments to support some aspects of open science are well-studied, guidance on the emerging ‘social’ aspects of open science has lagged, prompting UNESCO to generate guidance. In this paper, authors of a UNESCO Open Science Toolkit guidance document on ‘Engaging societal actors in Open Science’ synthesize the scholarly underpinnings behind the guidance document's recommendations. This work draws upon a targeted search from academic, policy, and grey literature in the fields of open science and community engagement, with a special focus on citizen science, to derive guidance on how to overcome barriers to the uptake of societal engagement approaches. The results present building blocks of what an enabling environment for the open engagement of societal actors could look like, identifying key considerations and reflecting on opportunities and challenges for progressing and evaluating sound open engagement of societal actors into regional & national (open) science policies

Glassy dynamics in mono-, di-, and tri-propylene glycol: From the alpha- to the fast beta-relaxation

We present a thorough characterization of the glassy dynamics of three propylene glycols (mono-, di- and trimer) by broadband dielectric spectroscopy. By covering a frequency range of more than 15 decades, we have access to the entire variety of dynamic processes typical for glassy dynamics. These results add three more molecular glass formers to the sparse list of materials for which real broadband spectra, including the region of the fast beta-process, are available. Some first analyses of the various observed dynamic processes are provided

Citizens observatories for effective Earth observations: the WeSenseIt approach

The WeSenseIt project defines citizen observatories as “A method, an environment and an infrastructure supporting an information ecosystem for communities and citizens, as well as emergency operators and policymakers, for discussion, monitoring and intervention on situations, places and events” . A collaborative approach has been taken to develop solutions that involve an exchange of information and expertise from all participants and where the focus is on arriving at practical solutions with a clear vision and direction. This has created a shared ownership scheme, and shifts power to the process itself rather than remaining within authorities, developers or decision-makers. The project’s emphasis is on delivering highly innovative technologies to support citizens, communities and authorities in developing a real-time situation awareness while ensuring all stakeholders play their part. Implementation has been through a combination of crowdsourcing, custom applications and dedicated web portals designed to foster collaboration, and which has created a shared knowledge base that facilitates decision-making processes and engages with communities. Data is captured via innovative sensors that are used directly by citizens, crowdsourcing from social networks (or by collective intelligence)

Dielectric spectroscopy on aging glasses

In the present work, we provide further evidence for the applicability of a modified stretched-exponential behavior, proposed recently for the description of aging-time dependent data below the glass temperature [P. Lunkenheimer et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (2005) 055702]. We analyze time-dependent dielectric loss data in a variety of aging glasses, including new data on Salol and propylene carbonate, using a conventional stretched exponential and the newly proposed approach. Also the scaling of aging data obtained at different measuring frequencies, which was predicted on the basis of the new approach, is checked for its validity.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, submitted to proceedings of 5th IDMRCS, Lille, 200

Mapping citizen science contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a vision for achieving a sustainable future. Reliable, timely, comprehensive, and consistent data are critical for measuring progress towards, and ultimately achieving, the SDGs. Data from citizen science represent one new source of data that could be used for SDG reporting and monitoring. However, information is still lacking regarding the current and potential contributions of citizen science to the SDG indicator framework. Through a systematic review of the metadata and work plans of the 244 SDG indicators, as well as the identification of past and ongoing citizen science initiatives that could directly or indirectly provide data for these indicators, this paper presents an overview of where citizen science is already contributing and could contribute data to the SDG indicator framework. The results demonstrate that citizen science is “already contributing” to the monitoring of 5 SDG indicators, and that citizen science “could contribute” to 76 indicators, which, together, equates to around 33%. Our analysis also shows that the greatest inputs from citizen science to the SDG framework relate to SDG 15 Life on Land, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, and SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation. Realizing the full potential of citizen science requires demonstrating its value in the global data ecosystem, building partnerships around citizen science data to accelerate SDG progress, and leveraging investments to enhance its use and impact