German-Swiss study shows that 2 million European homes could abandon the grid

 

https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/06/cambridge-university-how-to-achieve-net.html

Following up on my previous post, available at the link above, where I discussed an interesting article by two researchers from the University of Cambridge,  I would like to highlight another study conducted by researchers from universities in Germany and Switzerland. This study investigates the potential for energy self-sufficiency in 41 million homes across Europe and concludes that 53% of these homes could achieve this using photovoltaic panels and battery storage systems. Furthermore, the article estimates that by 2050, approximately 2 million homes could fully disconnect from the electrical grid. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2542435123004026

Paradoxically, these scenarios may not be as ambitious as they initially appear. A home that disconnects from the grid and becomes energy self-sufficient does not necessarily yield substantial benefits, particularly when considering not only the financial costs but, more critically, the urgent need for the decarbonization of the building sector. Decarbonization extends beyond energy production to include the materials used in construction—an essential factor that is often neglected. Unfortunately, this oversight is shared by several individuals, even those with significant academic credentials, as I have previously critiqued https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/03/addressing-euronews-oversight-essential.html

PS - It is essential to emphasize that the recent Draghi report highlights decarbonization as a pivotal element in bolstering EU competitiveness https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/09/recalling-my-past-clash-with-german-mp.html

UBI: Dar mérito a quem realmente o merece

 

https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/10/uma-atraccao-irrestivel-por-rankings-da.html

Depois de anteriormente ter criticado os responsáveis da Universidade da Beira Interior, por em má hora terem dado crédito a um ranking de investigadores da treta, aproveito agora para divulgar o nome daqueles Colegas, que muito meritoriamente, desde 2019, quando pela primeira vez foi publicado o conhecido ranking Stanford-Elsevier, tiveram lugar no pódio anual daquela instituição, sem desvalor da obra de muitos outros Colegas na mesma instituição, cujo nome também consta do mesmo ranking, e que também merecem reconhecimento, pois também contribuíram para ajudar Portugal a sair da irrelevância científica.https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2022/08/picec-processo-de-irrelevancia.html  

PS - O investigador João Catalão, agora professor catedrático na universidade do Porto, merece uma menção especial, porque embora não aparecendo no pódio da UBI a seguir a 2019, a justificação para isso deve-se ao facto do seu nome aparecer nos ficheiros do ranking Stanford-Elsevier, como pertencendo à universidade do Porto, onde muito meritóriamente integrou o pódio daquela instituição em 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 e 2024. 

Addressing the Paradox of Excellence in Research: The Role of GPT at the U. of Oslo

A recent study titled "Are Outstanding Researchers Also Top Teachers?" examined the relationship between research productivity and teaching effectiveness in higher education, shedding light on the so-called excellence paradox. The findings reveal that while highly productive researchers often excel in teaching due to their up-to-date knowledge enriching classroom instruction, they tend to receive lower teaching evaluations.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038012124002982#sec5

The authors of the paper argue that this discrepancy likely stems from the heavy demands of research, which restrict the time and energy top researchers can invest in teaching. These scholars, consumed by their drive to push the boundaries of their fields, may simply deprioritize teaching. While this explanation makes sense, it's also possible that many of these researchers are simply not as interested in teaching, viewing it as secondary to their primary focus on research. 

Still, if their hypothesis is correct, leveraging GPT could be a valuable solution to help alleviate the time constraints faced by top researchers. Interestingly, the University of Oslo (UiO) has already embraced AI innovation with a custom service called GPT UiO. Tailored to meet strict European privacy regulations (GDPR), this platform empowers both students and staff to harness GPT models for a wide range of academic and administrative purposes, including writing assignments, supporting research, and even programming tasks. https://www.uio.no/english/services/ai/teacher/

PS - Several prominent researchers, including two-time Nobel laureate in Physics John Bardeen, are reported to have preferred research to teaching. Bardeen was characterized as a reserved individual who tended to avoid the spotlight, including the classroom setting. Similarly, other Nobel laureates, such as Barbara McClintock in Medicine and Eric Betzig in Chemistry, have also articulated a preference for research over pedagogical responsibilities.