This project aims at the control of wave properties through the control of disorder, an objective that can be achieved with waves that propagate in macroscopic media. It builds on a fruitful Chilean-French collaboration that goes back ten years, that has provided a solid theoretical backbone to our understanding of wave propagation in complex media. In addition, both sides have developed a close interaction with experimental groups in their respective countries. This proposal raises the ongoing collaboration to a new level of ambition, by bringing the experimental groups into a jointly articulated initiative. Research activities will be both of a theoretical and experimental nature, and carried out symmetrically in Chile and France. There will be significant cross-talk among the various participants in the different labs and countries, reflecting the existing culture of collaboration. Extensive use will be made of current communications technology to link the various groups, and face-to-face meetings will be organized to enable the type of communication that can only be achieved through personal, collective contact. The propagation of waves in complex media is a vast subject. Particularly, lack of quantitative understanding, much less control, of the role of disorder, hampers progress in many fields, from the technology of amorphous semiconductors, to the control of turbulence in fluids, to the characterization of granular materials in the mining, food, and pharmaceutical industries. In this proposal, two specific topics have been chosen for research: 1) Wave propagation in slightly disordered periodic media, and 2) Effect of nonlinearities on wave propagation through disordered media. Available theory will be revisited and expanded as needed and suggested by currently available numerical capabilities and experimental hardware. Specific experiments will be performed with centimetric microwaves in a metallo-dielectric metamaterial; with acoustic waves in a wave guide endowed with a chain of resonators; with surface waves on a fluid, and with ultrasonic waves in solid materials. The criteria that have been used to arrive at these topics are: A) Familiarity of proposers with one or several recently developed, and available, technologies that enable unique data-gathering capabilities. B) Ease of control of disorder in the propagating medium. C) Close relation between theoretical and experimental capabilities of proposers. D) Track record of successful collaboration among participants.

The COMAGNET project is positionned in the following topic developed over several years by each partner laboratory (LACMDTI University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (France) and Laboratoire EPM at Northeastern University - China): the magnétoscience. The interaction of a magnetic field with a materials elaboration process can change the characteristics of the compounds obtained. The main interest of this project is to develop magnetic films of cobalt based metal alloys or oxides, with applications in the magnetic field. Candidates for our studies are nanostructured alloys such as CoX (X = Cu, Ni, Fe, Cr, Pt ..) and oxides such as CoFe2O4 for different applications: permanent magnets, magnetic recording, magnetoresistive effect GMR giant magneto-optical. The major objective is to show that the magnetic properties (coercive force, saturation magnetization, magnetic anisotropy) are modified by the imposition of a high magnetic field (HMF) during the production process. Originality and innovative aspect of COMAGNET is to couple two processes carried out under high magnetic field: -firstly develop alloys and oxides of nanostructured cobalt electrodeposition under pulsed magnetic field -on the other hand, perform thermal treatments or oxidation of electrodeposited materials in the presence of magnetic field under controlled atmosphere. The coupling of both processes is to increase the functionality of the material. Studies of the electrodeposition (low-cost method) in a magnetic field of thin films of oxides or alloys have shown the influence of magnetic field on the morphology, crystallographic phase composition or the physical properties of the material. The magnetic field generally promotes deposits denser and more homogeneous with grain sizes reduced. The magnetic field then becomes an alternative brighteners and leveling agents during the process. In the case of deposits of cobalt or cobalt alloys such as FeCo, the magnetic field influences the structure and magnetic properties of the material. Generally, deposits made by electrodeposition require thermal treatments under controlled atmosphere to improve the functionality of the material. The EPM Laboratory has significant experience in the field of metallurgical phenomena in high magnetic fields such as solidification, diffusion, and reactions to the film-substrate interface. In this project, both thick deposits or nanometric thickness depending on the desired application could be developped. The part of the project "electrodeposition under high magnetic field " will be coordinated by the LACMDTI and will be completed by the recruitment of two post-doctoral positions while the EPM hire a postdoc to conduct the study “treatment under HMF. The characterizations of the materials obtained will be shared by both partners, since their equipment are highly complementary (Analysis by XRD, ICP, XPS, AES, SEM, TEM, MFM, VSM ...). The formation mechanisms of various materials during processes used will be captured by fundamental studies in the third year based on the experience of the both laboratories.

TUdi is conceived as a transformative project, integrating 15 academic and SME partners, to develop, upscale and disseminate soil restoring strategies in three major agricultural systems (cereal based rotations, tree crops and grasslands), different farm typologies and environmental conditions in Europe, China and New Zealand. Aimed to lead the way in improving soil health across EU, China and New Zealand, it rests on two pillars: 1) a network of 42 cooperating stakeholder organisations for defining, implementing and upscaling soil restoring strategies in multiple farms; b) a network of 66 long-term experiments and monitored farms in the participating countries. From them, TUdi will identify soil degradation situations, proven strategies for restoring soil health, and barriers and possibilities for its adoption at farm level, including gender dimensions. This bottom-up approach will develop a set of digital tools, compatible with platforms for optimizing CAP implementation in Europe, to predict the impact of these strategies on nutrient and water balance, yield, cost-benefit and farm operations. They will guide farmers in implementing strategies to restore soil health by overcoming barriers for adoption, with rigorous cost-benefit analyses central to farmer appraisal. Solutions will be scaled up over a large number of farms through partners engaged in the cooperators network, including training of stakeholders, developing technical materials and elaborating policy briefs. It will be complemented by communicating project challenges and results to society, raising awareness of the relevance of healthy soils for sustainable development. Providing a blueprint for development and dissemination of soil restoring strategies at large scale, it will contribute to key initiatives like the EU and China Research Agenda for Agriculture and EU Mission on Soil Heath and Food. Training farmers, staff and early career scientists in sustainable soil use will result in lasting legacy.

SHui is conceived as a network integrating long-term experiments of its 19 academic and SME partners across different environmental conditions and cropping systems in the EU and China. It provides a platform for research on soil-water resources management under water scarce conditions, to better understand the linkages between agricultural soil hydrology and sustainability and for a systematic assessment of adaptation and mitigation methods. It will develop and implement new strategies to increase water use efficiency and yield, based on sustainable intensification through integrated use of soil and water across different spatial scales. At farm level, this includes digital agriculture solutions integrating in situ and remote sensors and simulation models to exploit an improved understanding of the relationship between crop yield variability and soil hydraulic properties, optimizing circular approaches to re-use water and using waste water sources. These technical approaches are reliant on optimum data utilization and transdisciplinary research with multiple stakeholders. At regional scales, the aggregation of biophysical and socioeconomic variables in dynamic models will evaluate the impact of different policy strategies, to support decision makers to evaluate different scenarios of land-use dynamics, economic context and current and future climate in EU and China, including assessments of water and carbon footprint. SHui will exploit scientific, technological and social innovations by disseminating and communicating these to multiple stakeholders, and implementing novel technological packages from farm to large regional scales. It aims to make a significant contribution to the EU and China Research Agenda for Agriculture in providing food security and optimum use of scarce soil and water resources. Training a cohort of early career scientists in soil conservation and water-saving practices, SHui’s legacy will extend beyond the project duration.