The Animetrics ERC Starting Grant has led to the invention of the first computer models capable of simulating in an accurate, efficient and robust manner the behavior of full textiles using a yarn-level representation. The proposed models handle frictional yarn interactions at the small scale, yet they naturally produce the rich large-scale nonlinearity of textiles. In contrast, models used in the fashion, engineering, or VFX industries nowadays, describe textiles as a continuum, and do not reach the accuracy required for validating the mechanical behavior and visual appearance of cloth. The FabricMetrics project will develop a commercial prototype that will leverage yarn-level fabric models, and will enable digital testing of designs, utilize economic and renewable materials while achieving desired mechanical properties, or explore the design space of textiles until the desired fit, drape and flow are achieved. The project plan includes the development of the commercial prototype, testing phases, establishment of connections and alliances with potential customers (fashion schools and fashion companies), and the refinement of the current business plan.

The ECOCLIM project will design a two-year international Master programme aiming at understanding the ecological causes and consequences of climate change on biodiversity and their impact on society. Climate change is a major threat worldwide, and its mitigation a top priority of European policies, which recognise the essential role of universities to engage with students and the wider community on the fight against climate change. The programme will be designed by a consortium of five universities coordinated by Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Spain), together with Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal), Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany), Bangor University (UK) and Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala (Mexico). The project will design an innovative, high-level, integrated transnational Joint Master on Ecology, Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change, based on an ecological perspective on climate change effects on biodiversity and society and focussing on mitigation and adaptation measures. ECOCLIM will capitalize on the expertise of renowned international institutions, answering the needs in the academic field to foster awareness-raising and to provide new knowledge and skills. The project will develop joint protocols related to the implementation, quality assurance, accreditation and dissemination of the programme in all partner institutions. This will be carried out by a coordinated group of local and international working teams with specific and interrelated tasks that will gather in regular workshops throughout the project. The designed programme will showcase European excellence, enhancing the attractiveness of the EHEA and consolidating Europe’s leadership in climate change action around the world. Furthermore, our project contributes to the Erasmus Mundus goals by including clearly under-represented, countries, institutions and thematic areas. ECOCLIM will prepare a new generation of graduate students that will meet the future needs of nature and society.

The relationship between plant functional diversity and ecosystem functioning has been hotly debated, and previous research has shown direct feedbacks effects of functional community structure on ecosystem processes. However, previous studies have not considered indirect effects via changes in biotic interactions, and this is an emerging and crucial challenge for community and ecosystem ecologists. The DRYFUN project aims to assess the ultimate effects of biotic interactions on ecosystem processes of global drylands, by coupling a multi-trait approach with an observational database from 236 sites distributed among all continents except Antarctica. Its main objectives are to: (i) test the importance of abiotic and biotic processes for community structure in global drylands, (ii) assess the importance of within- and between-species trait variability for functional diversity, (iii) assess both the direct and indirect impact of dryland functional diversity on ecosystem multifunctionality (i.e., the provision of several ecosystem processes simultaneously; multifunctionality hereafter) at multiple spatial scales and (iv) explore the importance of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversities on multifunctionality. The DRYFUN project is a unique opportunity to test the universal impact of functional diversity on dryland ecosystem functioning, and to provide data for establishing relevant management and restoration strategies for drylands.