{"id":778,"date":"2023-05-24T11:56:55","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T10:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/?p=778"},"modified":"2023-05-24T11:56:55","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T10:56:55","slug":"erasmus-staff-mobility-at-the-university-of-extremadura-in-badajoz-spain-a-teaching-and-practicing-beacon-of-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/2023\/05\/24\/erasmus-staff-mobility-at-the-university-of-extremadura-in-badajoz-spain-a-teaching-and-practicing-beacon-of-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Erasmus+ Staff Mobility at the University of Extremadura in Badajoz, Spain - A Teaching and Practicing Beacon of Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Written by <a href=\"https:\/\/researchportal.bath.ac.uk\/en\/persons\/carmelo-herdes-moreno\">Dr Carmelo Herdes<\/a>, Senior Lecturer, Deputy Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>On approach to Badajoz Airport (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aena.es\/en\/badajoz\/get-to-know-us\/history.html\">Talavera la Real Air Base<\/a>) after a short flight from Madrid, the landscape screams \u201cPotential\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Landing at 19:10, the need to wear sunglasses leave no doubt as to why the installed photovoltaic power in Extremadura surpasses their generated hydraulic and nuclear power. This trend is positive, sharp and sustained. In a matter of three years (2018 \u2013 2021), the photovoltaic generation went from 10% to 43% of the total energy portfolio of Extremadura (25GWh, which represents 10% of the energy generated in Spain).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-782 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/PEIEC.png\" alt=\"Cover of the Plan Extreme\u00f1o Integrado de Energ\u00eda y Clima\" width=\"165\" height=\"235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/PEIEC.png 165w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/PEIEC-151x215.png 151w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 165px) 100vw, 165px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Extremadura\u2019s potential is not only about the copious sunlight; a plan for sustainable energy generation and use is well set and ongoing in the background. Extremadura is committed to sustainability with coordinated actions gathered in the PEIEC from the Spanish <em>\u201cPlan Extreme\u00f1o Integrado de Energ\u00eda y Clima\u201d<\/em>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.juntaex.es\/documents\/77055\/406857\/Actuacion-Plan+Extreme%C3%B1o+Integrado+de+Energia+y+Clima+2021-2030.pdf\/7f5e596b-8d8e-50a0-9df9-c03e48cad0d0?t=1637147991642\">Extremadura Integrated Energy and Climate Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The PEIEC\u2019s main areas of action towards 2030 are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Climate change mitigation<\/li>\n<li>Adaptation to climate change<\/li>\n<li>Research and innovation<\/li>\n<li>Social activation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>My <strong>Erasmus+ Staff Mobility (Training)<\/strong> nurtured from the above background where the University of Extremadura (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unex.es\/?set_language=en&amp;cl=en\">UoE<\/a>), Staff, Students and Infrastructure are all active enablers of the PEIEC ambitions through their day-to-day research and teaching deeds.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The main training activities are summarized below.<\/p>\n<p><u>Day 1 (29 March 2023)<\/u><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Training session on <strong>Absorption System for Air Conditioning: <\/strong>Delivery by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hoyextremaduraesfuturo.es\/2022\/04\/04\/la-importancia-del-camino\/\">Prof. Silvia ROM\u00c1N SUERO<\/a> (SRS). Chemical Engineer and Professor of physics, thermodynamics and thermal energy. She is the Director of Teaching (Secretaria Acad\u00e9mica) of the School of Industrial Engineering at UoE. Her research focuses on thermo-physical processes for biomass recovery and valorisation (e.g. biofuels and hydrochars). In this training session, Silvia shared her knowledge on fundamental concepts, problem classes and assessments of\u00a0absorption systems for air conditioning (AC) as a sustainable alternative to standard AC compression cycles.<\/li>\n<li>Workshop on <strong>Lignocellulose Biomass under Hydrothermal Conditions: <\/strong>in the context of the project <em>\u201cReciprocal use of by-products from wet biomass management: joint hydro carbonization and digestion to lengthen the life cycle of both processes\u201d<\/em>. After an in-depth discussion of the project\u2019s objectives, advances and challenges, a detailed description of the experimental activities, via a laboratory tour, was given.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><u>Day 2 <\/u><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Round table on the <strong>Use of Residual Currents in Wine Companies to Carbonise their Waste: <\/strong>feasibility evaluation meeting. This project has been given the green light to produce of biochar from waste to improve the vineyard's soil's absorption of water and nutrients.<\/li>\n<li>Round table on <strong>Molecular Simulations Associated with Biomass: <\/strong>this was a follow-up activity to the workshop on lignocellulose biomass under hydrothermal conditions, where molecular simulation tools and methodologies were identified to guide the experiments or help interpret current results. Potential training for a PhD student to construct and validate envisaged predictive models at the University of Bath was discussed.<\/li>\n<li>Visit the <strong>Biorefinery Pilot Plant<\/strong> with students of the <strong>MSc in Renewable Energies<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-780 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/Day-2-picture-1024x564.png\" alt=\"collection of images from a visited to CYTED\" width=\"1024\" height=\"564\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/Day-2-picture-1024x564.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/Day-2-picture-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/Day-2-picture-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/Day-2-picture-390x215.png 390w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/Day-2-picture.png 1351w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><u>Day 3<\/u><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-779 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/Cyted-image-270x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/Cyted-image-270x300.png 270w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/Cyted-image-193x215.png 193w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/Cyted-image.png 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px\" \/>Meeting with new members of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyted.org\/en\/node\/4812\"><strong>CYTED<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong> This network is the <strong>Ibero-American Programme on <\/strong><strong>Science and Technology for Development<\/strong>, created by the governments of Ibero-American countries to promote cooperation in science, technology and innovation for the harmonious development of Ibero-American countries. At this meeting, experiences were shared, and strategies and events for 2023 were discussed. On attendance: Silvia Rom\u00e1n Suero, Angel F. Mohedano, Rodrigo Ram\u00edrez Pisco, Beatriz\u00a0 Ledesma Cano, Borja Velazquez Marti and Manuel Oter.<\/li>\n<li>Meeting with the <strong>Vice-Deans for Institutional Relations and Internationalization<\/strong>. I was honoured with the opportunity to meet with Professors Carlos Alberto GAL\u00c1N GONZ\u00c1LEZ (School of Industrial Engineering) and Fernando Javier \u00c1LVAREZ FRANCO (Faculty of Science) of the UoE to discuss potential Students\u2019 Mobility agreements at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/courses\/undergraduate-2023\/chemical-engineering\/\">undergraduate<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/courses\/postgraduate-2023\/taught-postgraduate-courses\/msc-environmental-engineering\/\">master levels<\/a>. On completing the agreement, briefing Bath students about UoE and greeting UoE students at Bath, I promise to wear the UoE red tie!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-781 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/final-day.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"866\" height=\"487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/final-day.png 866w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/final-day-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/final-day-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2023\/05\/final-day-382x215.png 382w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>The fantastic social activities warrant a whole blog! But a special big thank you to my hosts Silvia, Bea and Jose for opening their homes, wines and kitchens in that particular order.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>!Much\u00edsimas gracias!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Please feel free to <a href=\"mailto:cehm21@bath.ac.uk\">contact Carmelo directly<\/a> if you would like to know more<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span class=\"ui-provider vv b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak\" dir=\"ltr\">Carmelo Herdes' mobility abroad was possible thanks to funding provided by the Erasmus+ programme. University of Bath staff should note that all Erasmus+ funding for staff mobility has now been allocated for the entirety of our current project and we will no longer be accepting any further applications.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Dr Carmelo Herdes, Senior Lecturer, Deputy Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. On approach to Badajoz Airport (Talavera la Real Air Base) after a short flight from Madrid, the landscape screams \u201cPotential\u201d. Landing at 19:10, the need...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":625,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8,15,9,13,16,10,1,7],"tags":[47,44,97],"coauthors":[33],"class_list":["post-778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-culture","category-erasmus","category-fundingscholarships","category-mobility","category-partnership","category-research","category-uncategorized","category-visit","tag-erasmus","tag-international-relations-office","tag-staff-mobility"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/625"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=778"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/778\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=778"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/iro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}