It will be followed by an open panel discussion with Q&A.
Whether you work in emergency services, civil protection, research or EU policy, this is a unique opportunity to hear science and practice in direct dialogue and to share your own experiences.
Practitioners Simon Franke (ICT Services, German Red Cross), Jorge Gomes (Operations Coordinator, VOST Europe), as well as experts Thomas Kox (SAPEA Working Group Member, Weizenbaum Institute) and Marta López Saavedra (Postdoctoral Researcher, IDAEA-CSIC) will share their experiences.
Building on our Rapid Evidence Review Report on AI in Emergency and Crisis Management, this session goes beyond the science to focus on practical, real-world examples of AI being applied in the field.
AI in Crisis Management: From Evidence to Practice
Join us on 31 March 2026 from 10:00 to 11:30 CET for an online webinar co-organised with Public Safety Communication Europe (PSCE) to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming crisis management.
Register now
scadv.eu/f6kVxY7
The ERC has invested €2.37 billion in frontier research on advanced materials between 2014 and 2023: an area crucial to Europe’s industrial competitiveness and transition to greener and digital futures.
Drawing on insights from over 1,500 ERC‑funded projects, the report illustrates how fundamental research lays the groundwork for real‑world solutions, sustainable growth and Europe’s leadership in strategic policy domains.
"Advanced materials: ERC frontier research for a competitive, sustainable Europe" showcases breakthroughs that are driving transformative change across key societal areas and underpinning a more sustainable, resilient and competitive Europe.
Ahead of the upcoming SAM reports on Advanced Materials, the European Research Council (ERC) has published a new report highlighting the vital role of frontier, curiosity‑driven research in this rapidly evolving field.
Read the full report:
erc.europa.eu/sites/defaul...
The numbers speak for themselves: restoring Europe's degraded ecosystems costs an estimated €150 billion, but delivers benefits at least ten times higher, through avoided disaster losses, improved public health, greater climate resilience, and strengthened food and water security.
Nature restoration isn't a cost: it's an investment.
EASAC's Commentary "Opportunities in Nature Restoration" makes the case that fully implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation is a strategic investment in Europe's health, security, and economic resilience.
scadv.eu/biSLsvU
Prof. Rémy Slama, speaking for the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA) of the European Commission, argued for sovereign European AI tools and urged caution: AI should not currently be used for any decision in a crisis. Humans must remain at the centre.
Commandant Quentin Brot offered a practitioner's perspective from the French firefighting services: AI works well for wildfire detection and logistics planning, but operational chatbots that advise firefighters during emergencies are, in his words, "highly dangerous."
Dr. Olya Kudina drew on the COVID-19 pandemic to illustrate how a crisis accelerates AI adoption, often at the expense of proper validation. Contact tracing apps failed not because the technology was flawed, but because governments communicated poorly, and public trust eroded.
Prof. Andrej Zwitter walked through the EU AI Act and showed that while the regulatory framework provides some clarity, significant grey zones remain, particularly around accountability and the fact that most large AI models are developed outside Europe.
Prof. Tina Comes described a "Goldilocks dilemma": too little trust in AI means useful tools go unused, but too much trust can lead to dangerous autopilot behaviour under the stress of an emergency. The challenge is finding the right balance, depending on the type of AI and the stakes involved.
What made it particularly valuable was the diversity of perspectives, all converging on one message: the question is not whether AI has potential in crisis management, but whether we have the governance, the data quality, and the institutional readiness to use it responsibly.
The Scientific Advice Mechanism recently held a webinar asking: “How far should we trust AI in a crisis situation?”
Watch the full webinar: scadv.eu/Le77prq
Read our full article: scadv.eu/MdexcSf
Access the reports: scadv.eu/0vB7fjq
Starting today at 3:00 p.m. Brussels time, our webinar on ‘How far should we trust AI in a crisis situation?’ will explore whether artificial intelligence can be used responsibly, ethically, and safely in emergency and crisis management. scadv.eu/CSQ97bE
Euro-CASE hopes to bring a diverse group of up to 300 leaders from across Europe for this event, including stakeholders from government, academia, industry, and civil society. Please contact academy@iae.ie for further information and to register for the conference.
The event will steer conversations on how engineering thinking can strengthen Europe's critical infrastructure resilience, taking into account key challenges, geopolitical tensions, and system interdependencies.
The 2026 Euro-CASE Annual Conference, "Engineering Resilience, securing Europe’s critical infrastructure in a changing world", will be organised in Belfast (Northern Ireland) on November 19, 2026. Additional details available on the Euro-CASE website: scadv.eu/kXnt76u
The session focuses on embedding EDI principles more deeply into SAPEA's scientific advisory work and activities. By sharing insights and experiences, participants also aim to develop concrete actions that will cascade through SAPEA's network of academies, ensuring that all voices are represented.
SAPEA is enhancing its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy: Dr Jennifer McMahon (Chair of SAPEA EDI Working Group) and Noel de Miranda (YASAS) discuss a pivotal meeting bringing together equity, diversity, and inclusion experts from across Europe. Read more: scadv.eu/p8FtDXd
Participants shared lessons learned and good practices from other science-policy organisations, examined key EDI themes within SAPEA processes, including inclusive participation, intersectionality, and monitoring and learning, and reflected on challenges encountered during implementation.
As part of these efforts, the Young Academies Science Advice Structure (YASAS) organised an expert workshop last week in Brussels, hosted by the Jonge Academie (JA).
Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. SAPEA is developing a strategy to embed EDI principles across its scientific advisory work and activities, thereby contributing to sound, legitimate, and high-quality science advice. Read more: scadv.eu/p8FtDXd
Following the publication of the Rapid Evidence Review, the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors issued a statement welcoming the report and stressing that the availability of AI tools must not replace inclusive decision-making. scadv.eu/sFxzDPB
The SAM is hosting a free webinar on "How far should we trust AI in a crisis situation?" on Wednesday, 25th February at 14:00 GMT (London) | 15:00 CET (Brussels) | 16:00 EET (Athens) – don't miss it! Register now to be part of this essential conversation.
scadv.eu/CUpCugP
An insightful interview with Professor Tina Comes on the role of responsible AI in disaster management. What stands out is the emphasis on AI not as a replacement for human decision-making, but as a tool that must be guided by transparency, accountability, and ethical oversight. scadv.eu/wNzWJeh
Founded in 1993, the NAMS is the country’s leading institution dedicated to medical research, clinical excellence, and public health. It brings together a vast network of research institutes, hospitals, and expert scientists working across disciplines.
