Committed to Planet A

Have you ever wondered what’s actually inside a smartphone? What raw materials are hidden in there and how are they are actually extracted? In this new episode of Committed to Planet A, we take you to the mining grounds to explore what really goes into the smartphones we use every day. From the materials hidden inside your device to the environmental and social impact of mining, we uncover the journey from raw resources to finished product - and what we can do to make this process more sustainable. For this episode, Sandrina Gasser, Chair of the EURECA-PRO Communication and Dissemination Office, sat down with Michel Varelija, researcher and expert in Mining Engineering and Geotechnics at Technical University of Leoben. Together, they talk about the hidden life cycle of smartphones, why responsible mining matters, and how more sustainable practices could shape the future of our devices.

Tune into the Research - What is the PhD Student Journey Like? In late November 2025, the University of León welcomed 13 PhD students from various universities within the EURECA-PRO alliance. Led by Andrés Sánchez, Communications Officer at EURECA-PRO ULE, we conducted a workshop called 'Tune into research' with the aim of having the students share their experiences as PhD candidates. Topics included the relationship with their supervisor, imposter syndrome and mental health, pursuing an academic or corporate future, and the pressure to publish. This new episode is the result of small group discussions held at León University Radio, followed by recorded interviews with several students who shared their experiences with the wider EURECA-PRO university community. Whether you're a PhD student, researcher, professor, or just starting your university career, you're sure to gain a lot from what they shared!

In this new episode of Committed to Planet A, we take you to the heart of the International Week held at Montanuniversitat Leoben last October. Beyond the agendas and strategic meetings, we explore the "human factor" that drives our European alliance. This program marks a technical milestone for EURECA-PRO: it is our first-ever remote recording connecting 5 countries simultaneously (Belgium, Germany, Austria, France, and Spain), proving that collaboration truly knows no borders. Hosted by Maria Speck (Hochschule Mittweida University of Applied Sciences) and Andrés Sánchez (University of León), we are joined by three guests who are key members of the Working Groups meeting in Austria: Anna Rath (Montanuniversitat Leoben) – International Relations Office (IRO) Capucine François (Université de Lorraine) – Communication & Dissemination (CODI) Steven Palmaers (Hasselt University) – Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) Together, we discuss the latest developments in mobility, our joint communication strategy, and the fostering of entrepreneurship. We also share candid insights into the personal experience of organizing and living through these massive international events. Tune in to hear how we are building Europe—from Leoben to the world.

In this new Student Sessions episode, we give you all the details about the PhD Journey 2025 call, organized by three universities in our alliance: TU Bergakademie Freiberg/Hochschule Mittweida and the University of León. Our colleague Andrés Sánchez interviews Beatriz Álvarez, EURECA-PRO technician at ULE, Beatriz Jiménez Parra, coordinator of the Doctoral School in León, and Ana Cuesta, a PhD student who took part in the 2024 PhD Journey. Listen to this episode and find out how to take part if you're a doctoral student!

On the occasion of their visit at TUC last March, we chat with Vanessa Massegg, EURECA-PRO's General Project Lead and Lisa Pichler, former General Project Lead, both from MUL, about European Universities, and the future of the academic sector.

Phd Students Stavroula Panagiotidou (TUC) and Nikolina Pervan (MUL) discuss their experience as participants of EURECA-PRO's 2024 PhD Journey organised by Hasselt University in Belgium.

TUC's EURECA-PRO Student Ambassadors, Stavroula Panagiotidou, Ioannis Karagiannidis and Ioulia Koroptsenko welcomed at TUC's Language Centre Researchers: Georgia Velli, Myrto Pagomenaki, Anna-Pagona Papidi, and Ioanna Feidopiasti, members of TUC TIE Lab team who designed and installed the EURECA-PRO Landmark art installation at TUC's campus.

During EURECA-PRO's Review Week in Nancy, May 2025, Maria Speck (HSMW), Maria Papadomanolaki (TUC) and Andrés Sánchez (ULE), EURECA-PRO's Podcast team, have worked really hard to record interviews with different members of the alliance to capture some of its highlights and breakthrough moments!

Andrés Sánchez from University of Leon's EURECA-PRO team chats with two students of ULE, Aralia Muñiz (also Vice-Chair of EURECA-PRO Student Council) and Ainhoa Villán,  about their experience as members of the EURECA-PRO student council and the European Student Assembly as well as being part of the change towards a more sustainable EUROPE.

Emmanouela Karefylaki and Eirini Athanasiadou, TUC PhD candidates guide us through their personal experiences and stories as participants of the 18th Young Researcher’s Colloquium that took place in Freiberg, Germany, last summer.

Dr Panagiotis Regouzas, Post-Doctoral Researcher at TUC interviews Dr Gregory Möller, Professor in the Soil and Water Systems Department and the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at the University of Idaho, with a joint appointment at Washington State University, on the topic of biochar.

Sotiris Fanourgiakis, scientific member of TUC's  PCCP Lab, interviews Dr Dimitrios Meimaroglou, As. Professor at ENSIC (University of Lorraine).