Dr Elena Velado-Alonso at the University of Göttingen has been awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship to launch “METAGROLAND: Understanding metacommunity dynamics through plant–pollinator interactions in agroecosystems to improve the efficiency of agri-environmental schemes.” Agri-environmental schemes (AES) are government-funded schemes set up to help farmers manage their land in an environmentally friendly way. The new 24-month project will investigate how AES can better sustain pollinator communities and the fundamental interactions that underpin plant reproduction and crop yields. Supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, METAGROLAND will develop tools to guide the design of more effective, large-scale AES and help build more resilient agricultural ecosystems.

A new study shows that restricting international migration for mothers with young children can improve children's health and educational outcomes without impacting household income. Using a real-world policy change in Sri Lanka, researchers found fewer hospital visits and better school progress among affected children. The findings provide rare evidence from an implemented migration policy and highlight how early maternal presence can shape long-term human capital investment.

Many older adults who didn’t get updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines say they thought they didn’t need the shots, despite strong evidence that they reduce the risk of severe illness in this age group.