All over the world, Ariane, named after a heroine from Greek mythology, is the symbol of European technological know-how, recognised for its quality and dependability. Ariane rockets today rank among the world's leading satellite launchers. But Europe is not only at the forefront of space applications in the field of telecommunications and Earth observation.
 

At a time when the European Research Area is acquiring real substance, the European Union is preparing to welcome new members. Which raises the question of how to make the most of their potential scientific contribution. Meeting in Brussels this summer, researchers from this 'Greater Europe' looked at possible strategies to promote the essential movement of minds.
 

A wave of revolt is rocking the world of life sciences. An appeal for a boycott of scientific publishers who refuse to publish articles about research results on-line, quickly and without charge, has already collected more than 26 000 signatures in over 150 countries. Europe is now getting involved in the debate - initiated in the United States - and proposing a constructive solution to the conflict by launching the E-Biosci initiative.
 

Rewarding decades of perseverance, the Very Large Telescope (VLT) has now come into service on the Mount Paranal site, at the heart of the Atacama Desert in Chile. This provides the European Southern Observatory (ESO) with the most powerful space exploration instrument in the world. We zoom in on a scientific 'epic' that is a flagship of European research.
 

There are no limits to curiosity, especially when trying to explore and understand the immensity of the cosmos. This is why astronomers are constantly seeking to develop the tools to satisfy their perpetual desire to know more, to see further. At the same time as developing the Paranal VLT, ESO also started work on two international 'megaprojects' known as ALMA and OWL; both represent major scientific and technological challenges.
 

Who reads RTD info? What do they think of it? What changes do they want to see? What purpose do they think it serves? Has it reached all its potential readers? In short, what is RTD info doing right, and what is it doing wrong? A questionnaire included with issue 29 (April 2000) answered these and other questions. Setting aside any false modesty, the overwhelmingly positive comments are as encouraging as they are constructive.
 

All over the world, Ariane, named after a heroine from Greek mythology, is the symbol of European technological know-how, recognised for its quality and dependability. Ariane rockets today rank among the world's leading satellite launchers. But Europe is not only at the forefront of space applications in the field of telecommunications and Earth observation.
 

By the end of the year, European space strategy is due to produce a partnership between the Commission and the European Space Agency. Achilleas Mitsos, the Director-General for Research, is responsible for coordination and space policy at the Commission, and currently the co-chair of the task force.
 

The European Space Agency (ESA) has been weaving the technological, scientific and commercial web of Europe's command of space for more than a quarter of a century. A brief profile of an institution renowned for its excellence reveals it is now ready to place its full potential at the service of European Union policies.