ALBERT

Description: This chapter is to demonstrate the challenges related to free time of seniors (especially EU residents) in the 21st century. The starting point for the considerations was to explain the concept of free time and to specify its characteristics, functions, and ways of using it. The structure of the seniors’ time budget and leisure activities undertaken by this group were analysed (based on Eurostat data). Subsequently, one of the important forms of free time management, that is, tourism, was studied. First, the essence of tourist activity was discussed and the reasons for undertaking it in the autumn of life. Second, the functions of senior tourism were distinguished and data on the participation of seniors from EU countries in it were presented. Third, taking into account that the concept of active ageing is increasingly the participation in various types of courses, trainings, workshops, etc., the chapter defines the place of seniors in the process of lifelong learning. The tasks of the University of the Third Age (U3A) were systematized and the available data on the participation of European seniors in educational programmes were analysed. The conclusion emphasizes the heterogeneity of the silver head segment.

Description: In Hunting Nature, Thomas P. Hodge explores Ivan Turgenev's relationship to nature through his conception, description, and practice of hunting—the most unquenchable passion of his life. Informed by an ecocritical perspective, Hodge takes an approach that is equal parts interpretive and documentarian, grounding his observations thoroughly in Russian cultural and linguistic context and a wide range of Turgenev's fiction, poetry, correspondence, and other writings. Included within the book are some of Turgenev's important writings on nature—never previously translated into English. Turgenev, who is traditionally identified as a chronicler of Russia's ideological struggles, is presented in Hunting Nature as an expert naturalist whose intimate knowledge of flora and fauna deeply informed his view of philosophy, politics, and the role of literature in society. Ultimately, Hodge argues that we stand to learn a great deal about Turgenev's thought and complex literary technique when we read him in both cultural and environmental contexts. Hodge details how Turgenev remains mindful of the way textual detail is wedded to the organic world—the priroda that he observed, and ached for, more keenly than perhaps any other Russian writer.

Description: The Global Consortium for the Classification of Fungi and fungus-like taxa is an international initiative of more than 550 mycologists to develop an electronic structure for the classification of these organisms. The members of the Consortium originate from 55 countries/regions worldwide, from a wide range of disciplines, and include senior, mid-career and early-career mycologists and plant pathologists. The Consortium will publish a biannual update of the Outline of Fungi and funguslike taxa, to act as an international scheme for other scientists. Notes on all newly published taxa at or above the level of species will be prepared and published online on the Outline of Fungi website (https://www.outlineoffungi.org/), and these will be finally published in the biannual edition of the Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa. Comments on recent important taxonomic opinions on controversial topics will be included in the biannual outline. For example, ‘to promote a more stable taxonomy in Fusarium given the divergences over its generic delimitation’, or ‘are there too many genera in the Boletales?’ and even more importantly, ‘what should be done with the tremendously diverse ‘dark fungal taxa?’ There are undeniable differences in mycologists’ perceptions and opinions regarding species classification as well as the establishment of new species. Given the pluralistic nature of fungal taxonomy and its implications for species concepts and the nature of species, this consortium aims to provide a platform to better refine and stabilise fungal classification, taking into consideration views from different parties. In the future, a confidential voting system will be set up to gauge the opinions of all mycologists in the Consortium on important topics. The results of such surveys will be presented to the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF) and the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF) with opinions and percentages of votes for and against. Criticisms based on scientific evidence with regards to nomenclature, classifications, and taxonomic concepts will be welcomed, and any recommendations on specific taxonomic issues will also be encouraged; however, we will encourage professionally and ethically responsible criticisms of others’ work. This biannual ongoing project will provide an outlet for advances in various topics of fungal classification, nomenclature, and taxonomic concepts and lead to a community-agreed classification scheme for the fungi and fungus-like taxa. Interested parties should contact the lead author if they would like to be involved in future outlines.

Description: High impact low likelihood events such as a major slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) remain an area of uncertainty in the climate modelling, impacts, adaptation and policy making communities. In order to avoid policy lock-ins and maladaptation, it is important to explore the possible impacts of AMOC slowdown to inform adaptation and policy measures in the UK and Europe. Previous studies have demonstrated key impacts of AMOC slowdown on the UK and Europe such as changes in extreme events, temperature and precipitation patterns. However, the third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment identified AMOC strength and associated societal impacts as a key gap in understanding and a need for assessing related future climate risks and opportunities. Using approaches that include climate storylines, we use model runs with diverging AMOC responses to explore the potential impacts of an AMOC slowdown on the energy sector. As climate policy focuses on both mitigation (Net Zero) and adaptation to the impacts of climate change, this work is particularly relevant to renewable generation and changing energy demands.