Denmark is investing heavily in restoring carbon-rich agricultural soils as wetlands to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, new research from Aarhus University shows that financial compensation alone is not enough to persuade landowners to participate.

Based on in-depth interviews with Danish farmers and landowners, the study highlights that decisions are shaped not only by economics, but also by identity, responsibility, uncertainty, and a deep attachment to the land. Farming practices are closely tied to values about what it means to be a “good farmer,” and these social norms can make it difficult to accept land-use changes such as rewetting fields.

The findings underline that successful climate policies must go beyond financial incentives and address the social and cultural dimensions of land management.

The Social Robotics Group of the Robotics Lab at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) has developed an innovative methodology based on artificial intelligence (AI) that allows a pet-type assistive robot to recognize the people it interacts with. The prototype, named Mía, is currently being tested in Madrid City Council day centers for the personalized affective stimulation of elderly people with cognitive decline.

A new study led by University of Maine researchers and published in The Rural Educator identifies strategies to make it easier for K-12 schools to make outdoor education part of their school curricula and culture. The study examined a rural Maine school that stood out for the breadth of its outdoor learning opportunities. Through interviews with teachers, administrators, parents and community partners, lead author Lauren Jacobs identified several factors that helped make outdoor education successful, including strong community support, collaboration among staff, dedicated outdoor learning spaces and a school culture that valued learning outside the classroom.