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DETECt -Detecting Transcultural Identity in European Popular Crime Narratives addresses the formation of European cultural identity as a continuing process of transformation fostered by the mobility of people, products and representations across the continent. Because of the extraordinary mobility of its products, popular culture plays a decisive role in circulating representations that constitute a shared cultural asset for large sectors of the European society. The project examines examples of crime fiction, film and TV dramas from 1989 to present, to learn how mobility strategies such as co-production, serialization, translation, adaptation, distribution, and more, have influenced the transnational dissemination of European popular culture. It also investigates how the treatment of specific ‘mobile signifiers’ – including representations of gender, ethnic and class identities – affect the ability of European narratives to migrate outside their place of origin, and be appropriated elsewhere in different and variegated ways. Researching the contemporary history of the crime genre in Europe, DETECt aims to identify the practices of production, distribution and consumption that are best suited to facilitate the emergence of engaging representations of Europe’s enormously rich, plural and cross-cultural identity. The knowledge acquired through a detailed research programme will be used in cultural, learning and public engagement initiatives designed to prompt the elaboration of new transnational formats for the European creative industries. These activities will profit from a set of experimental research and learning resources and innovative collaborative tools, aggregated and organized on DETECt Web portal. A range of activities will be addressed to the general public. In particular, the development of a Web mobile app tools will allow users to contribute to the creation of a collaborative atlas of European crime narratives.

This project is one of six projects within the six year programme: The Challenges of Polarization on the Swedish Labour Market at the Department of Sociology and Work Science funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, Forte. This project addresses the integration of migrants and minorities into the Swedish labour market by assessing the extent, implications and experiences of ethnic polarisation across different dimensions; that is, between majority and minority populations (first and second generations); and the diversity within the migrant workforce and its distribution across the occupational structure. Classical migration theory holds that migrants are recruited to perform jobs in the lower sections of the labour market that native workers avoid (Piore 1979; Massey et al. 1998). This also applies to Sweden, where many migrants are employed in low-wage and insecure employment (Johansson & Vingård, 2012). Comparisons of Western Europe countries have show that labour markets are polarised because ethnic minorities do not compete on equal terms with majority populations, and experience a substantial ‘ethnic penalty’ in the second generation (Heath & Cheung 2007; Johnson 2010). Given such patterns, important question arise concerning the prospects of migrants (both first and second generations) to transition into better-paid segments of the labour market and what strategies migrants develop to reduce the impact of discrimination (Modood 2015; Elgenius 2017). Sweden is considered one of the most gendered labour markets in the world (Charles & Grusky 2004) and intersections of ethnicity and gender need be considered as a ‘double disadvantage’ (Bradley & Healy 2008). However, the tendency towards polarisation within the migrant workforce is another focus for this project as diversity-within is visible with an increasing share of highly skilled migrants in Sweden; for example, computing professionals from India. Thus, the fact that migrant groups are unevenly distributed across the occupational structure requires further attention. For instance, the largest share of migrants within the construction sector is from Eastern Europe, whereas Indian nationals are concentrated in the IT sector (Migrationsverket). This project will critically appraise migrants’ occupational status, prospects and experiences in the Swedish labour market by focusing on diversity within the migrant workforce and the experiences of ethnic penalties in first and second generations (see, e.g., Elgenius 2011, 2017; Frank 2012, 2014; Omanović 2009, 2013, Knights and Omanović 2016).

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the highest cause of death in the post‐neonatal period (between 2nd and 6th month of life). Only in Europe, each year 2 400 infants still die of SIDS, an unexpected disease happening to infants who die in their sleep with no evidence of accidental asphysia, inflicted injury or organic disease; being a multifactorial syndrome mainly related to overheating, prolonged apnea, gastroesophageal reflux or inadequate bedding system and posture. In addition, SIDS is ten times more frequent within preterm newborns, around 385 000 babies per year are born preterm in Europe. BabyCareSleep project aims to develop a novel non-invasive intelligent monitoring system to prevent unexpected deaths in previously healthy infants and to detect risky situations in an early stage. Integrated in the cot through biosensing textiles, matrices of sensors will detect the most relevant biological parameters that will enable the detection of potential risky situation and performing preventive actions. The preventive system will stimulate sufficiently the baby’s brain (generate a sleep arousal) avoiding infant's hypoxia and resuming breathing activity and will be so gentle to not awake the baby from sleep. As a result, the SMEs will strength their competitive position facing foreign competition, achieving cumulative benefits during the four year of post-project commercialization over €10 million. In addition, our proposed system will help to avoid dramatic situations in families and at the same time will give confidence to parents by a non-invasive and cot-integrated monitoring and warning system that will improve their quality of life. BabyCareSleep project will count with all the involved SME through the supply chain (textiles, electronic & communication, mattresses and a paediatrician sleep clinic); with RTDs of biomechanics, smart textiles and intelligent control systems; and with the support of a association for paediatric research.

The present study examines transformations of family norms through cross-border exposure to different family models. It focuses on the LGBT migrants from selected Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries with a constitutional same-sex marriage ban, but who now live in same-sex families in Belgium, one of the first countries to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption. This case study will explore how intercultural contact can improve reception of an institutional innovation such as same-sex family. This project is based on in-depth interviews with two groups sustaining ties across borders: (1) the CEE gays and lesbians in same-sex marriage or raising children with a same-sex partner in Belgium, and (2) their non-migrant family members, friends and neighbours in home communities. Migrant transnationalism scholars have established that migrants can effect change in their home communities not only by sending remittances, but also by transferring ideas and practices (social remittances). But empirical investigations of this phenomenon are still scarce, and typically focus on democratic ideas and practices. In a novel approach, the present study will analyse social remittances by examining cross-cultural effects of the institutional innovation of same-sex family, and it will further position its findings into the wider framework of social change analysis. In light of the European Parliament's recent decision to include LGBT and same-sex families' rights into the new EU gender equality strategy, the study's conclusions will also inform relevant policy strategies. By developing this study at the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Families and Sexualities at the UCL, the project will benefit from Centre's multidisciplinary perspective and expertise in transnational migrations, family norms and sexuality, to which the project will add a new perspective on the LGBT migrants from CEE, thus deepening Centre's focus on LGBT studies and widening their regional expertise.

Depuis son accession à l’indépendance, le Tchad a connu une situation politique tumultueuse qui a favorisé un mouvement de population vers l’intérieur et vers l’extérieur. Le cadre juridique des migrations est basé sur les instruments internationaux et nationaux. Sur le plan international, le Tchad a signé de nombreux accords bilatéraux et multilatéraux avec des pays ou organisations dans deux buts : disposer d’une main d’œuvre hautement qualifiée et assurer la formation des futurs cadres tchadiens qui, pour la plupart, ne sont pas retournés au pays. Sur le plan interne, les constitutions, les lois et les textes d’application créent un cadre favorisant l’entrée des non nationaux au Tchad en vue de l’aider à atteindre les objectifs énoncés. Trois catégories de migrants relèvent du phénomène de la guerre civile vécue au Tchad pendant plus de quatre décennies. Il est observé que ceux qui étaient envoyés avec des bourses pour étudier ont fini par s’installer ailleurs après une haute qualification obtenue grâce à la prise en charge par leur communauté nationale. Une deuxième catégorie est constituée des demandeurs d’asile qui cherchent à préserver leur vie et celle de leur famille suite aux menaces ou des effets collatéraux de la guerre. La troisième catégorie est formée de hauts cadres qui quittent le pays pour s’enrôler dans les groupes armés. Généralement, ils constituent l’élite des rebellions, s’installent dans les pays d’accueil loin des lieux d’affrontement et ne reviennent que sous la protection d’un accord de paix suivi d’une loi d’amnistie. La migration hautement qualifiée existe mais elle est difficile à maîtriser. Aucune statistique générale et fiable n’est disponible. A ce jour, les services publics ne savent même pas quelle est l’importance du phénomène au Tchad et encore moins à l’extérieur, d’où la nécessité de poursuivre la recherche. Abstract Since independence Chad has experienced political difficulties which have encouraged Chadians to flee both inside and outside the country. The legal framework of migration in Chad is based on national and international acts. At the international level, Chad has signed numerous bilateral and multilateral agreements with countries or organisations for two purposes: keeping highly-qualified labour and assuring training for Chadians, who have not, for the most part, come back to the country. At the national level, constitutions, laws and executive instructions allow foreign nationals into Chad in order to help the country reach the goal noted above. One type of migrant are the students who were given scholarships and sent to study abroad, but who often remained abroad with a qualification paid for by their national Community. A second type of migrant are the asylum seekers and their families driven out of the country by threats and war. The third type of migrant are the highly-skilled staff who left the country in order to join foreign armed groups. In general, they make up the elite of rebellions, established in a host-country, very far from the front line and they only return under the protection of peace agreements and amnesties. Highly-qualified migration exists in Chad, but it is very difficult to get to grips with it. No general and reliable statistics are available. The public services there have not yet learnt the importance of the phenomenon in Chad and still less abroad. For this reason research must continue.