Abstract
Engagement in the ongoing energy transition is particularly challenging for energy-poor citizens. As such, there is a pressing need for a better understanding of their experiences and for strategies that enable their engagement. In this study, we identify different groups of citizens based on their energy poverty issues and examine their engagement behaviors (seeking information, proactive managing, sharing feedback, helping others, and advocating). Using cluster analysis and multiple correspondence analysis, we analyzed a sample of 915 citizens from eight European cities participating in a Horizon2020 EU project (Alkmaar-NL, Bari-IT, Celje-SI, Evora-PT, Granada-ES, Hvidovre-DK, Ioannina-GR, & Uacute;jpest-HU). Several groups of citizens reported either multiple energy issues, a single issue (energy bills, insulation, cooling, heating), or no issues, and the statistical tests showed significant differences across these groups in terms of engagement in seeking information, helping, and advocating. Moreover, we identified that certain groups tend to have specific levels of engagement (high, medium, low) and that sharing feedback generally has a low level of engagement. Overall, this study provides empirical insights into how energy-poor citizens exercise agency through engagement behaviors and offers actionable insights for designing measures to mitigate energy poverty in complementarity with technical and economical solutions.

Abstract
Pedestrian safety is a pressing subject in urban areas. The disorderly sharing of streets and roads between pedestrians and vehicles leads to potentially serious accidents for pedestrians. This student project aims to tackle the issue by placing an interactive gaming device at traffic lights. SMASHY by Stempe Safety offers pedestrians an amusing and active way to discourage jaywalking. The multipurpose solution features a smashing game with buttons on one side and a screen displaying useful information on the other side. While the traffic light remains red for pedestrians, the module buttons light up and the players can start smashing the buttons as fast as possible, until the light turns green and consequently, the game ends. Ultimately, the modules are connected to an app where, if desired by the player, scores can be tracked and difficulty can vary based on user performance. Multiple modules can be placed around the city and the app will track player scores by location. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.

Abstract
Effective communication in engineering projects is pivotal for empowering the green transition, as it fosters multidisciplinary collaboration, ensures clarity across diverse stakeholders, and bridges technical and cultural gaps, ultimately driving sustainable innovation and project success. The main aim of this study is to give a contribution to overcome these communication limitations. This research explores the critical role of communication in engineering projects related to the green transition, as part of the ECO-GT project in Portugal. Through focus groups and interviews with different stakeholders, including engineers, product manufacturers and end-users, the research identifies communication challenges and essential skills required during project implementation. The findings show that the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, adapted language depending on the target audience, and openness to feedback are essential to achieving project goals. Key findings include the need for tailored communication strategies at all project stages to overcome technical and cultural barriers. This research highlights the value of integrating communication training into engineering education to prepare future engineers for the complexities of green transition projects.

Abstract
This paper presents an optimisation approach based on mixed-integer programming for tactical planning decisions within fresh fruit processing industries. It applies to fruits such as oranges, tomatoes, guavas and others, where diluted fruit juice needs to be concentrated in evaporators to produce semi-finished or finished products. It considers agricultural and industrial activities, integrating them to address complex and interconnected decisions. Agricultural tasks include planting, harvesting, and transporting fruits from fields to processing plants, while industrial activities involve the production, inventory, and transportation of semi-finished and final products. This approach accommodates multiple agricultural regions, fruit varieties, processing plants, and products, operating on a weekly basis within a one-year planning horizon. It offers a detailed solution for harvesting, the fruit juice concentration process, inventory management for the products produced, and transportation of raw materials and products among processing plants. Production of semi-finished products is modelled using the Proportional Lot-Sizing and Scheduling Problem and the production of finished products is modelled adopting a blending lot-sizing problem. The results were validated through computational experiments using a dataset from a company that processes tomatoes and guavas. Scenario analyses were conducted to evaluate the solution's consistency and real-world applicability. The findings indicate that the approach can support decision making in practice, highlighting its potential as a valuable managerial, analytical, and optimisation tool for some agri-food industries. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Abstract

Abstract
CoffeeMush is an innovative and sustainable project developed as part of the European Project Semester (EPS) at ISEP in 2024. This student project aims to tackle waste management environmental problems by turning coffee waste into mushrooms, a valuable food source. CoffeeMush consists of a smart device providing optimal conditions for mushroom cultivation, complemented by a user-friendly Android application for remote monitoring and control. The design was guided by ethical, sustainability, market and technical considerations. The paper describes the theoretical background of the project, the technical design, and the prototype development and testing. The results show the feasibility of CoffeeMush as a practical and environmentally friendly solution for urban mushroom cultivation, and its impact on sustainable food production and waste reduction. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.