SNCF sponsors the scientific magazine La Recherche's prizes

The "Sustainable Mobility" prize, sponsored by SNCF is awarded this year to to a group of researchers for their works on liquid concrete : "The liquid stone : from potentials to building site"

Nicolas Roussel, Philippe Coussot and Guillaume Ovarlez from the Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées tried to better understand the microscopic physical origin of the mechanical properties of this artificial stone while it is still in a liquid stage. This knowledge will allow to improve the material fluidity to reduce energetic and noise costs and to imagine new concrete more respectful of the environment.

The "La recherché" prizes, representing each 10 000 euros, bring to light and reward outstanding work in fundamental or applied research from private or public French-speaking institutions. Therefore, SNCF shows its support to scientific research in transport. This year, the other sponsors of the La Recherche awards are CNRS, Veolia Environment, Areva and Servier Laboratories.
  

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Energy
Why a special report on energy research? Between efforts to improve the energy and
environmental performance of existing transport modes and research to come up with the "energy of tomorrow", the subject is vast in the case of a company like SNCF. Rail transport may use much less energy than other types of transport, but it is still one of the biggest energy consumers in France. Following is a survey of current and planned lines of research that could provide solutions.