Every building demolished produces large quantities of materials that could be reused. Unfortunately, much of it is wasted because construction waste is not properly separated. A master’s thesis completed at TalTech shows that simple, practical steps can improve the situation.
Opinion
World Science Day reminds us that the impact of science also depends on how well society understands it and how thoughtfully it is discussed. Focused debate needs platforms where complex knowledge can be explained patiently and researchers, entrepreneurs and public-sector representatives can truly listen to one another.
Architects are expected to create buildings and urban spaces that save energy, reduce emissions and support human health. Francesco De Luca believes future architects must be taught to measure and test these goals from the very start of the design process.
The knowledge accumulated within a construction company is often scattered across people’s memories, emails and project folders. Kristin Kivimäe, Innovation and Technology Manager at Mapri Ehitus, believes artificial intelligence could help bring this knowledge together and make it accessible, so that lessons from earlier projects can inform decisions on the next ones.
Over a quarter of a century, the Estonian Centre for Engineering Pedagogy has helped establish an understanding that engineering education is, at its heart, much more than passing on knowledge. The question is no longer how many formulae or technologies learners know. What matters is how they think, which problems they can solve and what impact their work has on society.
Estonia has a shortage of engineers, and the problem will become even more acute in the coming years. Universities can train more engineers, but increasing admissions alone is not enough. To turn today’s students into capable engineers in the labour market, universities and businesses need to work more closely as one team.
Greenwashing has been reined in. On 27 September 2026, new EU consumer protection requirements on environmental claims came into force, primarily to reduce greenwashing and protect consumers from misleading environmental claims.
AI agents deployed without sufficient thought can create serious cybersecurity risks and make accountability even more complicated.
An AI agent can be a company’s most diligent employee. The trouble starts when it is given more permissions than judgement.
Mathematics is more than formulas and calculations. It trains us to solve problems, try different approaches and persevere when we meet an obstacle. We need these skills every day — at school, at work and in life, writes Cathy-Liis Põlluveer, President of the Estonian Association of Engineers.