EUROSCIENCE 37 newsEUROSCIENCE: THE VOICE OF SCIENCE IN EUROPE In this issue: NEWS & VIEWS: page 2 Governing Board and EIT News page 3 Conference on Scientific Publishing and ISE page 4 Women, science and TV ESOF: page 5 Torino is ESOF2010 host city and News from ESOF2008 REGIONAL SECTIONS: page 6 NATO Workshop in Tallinn page 7 Grenoble section NEWS & VIEWS: page 8&9 Bulgaria and Young scientists in Latvia page 10 China backs science page 11 Steps across borders INTERVIEW: page 12 ERC: Questions & Answers EDITORIAL: COMMUNICATION tasks, implementation and TOWARDS broad estimates of resources – A KEY TOOL FOR required to implement them. ESOF2008 The EUROSCIENCE EUROSCIENCE MISSION communications strategy should CALL FOR – explain and promote the aim and mission of EUROSCIENCE PROPOSALS – provide for and facilitate dialogue with EUROSCIENCE IS OPEN! members and – support the effective operation of EUROSCIENCE. ESOF2008 invites researchers in SINCE the establishment of On the EUROSCIENCE all disciplines from public and EUROSCIENCE in 1997 much website we state: One unique feature of private institutions and companies has indeed been accomplished “EUROSCIENCE was founded EUROSCIENCE is that it is to submit proposals of their but even more remains to be in 1997 in order to: trans-disciplinary and trans- leading research for (i) Scientific done. We have: – provide an open forum for national and that it encourages Sessions; researchers, journalists, – organised several meetings debate on science and the widest possible involvement communicators, policy makers, with focus on issues such as technology in debate and opinion forming. business people and managers to mobility and science policy – strengthen the links between This must be taken into submit proposals for (ii) Society – been a very active voice on science and society consideration when organising the and Science Sessions; and issues of concern for – contribute to the creation of an communications strategy. For a institutions, associations, European science integrated space for science living debate to take place we use researchers, businesses and – taken part in several science and technology in Europe our newsletter/journal, position individuals to submit proposals communication projects – influence science and statements and discussion for (iii) Outreach Activities. financed by the European technology policies”. papers, participation in mass Commission media, live meetings (not least Answer the call! – through our presidents and These goals require a large ESOF) and above all, a modern http://www.esof2008.org/#PARTICI other Board members been and engaged membership and and multi-functioning highly PATE/Call-for-Proposals.html|sub represented at numerous effective communication within interactive website. This work meetings organised by others and EUROSCIENCE as well as has begun and will be presented – founded and, together with with partners and stakeholders in more detail in later issues of several partners, conducted outside the association. our journal. EUROSCIENCE Open Forum twice and are well into the To address these challenges we We invite you to take an active implementation of ESOF2008 are in the process of structuring part in the formation of and ESOF2010. the way the Governing Board EUROSCIENCE’s strategies operates with division of labour to strengthen the role of science These activities have been through a committee structure. in European society. performed with very limited The Communications Committee resources and have required is one example. Over the past six Carl Johan Sundberg a lot of personal efforts by months we have begun to identify Chair Euroscience and ESOF2008 many volunteers. Now that what needs to be done to fulfil Communication Committees, we have consolidated some the goals of EUROSCIENCE over Vice President EUROSCIENCE of the key events it is time to the years to come. The strategy Researcher in Molecular Exercise professionalise our association includes elements such as: Physiology, Karolinska Institutet even more. aims for EUROSCIENCE [email protected] communication, audiences and SPRING 2007 ES NEWS . PAGE 1 news & views Latest News from the EIT GOVERNING BOARD EUROSCIENCE ASSISTS MEETING IN PARIS THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT THE EUROSCIENCE Governing A written agreement for the THE DEBATE about the proposed about its position on the EIT Board met on 27/28 January ESOF2008 project signed European Institute of Technology proposal and to debate a 2007 in Paris. We are grateful to between FCRI, the Fundació (EIT) continues to rumble on range of issues concerned with ICSU, the International Council for Catalana per a la Recerca i la across Europe, following the research and innovation in Science, who made its premises Innovació, and Euroscience was European Commission's latest Europe in general. available to us. presented. It is a model for revised proposal. collaboration and financial support This demonstrates the role that The core discussion of a very of EUROSCIENCE with future EUROSCIENCE, through its EUROSCIENCE can play in dense agenda was concentrated ESOF organising bodies. Science Policy Working Group, set providing views and information on the EUROSCIENCE strategic out its initial views, following a from the grassroots to policy plan. It includes a new approach The President informed the debate at the EUROSCIENCE makers. It is a role that for individual membership, joint Board of the ongoing discussion Assembly at ESOF2006, in which EUROSCIENCE must actions with institutions or taking place with a group of it expressed its doubts about the increasingly develop. associations both national and European foundations to proposal. This policy statement European. An action plan for possibly provide support for was widely reported in the press. Tony Mayer corporate membership drive is the EUROSCIENCE office to In November 2006, the European [email protected] being implemented including develop core activities for ESOF. Commission set out a much closer partnership through the revised proposal for the EIT Corporate Advisory Board. The Board approved the co-option BELOW: The Euroscience Governing and EUROSCIENCE has again Board at its Paris meeting in January of Philippe Busquin (MEP, Belgium) responded, issuing an updated 2007. From left to right: Christine Heller Communication strategy is a and Michael Grewing (physicist, statement on 6 February del Riego and Jens Degett with Angelina, key action of the strategy plan Germany), bringing it to 21 following the Board meeting in Raymond Seltz, Enric Banda, Georges (see Editorial). This includes an members. Gail Cardew and Carl Paris at the end of January. See Waysand, Carl Johan Sundberg, Tony electronic newsletter version Johan Sundberg were confirmed http://www.euroscience.org/WGR Mayer, Jean-Patrick Connerade, Peter in a near future as well as as our vice-presidents. OUPS/SCIENCE_POL/EIT.htm Green, Peter Tindemans, Benedikt more professional marketing Hoffmann, Vsevolod Borissov, W. of EUROSCIENCE and ESOF The next Board meeting is planned Gerhard Pohl, Roland Pochet, Zinayida The Commission’s proposal is through a renewed web site. A first for 15 June 2007 in Barcelona. Klestova. Not pictured: Gail Cardew, now under consideration both in Alma Swan, Didier Raboud, Renzo milestone of the new strategy will the Council of Ministers and within Rubele, new co-opted members be the celebration of the 10th Raymond Seltz the European Parliament. Although Philippe Busquin and Michael Grewing. anniversary of EUROSCIENCE Secretary General the proposal started with the Picture taken by Julia Epp end 2007 in Strasbourg. [email protected] Commission’s President Barroso, the lead, within the Commission, is taken by the Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth. Given the different facets of the proposal (education, knowledge transfer and innovation), it will be seen and debated by several committees in the European Parliament, such as the Committee for Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Committee for Culture and Education (CULT). Final decisions on the proposal are not expected to be taken until the end of 2007. The rapporteur for this topic in the Culture Committee is Mme Hennicot-Schoepges and she and her team met with Raymond Seltz (Secretary General) and Tony Mayer (Treasurer) to discuss the EIT. EUROSCIENCE was able to brief Mme Hennicot-Schoepges SPRING 2007 ES NEWS . PAGE 2 EUROSCIENCE news37 EUROPEAN COMMISSION publication-study_en.pdf) and was in EU research grants. Scientific opened by Janez Potocnik. He publishing will be a “highlight” CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE emphasised the importance of of the Portuguese presidency later Europe's research base and of this year, and will be discussed OF SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHING developing a science infrastructure further in the forum of the High- in Europe that will facilitate level Expert Group on Digital Brussels, 15–16 February 2007 innovation and competitiveness. Libraries. The EC will make funding available through the 7th The meeting covered open Framework Programme (FP7): access to scientific information; – 50 million euros for top-level e-infrastructure; the integration of infrastructure through the research articles with primary data; Capacities Programme data-mining and text-mining; quality – 25 million euros for preservation control in publishing; copyright and in the ICT Programme, and EUROSCIENCE was one of almost presented to the EU Commissioner digital rights management; and – 10 million euros (in 2007-8) for 750 organisations