On 14-15 November, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research hosted the second “Communicating European Research” conference. The event focused on the manifold aspects of science communication and provided an excellent forum and meeting place for scientists, communication professionals and journalists. The conference also took stock of the progress towards the Seventh Framework Programme.
Promoting successful science communication
Around 2100 participants – including project co-ordinators, journalists and other communication professionals, press officers and representatives from research organisations – met to promote mutual understanding of their respective roles, to share best practice and to define strategies to improve communication, outreach and dissemination of research results to the public and the press at a European level.
Showcasing European research
Throughout the event, latest research results and current scientific activities were presented to the media in press conferences and media briefings. A huge exhibition featured selected research initiatives as well as the communication strategies of research organisations. Dissemination networks, media associations, relevant publications and editorials together with companies and service providers in the field of information and communication presented their products and services.
The next FP on the horizon
At the time of CER 2005, the preparation of the 7th Framework Programme is in full swing and the current state of play was presented. FP6 emphasized communication and dissemination tasks and contributed greatly to raising awareness of these fundamental requirements. Should FP7 take us a step further? How could the effectiveness of EU-funded research benefit from more concrete communication and dissemination schemes? What activities and at what level should be encouraged or even made obligatory?
Improving skills
Learning about the successes and failures of others, sharing your own experiences, meeting players from different ends of the communication spectrum certainly helped to produce numerous ideas and initiatives. Above that, hands-on workshops and tutorials provided the opportunity to hone some communications skills. based on the communication strategies of research organisations, media associations, relevant publications and companies, and all kinds of service providers in the field of information and communication of science.
More information at http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/conferences/2005/cer2005