Despite
repeated requests from the Royal Society (UK), the British Association for the
Advancement of Science and similar organizations across the world, much science
remains far removed from the understanding of the general public. Scientists
appear to persistently refuse to communicate their work in a simple,
non-technical language that can be understood by all.
In
recent years, however, efforts have been made by research organizations and
scientists to share their work and findings with the public. Science festivals
and public forums for the presentation of scientific discoveries have become a
regular feature in some countries to encourage a public understanding of
science.
This
reflects an understanding among research organizations and scientists that the
funds needed to accomplish their work comes from taxpayers who have a right to
know what they are paying for. They have also come to realize that scientific
research stands a better chance of obtaining necessary funds if the public
supports it.
The
City of Science at Its Best
With
exactly this in mind, the EuroScience Open Forum 2004 was held in Stockholm,
Sweden from August 25 to 29. Europe’s first scientific mega event was
fittingly held in what is known as the ‘city of science’ for its glorious
affiliation with the Nobel Foundation and Nobel Laureates.
An
impressive number of scientists from Europe and other parts of the world
gathered in the Swedish capital to discuss their work and to share their
aspirations, fears and frustrations.
Europe
is now embracing the vision of turning the continent into a knowledge-based
economy. And it seems to be quite feasible.
The
EuroScience Open Forum could pave the way for larger forums between the
European Union and developing countries
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The
idea of a pan-European Open Science Forum was the birth child of Dr. Carl Sundberg
of Karolinska Institute, Sweden. Sundberg is an avid popular science
communicator, and thought up the idea when he was elected to the governing board
of EuroScience, a grassroots-based European organization established in 1997
that aims at building a scientific Europe from the bottom-up.
Not
everyone was happy with Dr. Sundberg’s proposal. Many considered it a waste of
scarce resources, better spent on priority research areas. Others worried that
not many scientists would agree to partake in the forum and share their work,
based on experiences of lack of collaboration and secluded research and
development activity in Europe.
Yet,
despite such doubts and misgivings, the Open Science Forum saw its journey to
completion, only five years after it was inspired.
“At
first there were lots of people who were opposed to the idea of EuroScience Open
Forum 2004 (ESOF2004) but gradually we convinced them,” said Dr. Carl
Sundberg, Chair of the Steering Committee.
Involved
in the area of science communication for more than 15 years, Dr. Sundberg
passionately talked about his baby. “I came up with the idea because having
been involved in popular science communication I was very much aware of the
importance of technology transfer and the interaction between science and
society,” he said.
The
European meeting was, to a large extent, similar to that organized annually by
the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The AAAS meeting
is the venue where scientists openly discuss their pet projects and findings,
receiving substantial coverage in the US and international media.
Dr.
Sundberg, however, stresses that although the idea of ESOF2004 was inspired by
the AAAS model, it was different in some very distinct ways.
“We
were inspired by the AAAS model but the distinction between the AAAS model and
ESOF2004 is that we encouraged the involvement of the general public in our
meeting in many innovative ways,” he explained.
Sundberg
said that he was particularly proud of the ‘Science in the City’ component
of the event where scientific activities were directly aimed at the European
public to trigger their innovative capacities.
“What
we want to achieve from this kind of meeting is to put knowledge on the European
agenda, because we would like to develop Europe into a knowledge-based economy
by 2010,” said Dr. Sundberg. An idea which was later supported by Jean-Patrick
Connerade, President of EuroScience and Chair of the Programme Committee.
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Stockholm, the city of science at its best |
The
first of its kind, the pan-European interdisciplinary scientific meeting
attracted over 1,000 participants from over 30 countries including China, Japan,
Nepal, South Africa, European member states, the United States and Switzerland.
The meeting was also covered by a large number of journalists from Europe and
other parts of the world.
“The
meeting was more successful than we had expected,” said Henrik Pompeius,
Fundraising Coordinator of the event. “We are excited about this event and we
are sure the second one will be more successful in pushing science and knowledge
up the European agenda.”
During
the meeting, much attention was focused on sessions on biotechnology research,
climate research, nanotechnology, robotics and public understanding of science.
One
of the highlights of the forum was the selection of 25 young scientists among
777 applicants from 15 countries by heads of 18 research councils as recipients
of cash awards ranging from one million euros to 1.25 million euros.
Present
for the occasion were Professor Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, President of European
Heads of Research Councils (EUROHORC) and Bertil Anderson, Chief Executive of
European Science Foundation (ESF).
It
would not be surprising to find some of these young geniuses standing in the
near future on the podium of the Hall of Fame in the Nobel Foundation,
delivering the acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize to the international
scientific community. This might especially be the case since some of them have
already committed themselves to furthering their research with the generous
financial awards they received from EUROHORC and EFS.
A
Promising Start
One
can safely say that EuroScience Open Forum 2004 was a very good beginning. The
ball is rolling for its second stop in Munich, Germany in 2006.
With
openness and a commitment of collaboration, there is no reason to suspect that
this would not lead to the transformation of European society into a
knowledge-based economy, which they aim to achieve by 2010.
It
is hoped that the EuroScience Open Forum will not only be a venue for European
scientists to exchange their views and meet with the public, but that it could
also pave the way for other larger forums that could be jointly organized by the
European Union and developing countries to promote North-South partnerships.
Forums
like ESOF 2004 are bound to promote greater openness among the scientific
community and the general public. Such openness is bound to encourage the public
to have a better understanding of scientific issues, leading to social
development much needed worldwide.
Prakash
Khanal is a Nepali science and
environmental journalist and former editor of RONAST Science Features as well as
General Secretary of the Science Writers Association of Nepal. Your emails will
be forwarded to him by contacting the editor at: ScienceTech@islam-online.net.
