Relate Project

Final Conference

ReLaTe project FINAL CONFERENCE: Bridging the gap between science and journalism

The Final Conference of ReLaTe project took place on the 28^th of January 2011 in Brussels.

The workshop was an occasion to gather EU Commission representatives, European media experts, the research laboratories and some of the students who participated in the initiative.

During the Conference the RELATE Assessment Report, prepared by the project partners, was presented and a discussion about future similar initiatives and their sustainability was launched.

The workshop also aimed at enhancing a debate comparing experiences done in ReLaTe project with other projects, with the final scope of improving the communication of European research and more in general the media-scientists dialogue.

Two best young journalists were awarded and we can finally announce the winners: Mr. Mico Tatalovic, from Croatia and Viktorija Rinkeviciute, from Lithuania. Our congratulations to both of them!

The final conference was held in Scotland House, in Place Schuman 6, 8^th floor, Brussels (Belgium).

Agenda

9:45 – 10:30 Registration, welcome tea and coffee

10:30 – 10:45 Introduction and presentation of ReLaTe project: Concept and results

Ms. Hinano Spreafico D.F., Minerva C&C, project co-ordinator

10:45 – 11:45 RELATE experience: First round table

Moderator: Mr. Giuseppe Saija

Ms. Fabiola Falconieri, ENEA- Italian National agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development

Ms. Netta Ahituv, journalist (visited ENEA – Photovoltaic lab)

Ms. Yolanda Alamillo, journalist (visited ENEA – Spectroscopy lab)

Mr. Massimo Izzi, ENEA, senior researcher

Ms. Sinéad Kennedy, ICFO – Institute of Photonic Sciences, Spain, researcher

Focus: Environment, photovoltaic and spectroscopy

11:45 – 12:15 ‘Science in Audiovisual Media: Production and Perception in Europe’

Mr. Markus Lehmkuhl, Freie Universität Berlin

12:15 – 12:30 Ms. Raffaella di Iorio – Policy Officer, European Commission

12:30 – 13:00 ‘Recent trends in science journalism and science communication’

Mr. Michel Claessens – Deputy Head of Unit, EC, DG Research

13:00 – 14:30 Lunch Break

14:30 – 14:45 ‘The Babylonian speech confusion of science journalism: what is news

and how do you report it?’

Mr. Stephan Van Duin (Freelance science writer, visited University of Bologna)

14:45 – 15:00 ‘Science journalism vs. popular science: under standing the fine line’

Mr. Mico Tatalovic (deputy news editor at SciDev.Net, science blogger and freelancer, visited University of Bologna)

15:00 – 15:15 Participants award ceremony

Winning students are awarded and present their articles

15:15 – 16:15 RELATE experience: Second round table

Moderator: Mr. Giuseppe Saija

Ms. Mary Parlange, EPFL – École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland

Ms. Gülnihal Ergen, TUBITAK – Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Ms. Jana Witt, journalist (visited EPFL: Robotics lab)

Ms. Luciana Grosu, journalist (visited Bilkent: Genetics lab)

Ms. Elena Roda, journalist (visited INRA: Neuroscience lab)

Ms. Sabine Hauert, researcher (EPFL)

Ms. İrem Durmaz, researcher (Bilkent University, Turkey)

Focus: Genetics, robotics and neuroscience

16:15 – 16:30 Project achievements, feedback and assessment: The future of RELATE

and science journalism