ESOF release

Leading scientists from across Europe came together during the Euroscience Open Forum 2006 to discuss the strategy and the future of pan-European research.

The session entitled "Can the European dimension in the research agenda be delivered"? was held on 19 July 2006  (copies of the presentation can be downloaded here).

Key Note speakers were Professor Ian Halliday, University of Edinburgh and President of ESF; Professor Antje Boetius of the International University of Bremen; Dr Svetlana Berdyugina, of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and Professor Ruth Duncan of the University of Cardiff. Dr Svenje Mehlert and Mr Neil Williams of ESF also made short presentations on the processes of the EUROCORES and EURYI schemes

Using real examples from a range of disciplines and schemes, the session explored the way in which science agendas are set and some of the ways in which these agendas can be achieved.

In her presentation "Plotting the future: the Nano-Medicine Forward Look", Professor Duncan showed the way in which a future science agenda is identified and developed; Professor Boetius's presentation on "trans-national research programmes in biodiversity at the ocean margins" and Dr Berdyugina's presentation on "solar and stellar magnetism" showed how such agendas can be transformed into real research projects. 

In the field of biodiversity, many national research agencies had recognised the importance of the topic and launched a EUROCORES programme to deliver transnational research projects, whilst Dr Berdyugina's research is supported by a EURYI award, where the national agencies, recognising the importance of creating the next generation of leading researchers in Europe, had created a scheme to support the most excellent young researchers, irrespective of their research discipline or nationality.

Professor Halliday said: "A European Dimension is today essential at both European and national levels for the development of new directions in basic research."

"Governments and research funding agencies no longer expect to take their decisions based on a purely national basis. In additional to the global nature of scientific endeavour, many research priorities span national and regional boundaries and an increasing number require coordinated approaches to funding."

Presentations

Professor Antje Boetius of the International University of Bremen PDF

Dr Svetlana Berdyugina of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Power Point

Professor Ruth Duncan of the University of Cardiff Power Point

Dr Svenje Mehlert, ESF, EUROCORES Power Point

Mr Neil Williams, ESF, EURYI Power Point

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