Vedr. STOA

PARLA?AENTO EUROPEO EVROP5K1
EUROPA1SCHES PARLAMENT EUROOPA PARLAME
PARLEMENT EUROPEEN PARLA1.',ENTO
EUROPOS PARLAMENTAS EURI5PAI PARLAMEN'
PARLAMENT EUROPEJSKI
EVROPSIO PARLAMENT EUROOPAN PARL;
Udvalget for Videnskab og Teknologi
UVT alm. del - Bilag 257
Offentligt
STOA
Scientific Technology Options Assessment
The Chairman
Geda D (2007) 56989
PB/MG/ddi
, '7
314540 17.09.2007Brussels,
Ms. Hanne Severinsen
Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology
Folketinget
Christiansborg
DK-1240 Copenhagen K
Dear Ms Severinsen,
I have the honour and pleasure to inform you that the European Parliament's STOA
Panel, at its meeting on 6 September 2007, discussed the possible joint participation
of STOA, together with the other EPTA members, in the EuroScience Open Forum
(ESOF) 2008 to be held on 18-22 July 2008 in Barcelona.
The STOA Panel is in favour of a joint participation, in which STOA would have a
coordinating role. Attached you will find a detailed proposal for this participation
prepared after the matter was first discussed at the EPTA Directors' meeting in April
2007. The proposal describes the broad structure of EPTA participation. We have
agreed with the local organisers to submit the joint participation proposal by the end
of September 2007.
In order to proceed in this respect, I wish to request your opinion about the format of
the joint EPTA participation as presented in the proposal. This will be used for
drafting the final EPTA participation proposal.
In particular, I would like to ask you to indicate in which of the following types of
activities your institution would be prepared to participate:
• Scientific sessions
• Outreach activities
• Exhibition
• Social events
• Other
RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAX: +32/284-44984
MAIL: PolDep-STOA(&,europarl.europa.eu
Offentligt
UVT Alm.del - Bilag 257
Udvalget for Videnskab og Teknologi 2006-07
On the basis of your responses, we can then decide on the level of involvement of
EPTA members in each type of activity. If you wish to contribute to the first two
types of activities, I additionally invite you to propose possible subjects for the
scientific sessions and/or outreach activities.
In summary, the basic elements of our proposal are:
• coordination by STOA;
• EPTA members commit themselves to certain types of activities and propose
subjects for scientific session/outreach activities; they then act to mobilise
resources in their respective parliaments and countries;
• STOA centralises and evaluates information concerning the activities;
• STOA involves national parliaments which are not members of EPTA, in the
context of a possible EU-funded project aimed at establishing TA in these
countries;
• EPTA members provide input and participants to scientific sessions and
outreach sessions;
• EPTA members prepare exhibition details;
• status of organisation to be discussed at the next EPTA Council meeting in
November 2007, as well as at the directors' meeting in April 2008.
I would appreciate if you could send your responses to the STOA Secretariat
(Mr. Miklos Gybrffi, Policy Department A: Economic and Scientific Policy,
Directorate General for Internal Policies, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60,
ATR 00K076, B-1047 Brussels; e-mail: miklos.gyoerffi@europarl.europa.eu), by
25 September 2007.
Yours sincerely,
Philippe Busquin MEP
Chairman of the STOA Panel
Annex: Proposal
Lars Kliiver
Director
The Danish Board of Technology
Antonigade 4,
DK-1106 København K,
Danmark
RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAX: +32/284-44984
MAIL: PolDep-STOA@europarl.europa.eu
PARLAMENTO EUROPEG EVROP5K1 PARLAMENT EUROPA-PARLAMENTET
EUROPAISCHES PARLAMENT EUROOPA PARLAMENT CiP(MARIO KOINOBOYA1O EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
PARLEmENT EUROPEEN PARLAt›,ENTO EUROPE() EIR(>RAS PARLAMENTS
EUROPOS PARLAMENTAS EURC5PAI PARIAMENT IL-PRRLAMENT EWROPEW EUROPEES PARIE.MENT
PARLAMENT EUROPEISKI PARLAMENTO EUROPEU EUROPSKY PARLAMENT
EYROPSKI PARLAMENT EUROOPAN PARLAMENTTI EUROPAPARLAMENTET
STOA
Scientific Technology Options Assessment
The Chairman
Geda D (2007) 56989
PB/MG/ddl
314540 17.09.2007Brussels,
Ms. Hanne Severinsen
Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology
Folketinget
Christiansborg
DK-1240 Copenhagen K
Dear Ms Severinsen,
I have the honour and pleasure to inform you that the European Parliament's STOA
Panel, at its meeting on 6 September 2007, discussed the possible joint participation
of STOA, together with the other EPTA members, in the EuroScience Open Forum
(ESOF) 2008 to be held on 18-22 July 2008 in Barcelona.
The STOA Panel is in favour of a joint participation, in which STOA would have a
coordinating role. Attached you will find a detailed proposal for this participation
prepared after the matter was first discussed at the EPTA Directors' meeting in April
2007. The proposal describes the broad structure of EPTA participation. We have
agreed with the local organisers to submit the joint participation proposal by the end
of September 2007.
In order to proceed in this respect, I wish to request your opinion about the format of
the joint EPTA participation as presented in the proposal. This will be used for
drafting the final EPTA participation proposal.
In particular, I would like to ask you to indicate in which of the following types of
activities your institution would be prepared to participate:
• Scientific sessions
• Outreach activities
• Exhibition
• Social events
• Other
RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAX: +32/284-44984
MAIL: PolDep-STOA(&,europarl.europa.eu
On the basis of your responses, we can then decide on the level of involvement of
EPTA members in each type of activity. If you wish to contribute to the- first two
types of activities, I additionally invite you to propose possible subjects for the
scientific sessions and/or outreach activities.
In summary, the basic elements of our proposal are:
• coordination by STOA;
• EPTA members commit themselves to certain types of activities and propose
subjects for scientific session/outreach activities; they then act to mobilise
resources in their respective parliaments and countries;
• STOA centralises and evaluates information concerning the activities;
• STOA involves national parliaments which are not members of EPTA, in the
context of a possible EU-funded project aimed at establishing TA in these
countries;
• EPTA members provide input and participants to scientific sessions and
outreach sessions;
• EPTA members prepare exhibition details;
• status of organisation to be discussed at the next EPTA Council meeting in
November 2007, as well as at the directors' meeting in April 2008.
I would appreciate if you could send your responses to the STOA Secretariat
(Mr. Mikl0s Gy8rffi, Policy Department A: Economic and Scientific Policy,
Directorate General for Internal Policies, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60,
ATR 00K076, B-1047 Brussels; e-mail: miklos.gyoerffi@europarl.europa.eu), by
25 September 2007.
Yours sincerely,
Philippe Busquin MEP
Chairman of the STOA Panel
Annex: Proposal
Lars Kliiver
Director
The Danish Board of Technology
Antonigade 4,
DK-1106 København K,
Danmark
RUE WIERTZ — B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAX: +32/284-44984
MAIL: PolDep-STOA(-c'veuroparl.europa.eu
Side 1af1
Finn Skriver Frandsen
Fra: Hanne Severinsen
Sendt: 19. september 2007 14:35
Til: Finn Skriver Frandsen
Emne: VS: ESOF 2008 - BARCELONA
Vedhæftede filer: severins.pdf; Annex pt 8. ESOF 2008 (update 17-09-2007).doc
Kære Finn
Dette brev fra Busquin er svært at decifrere for en ikke EU-vant
Hvad siger du ?
Hilsen Hanne
Fra: DE LANGE Danielle [mailto:danielle.delange@europarl.europa.eu]
Sendt: 19. september 2007 12:23
Til: Hanne Severinsen
Cc: lk@tekno.dk
Emne: ESOF 2008 - BARCELONA
Dear Colleagues,
Please find attached electronic copies of a letter mailed to you by regular mail.
Yours sincerely,
On behalf of
Philippe Busquin, MEP
Eurpopean Parliament
Policy Department - STOA
19-09-2007
Side 1af1
Finn Skriver Frandsen
Fra: Hanne Severinsen
Sendt: 19. september 2007 14:35
Til: Finn Skriver Frandsen
Emne: VS: ESOF 2008 - BARCELONA
Vedhæftede filer: severins.pdf; Annex pt 8. ESOF 2008 (update 17-09-2007).doc
Kære Finn
Dette brev fra Busquin er svært at decifrere for en ikke EU-vant
Hvad siger du ?
Hilsen Hanne
Fra: DE LANGE Danielle [mailto:danielle.delange@europarl.europa.eu]
Sendt: 19. september 2007 12:23
Til: Hanne Severinsen
Cc: lk@tekno.dk
Emne: ESOF 2008 - BARCELONA
Dear Colleagues,
Please find attached electronic copies of a letter mailed to you by regular mail.
Yours sincerely,
On behalf of
Philippe Busquin, MEP
Eurpopean Parliament
Policy Department - STOA
19-09-2007
t.
PARLMAWO EUROPE° EVROPSXY PARLAMENT EUROPA-PARtAMEI
,
ITET
EUROPMSCHES PARLAMEN- R00PA PARLA'AENT EYPOnATKO KPINOBOYAIO EUROPEANPARLIAMENT
EURC:'4N PARLAME:,I EUROPE° F€ROPAS PARLAMENTS
EUR0POS PARLANIENTAS EUROPAI PARLAMENT il-PARLAMENT EWROPEW EUROPEES PARLEMST
PARLAMENT EUROPEJSKL PARLAMENTO EUROPEU EUMPSKY PARIAMW
EMPSKIPARLAMENT EUROOPAN PARLAMENTTI EUROPAPARLAMENTET
STOA
Scientific Technology Options Assessment
Brussels, 5 September 2007
— Memo for point 8 of the STOA Panel meeting
on 6 September 2007 -
STOA participation in the ESOF 2008 conference,
18-22 July 2008, Barcelona
Based on Proposal of participation of the EPTA network at ESOF2008, by:
Tore Tennoe, Michael Nentwich, Jordi Mas
1. Introduction
At the EPTA Directors' meeting in April it was decided that EPTA and its member
organisations should participate in ESOF 2008. There is currently no decision on the
EPTA participation format. The local organisers, the Fundaci6 Catalana per a la
Recerca i la Innovaci6 (FCRI), have suggested that STOA should take the lead in
organising the EPTA participation. Mr. Busquin, who is also a member of the
Governing Board of EuroScience (the main organizers of ESOF), supports this idea.
ESOFstandsfor EuroScience Open Forum.
2. ESOF2008 in Barcelona
After Stockholm (2004) and Munich (2006), ESOF 2008 will take place in Barcelona,
from Friday, 18, to Tuesday, 22 July 2008. The Steering Committee is co-chaired by
Enric Banda (director of FCRI and former Secretary General of the European Science
Foundation) and Ingrid Wunning (Robert Bosch Foundation, Germany). The
following 10 themes have been chosen by the Programme Committee chaired by Sir
Colin Berry, UK:
• The human mind and behaviour.
• The very big and the very small.
• Maintaining an open society through science.
• Engineering the body.
• What should we eat and what should we look like?
• Enhancing energy security,fightingglobal warming.
• Sciencepolicy.
• Science and art.
• Demography in an ageing Europe.
• Screening: burdens and benefits.
Pq RUE WIERTZ — B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAX: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOA@europarl.europa.eu
3. EPTA's objectives in participating at ESOF 2008
EPTA has in recent years established joint projects and an extensive database with TA
projects. Thus it has a lot to offer, but needs to increase the awareness of its work.
ESOF is an important arena for the discussion of science, technology and politics in
Europe. Active participation will increase awareness of EPTA tasks and activities to
the European scientific community including journalists, researchers, policy-makers
etc. ESOF offers the opportunity to spread information both about EPTA in general
and about specific projects. ESOF has called for proposals in different formats. ETPA
could propose activities in each of the formats on offer at the conference:
• Scientific sessions
• Outreach activities
• Exhibition
• Social events
• Other
4. Scientific sessions
Structure: Either 1 1/4 hour (2-3 speakers at 20 minutes) or 2 1/2 hours, including one
short break (the option would be for the longer format in order to have more time for
discussion and active engagement/participation of people attending the session).
The proposal from EPTA could be: The "scientific session" should not have a
"standard format". It could have a workshop character, leading to a result and with
high interactivity level. Suggested topics:
Option a: "What is your favourite car?" Panel with politicians, NGOs, scientists and
car manufacturers moderated by an EPTA member with fact-sheet material plus an
energy theme. The point will be to address the more complex theme of the fuel
economy, transportation and climate change through a concrete discussion about
different upcoming technologies. This may be coupled to the topic of the EPTA
Conference 2008 with a view to using the fact sheet elaborated by EPTA members
(similar to the energy transition overview) for both occasions.
Option b: "How can politicians be up to date with science and technology?"
Discussing different models and how to proceed on the European level.
Option c: "The return of GM food?
European policy seminar based with the EPTA report as a point of departure.
Option d: "Searching for the open society"
The amazing development of ICTs in general and web 2.0. and search technology in
particular are challenging our views on the open society. EPTA would facilitate a
discussion about open source content, privacy, intellectual ownership etc.
There are many further topical TA themes that would fit one of the ten ESOF themes,
e.g.: brain science; energy and the environment etc. Furthermore, it might be a good
Pq RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAX: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOA@europarl.europa.eu
strategy to send at least one EPTA representative to each of the other sessions that
deal with TA-related issues in order to speak up and participate actively (and hence
promote a more reflexive approach and, indirectly, EPTA).
5. Outreach activities
The best way of promoting participatory TA is, of course, by doing it. It is a
possibility to invite ESOF participants to join a discussion. The challenge at ESOF is
the limited amount of time available. There is also a need to have a clear aim for the
exercise. Organisation of a participatory activity such as Open Space or World Caf;
a hot topic is needed for this in order to attract many people. All the suggestions
mentioned above are possible topics.
Option a: "What is your favourite car ?"
Interview meeting/world caf. A mix of small roundtable discussions and a
questionnaire. Aim: to give input and questions for the "hot shots" in a policy panel.
Option b: "What should be the future topics for TA?" Might we use this event to
gather proposals for future TA studies? What do the journalists and scientists gathered
there think important to look at?
Pros: easy to market, interest of public, journalists.
Challenge: need of very good moderator, organizational tasks, need to choose a topic.
6. Exhibition
Setting-up a stand/booth in the exhibition area of ESOF 2008: showing
publications, web, brochures, posters etc.
Pros: high visibility, low cost.
Challenge: staff to be present at the stand, need of promotional material.
7. Social events
Organization of an EPTA reception targeted to a selected group of stakeholders.
Pros: marketing, increased awareness and recognition of EPTA mission.
Challenge: cost (and its distribution among EPTA members), organizational tasks.
8. Other
Option a: Press conference - presenting the final results of the current EPTA joint
project on genetically modified plants (will be available by beginning of 2008).
Pros: expected visibility, marketing.
Challenge: organizational tasks.
Option b: EPTA award to ESOF session, to poster, to EPTA publication etc.
Pros: visibility.
Challenge: organisational tasks, jury work, needs awarding subject and criteria.
Pq RUE WIERTZ — B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAx: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOA@europarl.europa.eu
9. Organisational matters
Decisions to be taken:
• on the structure of EPTA participation (as above)
• on the subjects for the scientific session and/or outreach activities
• level of involvement of EPTA members
Proposal for working scenario:
• coordination is led by STOA
• EPTA members express opinions about subjects (scientific session/outreach
activities) and develop mobilising activity in their own parliament and country
• STOA centralises activities, involves national parliaments not members of
EPTA, with a view to a possible EU project of establishing TA in these
countries
• EPTA members provide input (participants) to scientific/outreach sessions
• EPTA members prepare exhibition details
• status of organisation to be discussed at the next EPTA Council meeting in
November 2007, as well as at the directors' meeting in April 2008.
Deadline for submission of STOA/EPTA proposal: 30 September 2007
Mild6s GYORFFI
STOA Administrator
RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAx: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOA@europarl.europa.eu
PA.RLAMrNTO EUROPEG EVROPSIN RARE:WENT EUROPA-PARLAMENTET
EUROPÅISCHES PARLAMENT EUROOPA PARLA NT LYPOf1AIKO KOINOBOYAIO EUROMAN.PARLIAMENT
PARLEMENT EUROPEEN PARLAML IO EtROPAS PARLAMENTS
EUROPOS PARLAMENTAS PARLAMEN 1L-PARLAMENT EV/ROPEW EUROPEES PARLEMENT
PARLAMENT €UROPEJSK EUROPEU EUROPSKY PARLAMENT
EVROPSKIPARLAMENT EUROOPAN PA LA;‘,CN111 EUROPAPARLAMENTET
STOA
Scientific Technology Options Assessment
Brussels, 5 September 2007
— Memo for point 8 of the STOA Panel meeting
on 6 September 2007 -
STOA participation in the ESOF 2008 conference,
18-22 July 2008, Barcelona
Based on Proposal of participation of the EPTA network at ESOF2008, by:
Tore Tennoe, Michael Nentwich, Jordi Mas
1. Introduction
At the EPTA Directors' meeting in April it was decided that EPTA and its member
organisations should participate in ESOF 2008. There is currently no decision on the
EPTA participation format. The local organisers, the Fundaci6 Catalana per a la
Recerca i la Innovaci6 (FCRI), have suggested that STOA should take the lead in
organising the EPTA participation. Mr. Busquin, who is also a member of the
Governing Board of EuroScience (the main organizers of ESOF), supports this idea.
ESOFstandsfor EuroScience Open Forum.
2. ESOF2008 in Barcelona
After Stockholm (2004) and Munich (2006), ESOF 2008 will take place in Barcelona,
from Friday, 18, to Tuesday, 22 July 2008. The Steering Committee is co-chaired by
Enric Banda (director of FCRI and former Secretary General of the European Science
Foundation) and Ingrid Wunning (Robert Bosch Foundation, Germany). The
following 10 themes have been chosen by the Programme Committee chaired by Sir
Colin Berry, UK:
• The human mind and behaviour.
• The very big and the very small.
• Maintaining an open society through science.
• Engineering the body.
• What should we eat and what should we look like?
• Enhancing energy security,fightingglobal warming.
• Sciencepolicy.
• Science and art.
• Demography in an ageing Europe.
• Screening: burdens and benefits.
Pq RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 - FAX: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOAgeuroparl.europa.eu
3. EPTA's objectives in participating at ESOF 2008
EPTA has in recent years established joint projects and an extensive database with TA
projects. Thus it has a lot to offer, but needs to increase the awareness of its work.
ESOF is an important arena for the discussion of science, technology and politics in
Europe. Active participation will increase awareness of EPTA tasks and activities to
the European scientific community including journalists, researchers, policy-makers
etc. ESOF offers the opportunity to spread information both about EPTA in general
and about specific projects. ESOF has called for proposals in different formats. ETPA
could propose activities in each of the formats on offer at the conference:
• Scientific sessions
• Outreach activities
• Exhibition
• Social events
• Other
4. Scientific sessions
Structure: Either 1 'A hour (2-3 speakers at 20 minutes) or 2 1/2 hours, including one
short break (the option would be for the longer format in order to have more time for
discussion and active engagement/participation of people attending the session).
The proposal from EPTA could be: The "scientific session" should not have a
"standard format". It could have a workshop character, leading to a result and with
high interactivity level. Suggested topics:
Option a: "What is your favourite car?" Panel with politicians, NGOs, scientists and
car manufacturers moderated by an EPTA member with fact-sheet material plus an
energy theme. The point will be to address the more complex theme of the fuel
economy, transportation and climate change through a concrete discussion about
different upcoming technologies. This may be coupled to the topic of the EPTA
Conference 2008 with a view to using the fact sheet elaborated by EPTA members
(similar to the energy transition overview) for both occasions.
Option b: "How can politicians be up to date with science and technology?"
Discussing different models and how to proceed on the European level.
Option c: "The return of GM food?
European policy seminar based with the EPTA report as a point of departure.
Option d: "Searching for the open society"
The amazing development of ICTs in general and web 2.0. and search technology in
particular are challenging our views on the open society. EPTA would facilitate a
discussion about open source content, privacy, intellectual ownership etc.
There are many further topical TA themes that would fit one of the ten ESOF themes,
e.g.: brain science; energy and the environment etc. Furthermore, it might be a good
>-<1 RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES " TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAX: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOAgeuroparl.europa.eu
strategy to send at least one EPTA representative to each of the other sessions that
deal with TA-related issues in order to speak up and participate actively (and hence
promote a more reflexive approach and, indirectly, EPTA).
5. Outreach activities
The best way of promoting participatory TA is, of course, by doing it. It is a
possibility to invite ESOF participants to join a discussion. The challenge at ESOF is
the limited amount of time available. There is also a need to have a clear aim for the
exercise. Organisation of a participatory activity such as Open Space or World Caf;
a hot topic is needed for this in order to attract many people. All the suggestions
mentioned above are possible topics.
Option a: "What is your favourite car ?"
Interview meeting/world ca&. A mix of small roundtable discussions and a
questionnaire. Aim: to give input and questions for the "hot shots" in a policy panel.
Option b: "What should be the future topics for TA?" Might we use this event to
gather proposals for future TA studies? What do the journalists and scientists gathered
there think important to look at?
Pros: easy to market, interest of public, journalists.
Challenge: need of very good moderator, organizational tasks, need to choose a topic.
6. Exhibition
Setting-up a stand/booth in the exhibition area of ESOF 2008: showing
publications, web, brochures, posters etc.
Pros: high visibility, low cost.
Challenge: staff to be present at the stand, need of promotional material.
7. Social events
Organization of an EPTA reception targeted to a selected group of stakeholders.
Pros: marketing, increased awareness and recognition of EPTA mission.
Challenge: cost (and its distribution among EPTA members), organizational tasks.
8. Other
Option a: Press conference - presenting the final results of the current EPTA joint
project on genetically modified plants (will be available by beginning of 2008).
Pros: expected visibility, marketing.
Challenge: organizational tasks.
Option b: EPTA award to ESOF session, to poster, to EPTA publication etc.
Pros: visibility.
Challenge: organisational tasks, jury work, needs awarding subject and criteria.
RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAx: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOA@europarl.europa.eu
9. Organisational matters
Decisions to be taken:
• on the structure of EPTA participation (as above)
• on the subjects for the scientific session and/or outreach activities
• level of involvement of EPTA members
Proposal for working scenario:
• coordination is led by STOA
• EPTA members express opinions about subjects (scientific session/outreach
activities) and develop mobilising activity in their own parliament and country
• STOA centralises activities, involves national parliaments not members of
EPTA, with a view to a possible EU project of establishing TA in these
countries
• EPTA members provide input (participants) to scientific/outreach sessions
• EPTA members prepare exhibition details
• status of organisation to be discussed at the next EPTA Council meeting in
November 2007, as well as at the directors' meeting in April 2008.
Deadline for submission of STOA/EPTA proposal: 30 September 2007
Mikl6s GYORFFI
STOA Administrator
C-1 RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 U FAX: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOA@europarl.europa.eu
PARLAMENTO EUROPU/ EVROP5KY,PARLAMENT EUROPA-PARLi,MENTET
EUROPISCES PARLAMENT EJROOPA PAR'LAmENT EYPOTIARM KOINOROYAI0 EUROPEANPARLIAMENT
PAW,PAP4T EUP pARLAMENro PUROPEO EIROPAS PARLAmE;;'413
EUROPOS PARLAMENTA5 EUE)PAI PARLAMENT II-PARLAMENT EWROPEW EUROPEES PARLEMENT
PARLAMENT EUROPESSui PARIAMENTO EUROPEU EUR°P5KY PARLAMENT
EVROPSKIPARLAMENT EUROOPAN PARLAAlENiTE EUROPAPARLAMENTET
STOA
Scientific Technology Options Assessment
Brussels, 5 September 2007
— Memo for point 8 of the STOA Panel meeting
on 6 September 2007 -
STOA participation in the ESOF 2008 conference,
18-22 July 2008, Barcelona
Based on Proposal of participation of the EPTA network at ESOF2008, by:
Tore Tennoe, Michael Nentwich, Jordi Mas
1. Introduction
At the EPTA Directors' meeting in April it was decided that EPTA and its member
organisations should participate in ESOF 2008. There is currently no decision on the
EPTA participation format. The local organisers, the Fundaci6 Catalana per a la
Recerca i la Innovaci6 (FCRI), have suggested that STOA should take the lead in
organising the EPTA participation. Mr. Busquin, who is also a member of the
Governing Board of EuroScience (the main organizers of ESOF), supports this idea.
ESOFstandsfor EuroScience Open Forum.
2. ESOF2008 in Barcelona
After Stockholm (2004) and Munich (2006), ESOF 2008 will take place in Barcelona,
from Friday, 18, to Tuesday, 22 July 2008. The Steering Committee is co-chaired by
Enric Banda (director of FCRI and former Secretary General of the European Science
Foundation) and Ingrid Wunning (Robert Bosch Foundation, Germany). The
following 10 themes have been chosen by the Programme Committee chaired by Sir
Colin Berry, UK:
• The human mind and behaviour.
• The very big and the very small.
• Maintaining an open society through science.
• Engineering the body.
• What should we eat and what should we look like?
• Enhancing energy security,fighting global warming.
• Science policy.
• Science and art.
• Demography in an ageing Europe.
• Screening: burdens and benefits.
Pq RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAx: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOAgeuroparkeuropa.eu
3. EPTA's objectives in participating at ESOF 2008
EPTA has in recent years established joint projects and an extensive database with TA
projects. Thus it has a lot to offer, but needs to increase the awareness of its work.
ESOF is an important arena for the discussion of science, technology and politics in
Europe. Active participation will increase awareness of EPTA tasks and activities to
the European scientific community including journalists, researchers, policy-makers
etc. ESOF offers the opportunity to spread information both about EPTA in general
and about specific projects. ESOF has called for proposals in different formats. ETPA
could propose activities in each of the formats on offer at the conference:
• Scientific sessions
• Outreach activities
• Exhibition
• Social events
• Other
4. Scientific sessions
Structure: Either 1 1/4 hour (2-3 speakers at 20 minutes) or 2 1/2 hours, including one
short break (the option would be for the longer format in order to have more time for
discussion and active engagement/participation of people attending the session).
The proposal from EPTA could be: The "scientific session" should not have a
"standard format". It could have a workshop character, leading to a result and with
high interactivity level. Suggested topics:
Option a: "What is your favourite car?" Panel with politicians, NGOs, scientists and
car manufacturers moderated by an EPTA member with fact-sheet material plus an
energy theme. The point will be to address the more complex theme of the fuel
economy, transportation and climate change through a concrete discussion about
different upcoming technologies. This may be coupled to the topic of the EPTA
Conference 2008 with a view to using the fact sheet elaborated by EPTA members
(similar to the energy transition overview) for both occasions.
Option b: "How can politicians be up to date with science and technology?"
Discussing different models and how to proceed on the European level.
Option c: "The return of GM food?
European policy seminar based with the EPTA report as a point of departure.
Option d: "Searching for the open society"
The amazing development of ICTs in general and web 2.0. and search technology in
particular are challenging our views on the open society. EPTA would facilitate a
discussion about open source content, privacy, intellectual ownership etc.
There are many further topical TA themes that would fit one of the ten ESOF themes,
e.g.: brain science; energy and the environment etc. Furthermore, it might be a good
Pq RUE WIERTZ — B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAx: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOA@europarl.europa.eu
strategy to send at least one EPTA representative to each of the other sessions that
deal with TA-related issues in order to speak up and participate actively (and hence
promote a more reflexive approach and, indirectly, EPTA).
5. Outreach activities
The best way of promoting participatory TA is, of course, by doing it. It is a
possibility to invite ESOF participants to join a discussion. The challenge at ESOF is
the limited amount of time available. There is also a need to have a clear aim for the
exercise. Organisation of a participatory activity such as Open Space or World Caf ;
a hot topic is needed for this in order to attract many people. All the suggestions
mentioned above are possible topics.
Option a: "What is your favourite car ?"
Interview meeting/world caf . A mix of small roundtable discussions and a
questionnaire. Aim: to give input and questions for the "hot shots" in a policy panel.
Option b: "What should be the future topics for TA?" Might we use this event to
gather proposals for future TA studies? What do the journalists and scientists gathered
there think important to look at?
Pros: easy to market, interest of public, journalists.
Challenge: need of very good moderator, organizational tasks, need to choose a topic.
6. Exhibition
Setting-up a stand/booth in the exhibition area of ESOF 2008: showing
publications, web, brochures, posters etc.
Pros: high visibility, low cost.
Challenge: staff to be present at the stand, need of promotional material.
7. Social events
Organization of an EPTA reception targeted to a selected group of stakeholders.
Pros: marketing, increased awareness and recognition of EPTA mission.
Challenge: cost (and its distribution among EPTA members), organizational tasks.
8. Other
Option a: Press conference - presenting the final results of the current EPTA joint
project on genetically modified plants (will be available by beginning of 2008).
Pros: expected visibility, marketing.
Challenge: organizational tasks.
Option b: EPTA award to ESOF session, to poster, to EPTA publication etc.
Pros: visibility.
Challenge: organisational tasks, jury work, needs awarding subject and criteria.
Pq RUE WIERTZ - B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 • FAx: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOAgeuroparl.europa.eu
9. Organisational matters
Decisions to be taken:
• on the structure of EPTA participation (as above)
• on the subjects for the scientific session and/or outreach activities
• level of involvement of EPTA members
Proposal for working scenario:
• coordination is led by STOA
• EPTA members express opinions about subjects (scientific session/outreach
activities) and develop mobilising activity in their own parliament and country
• STOA centralises activities, involves national parliaments not members of
EPTA, with a view to a possible EU project of establishing TA in these
countries
• EPTA members provide input (participants) to scientific/outreach sessions
• EPTA members prepare exhibition details
• status of organisation to be discussed at the next EPTA Council meeting in
November 2007, as well as at the directors' meeting in April 2008.
Deadline for submission of STOA/EPTA proposal: 30 September 2007
Mikl6s GYORFFI
STOA Administrator
D< RUE WIERTZ — B-1047 BRUXELLES • TEL.: +32/284-4645 - FAX: +32/284-9002
E-MAIL: PolDep-STOA@europarl.europa.eu