Written by Zsolt G. Pataki with Riccardo Molinari,
A packed Science Week at the European Parliament from 5 to 7 February 2019, organised by the European Parliament’s 2019 Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA), includes:
- the STOA MEP-Scientist Pairing Scheme ‘Brussels Week’;
- the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre ‘Science meets Parliaments’ event, (JRC; 6-7 February, in cooperation with STOA);
- a European Science-Media Hub (ESMH) workshopon ‘Tackling misinformation and disinformation in science’ (6 February); and
- a STOA/ESMH and European Research Council (ERC) Conference entitled ‘Investing in researchers – Shaping Europe’s future’ (7 February).
These events aim to support a structured dialogue between scientists and policy-makers, to raise awareness about politically relevant, cutting-edge scientific issues (such as artificial intelligence, gene technology, or autonomous cars), and the importance of science for evidence-informed policy-making. Here is what will happen at each of the events:
MEP-Scientists Pairing Scheme
During the ‘Brussels Week’ of the seventh edition of the scheme (organised for the first time in 2007 and annually since 2015), paired scientists will have an opportunity to follow their MEP counterparts in their daily political activities, and gain an understanding of the EU science, technology and research policy framework, particularly European Parliament work in this area. In addition, they will attend various meetings with MEPs, Parliament staff and science journalists, presenting their research work and outcomes, and participating in ‘pitching sessions’ between science journalists and scientists, organised by the ESMH.
Science meets Parliaments, 6-7 February 2019
This initiative seeks to build closer links between scientists and policy-makers at EU, national and regional levels and enhance the role of science in policy through regular dialogue. During this year’s edition of the event (held for the first time in 2015), scientists will gain a greater understanding of how the European Parliament works, and the role and working methods of Members and their needs in terms of scientific advice.
ESMH workshop ‘Tackling misinformation and disinformation in science’, 6 February 2019
This workshop aims to exchange good practices in tackling misinformation and disinformation in science, via the presentation of ‘case studies’, illustrating relevant initiatives touching upon different science disciplines. The workshop is participatory, as the audience will be actively involved in debate on the case studies.
STOA/ESMH-ERC conference, Thursday 7 February 2019
The STOA/ESMH-ERC conference ‘Investing in researchers, shaping Europe’s future’ will bring policy-makers and ERC-funded grantees together with the aim of supporting evidence-informed policy-making and underlining how Europe’s future can be shaped by fundamental research on topics ranging from smart agriculture and food, via CRISPR, to migration and demography.
Interested? To keep up to date with the activities of STOA, follow our website, the EPRS blog, Twitter and Think Tank pages.
[…] Source Article from https://epthinktank.eu/2019/02/05/a-week-celebrating-science-at-the-european-parliament/ […]