ESO Annual Report 2004

Since the Laeken Convent gathered to
prepare the Constitutional Treaty, EIROforum
had been involved in this process
and we note with satisfaction this outcome
which is favourable to science.
Public Interaction
Presentation of the
EIROforum European
Science Teachers’
Initiative at the EURO-
SCIENCE Open Forum
in Stockholm.
During the year, representatives of the
EIROforum organisations, including ESO
staff, participated in discussions and
gave talks at numerous meetings dealing
with a wide range of contemporary science
policy issues. Many of the meetings
were part of the preparatory process
for the 7 th Framework Programme, others
were of a more general nature.
Thus in March, a meeting was organised
by the “Forum Engelberg” in Switzerland
under the title “Science on the Agenda of
European Politics”. On May 11–12, a major
conference on Science Communication
took place in Brussels, with 500 participants
including 120 journalists. A smaller
follow-up meeting in November discussed
the possibilities for establishing a European
Science News Agency.
In August, the EUROSCIENCE Open
Forum 2004 took place in Stockholm. The
meeting was attended by about 1800
people forming a mix of scientists, media
and science policy makers. EIROforum
had a major information stand, organised
one of scientific sessions as well as a public
outreach session featuring video
conferencing with our respective research
facilities; in ESO’s case with the Paranal
Observatory.
Cooperation with the
European Commission
In late 2003, the Directors General of the
EIROforum partner organisations and
the European Commissioner for Research
signed a “Statement of Intent”, creating
a framework and identifying areas in which
cooperation between the Commission
and us might take place.
In the course of 2004, this led to the formulation
of a series of concrete proposals
covering activities in the fields of human
resources, industrial and technological aspects
and science and society activities.
In most cases, it was proposed to establish
joint working groups between the
EIROforum and the Commission or set up
other mechanisms to facilitate cooperation
and, where appropriate, coordination
of activities. In other cases, activities
could be implemented immediately. For
example EIROforum participated in the
EU Young Scientists’ Contest 2004 with
attractive special prizes. The winner of
the ESO prize received her award for her
contribution “Observations of Comet
153P/Ikeya-Zhang”.
The EIROforum Science Policy Paper
At the EIROforum Council meeting in the
autumn of 2003, it was decided to put
together a major document, in which the
Directors General would present their
collective views on a range of the most
important science policy issues, in particular
to provide a perspective for the years
to come. The timeframe for the preparation
of the document and its publication
was set to match the major changes in the
European policy scene outlined above.
The preparation of the document constituted
a major effort for EIROforum, involving
the various working groups and many
individuals. ESO played an important
part by taking the lead in putting together
the paper and, working closely with the
EIROforum Chair, to work towards consolidation
of an “EIROforum” identity based
on a clear vision and constructive ideas for
the further development of a truly competitive
European Research Area.
ESO Annual Report 2004
61