For too long, Europe was lacking an independent arena for open dialogue on the role of all the sciences, including the humanities, in society. We have it now with the Euroscience Open Forum. The initiative was taken in 1999 by the researchers themselves: the Euroscience Open Forum was brought to life by Euroscience.
Euroscience recognised the need for an interdisciplinary, pan-European meeting place for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas.

Visit the ESOF2008 web site

The ESOF concept

Science and technology are becoming increasingly important as they concern and affect everybody. The Euroscience Open Forum is not an ordinary scientific conference, but a totally new concept. It consists of a Forum for discussion of topical issues, an embedded conference (with an exhibition) to showcase European achievements right across the scientific and technological spectrum, and an outreach programme.

The outreach programme consists of a large number of events and happenings throughout the ESOF host city, which are targeted to the public at large of all ages. At ESOF2004 in Stockholm, the outreach programme “Science in the City” attracted 11000 visitors. At ESOF2006, the outreach programme was linked to the “Wissenschaftssommer”, attracting some 60000 visitors.

ESOF also serves as a young scientists’ forum, encouraging students, PhD students and post-docs to share their experience and participate in debates about such subjects as the European Charter for Researchers, how to motivate young people to engage in scientific careers, and how the construction of the European Research Area enhances the prospects of young scientists.

ESOF’s aims are:

• Presenting scientific and technological developments at the cutting edge in all their variety from natural sciences to the social sciences and the humanities
• Stimulating the European public’s awareness of and interest in science and technology
• Fostering a European dialogue on science and technology, society and policy by offering a platform for cross-disciplinary interaction and communication on current trends and future roads for science and technology, their interaction with society and policy and the role of the public

ESOF’s European itinerary

The Euroscience Open Forum is held every other year, visiting the major scientific cities of Europe and bringing European science to the attention of all citizens.
The starting point of ESOF’s European journey was Stockholm, Sweden, in 2004. Two years later, ESOF’s itinerary brought the vent to Munich, Germany. And, after ESOF2006, the route will continue southwards : ESOF2008 will be held in the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain. ESOF’s exciting host cities reflect Europe’s cultural diversity. Thus, you will experience that the spirit of every Euroscience Open Forum is different…

ESOF’s success depends on you, too!

You can contribute to this open dialogue on all the sciences and on their role in shaping a knowledge-based society.
ESOF invites individuals and organisations to submit their best ideas in the form of proposals for the programme. The best of these proposals will be selected for the Forum by a Programme Committee of international standing.

For information about ESOF2008, please visit http://www.esof2008.org/

You can also propose the next destination for ESOF’s travel plans. For further information, please contact us:

Euroscience
8, rue des Ecrivains
F-67000 Strasbourg
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 24 11 50
Fax: +33 (0)3 88 24 75 56
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