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Autumn 2008
From the Chair
New members
Sci Comm news
Eurochat
Feature: Handbags and
test tubes
Feature: Stories that matter to a changing
world
Event Report: Silly season stories
Event Report: Are press conferences old news?
Interview: Jane Gizbert, NICE
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Stempra newsletter
FEATURE: Stories that matter to a changing world
The 6th World Conference of Science Journalists in 2009 will bring established and aspiring reporters, broadcasters and writers from around the world, to debate, network, develop their professional skills and report on the latest advances in science, health and technology.
The Conference is being organised by the Association of British Science Writers, the umbrella body for UK science journalists, and the Science Media Centre, under the guidance of advisors including the editors of Nature, New Scientist, Science, Financial Times, and SciDev.Net.
The theme for the 6th World Conference of Science Journalists in London in 2009 is: 'Stories that matter to a changing world'. This sums up the driving motivation for journalists across the world, at a time when the pace of global change, particularly in science, engineering, technology and medicine, is so rapid.
The aims of the Conference are to:
- raise the quality and impact of science journalism worldwide;
- share excellence in independent journalism;
- compare experiences with counterparts from developed and developing countries;
- advance their professional development;
- create and promote partnerships; and
- report on science, health, technology and medicine.
Activities at the Conference will include: plenary, symposia and debates; skills-building workshops, and celebrations of major scientific events in 2009, including the International Year of Astronomy, the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the run-up to the 350th anniversary of the Royal Society. The conference has been planned to coincide with the Royal Society Summer Exhibition, providing an excellent opportunity for the world’s science media to see the very best of UK scientific research.
We expect to attract more than 700 delegates from across the world to the Central Hall, Westminster, including at least 50 from developing countries who will be supported by travel bursaries.
The founding partners of the Conference are: The Royal Society, the Wellcome Trust, Nature, The British Council, Natural History Museum/Darwin200, World Federation of Science Journalists, SciDev.Net.
Our supporters so far include: AEA Technology; AAAS/EurekAlert; Elsevier; and Imperial College London.
Supporters of travel bursaries include the MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Programme; World Federation of Science Journalists, and the Science and Development Network.
Would you like to see your organisations name in the list above?
There are plenty of opportunities for organisations to become involved in the WCSJ2009. Our sponsorship brochure is available on request or can be downloaded from the website. Exposure to the World’s science press for your organisation and its scientific research can be achieved through a variety of routes, from coming on board as a major supporter to holding a briefing breakfast or lunch, supporting an evening reception or organising a post conference trip to your research facilities.
Other Ways of Being Involved?
Although the primary target for the conference are science journalists, the conference is of course open to science communicators and scientists, on-line registration will open in November 2008, so register your interest now to receive news of our early bird rates. Members and Associate Members of the Association of British Science Writers will receive a discount on registration fees – so if you are not a member of the ABSW, visit www.absw.org.uk and sign up now. Finally, your thoughts on the Conference, its content and how best to provide a real experience of UK journalism, science, engineering and technology to our guests are always welcome!
We look forward to involving as many of you as possible in the WCSJ2009.
Sallie Robins
Co-Director, 6th World Conference of Science Journalists
30 June - 3 July 2009, Central Hall, Westminster, London
www.wcsj2009.org
sallie.robins@wcsj2009.org
020 7249 4858
07733 330 344
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