Summer 2008
From the Chair
New members
Sci Comm news
Eurochat
Feature: Publicising non peer-reviewed science
Feature: New media, new opportunities
Feature: Spinning science
Event Report: Science and the embargo
Event Report: Podcasting and new media
Interview: Emma Morton, The Sun
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Stempra newsletter
Eurochat
Good news. Never mind the credit crunch, forget the fact that
England aren't in Euro2008. The European Union is offering us all "a
fifth freedom". Although we may not all be up to speed with the other
four existing euro-liberties (cross-border movement of goods, services,
capital and people) you need to know that the fifth freedom will be the
free movement of knowledge.
This new freedom is apparently a response to the challenges of
globalisation, and will help to transform the EU into "a truly modern
and competitive economy". It involves improving working conditions for
researchers, increasing cross-border mobility, improving career
structures and increasing knowledge transfer between universities and
business – so all good news for science.
Realisation of this new freedom will also require higher
education reforms, promoting the optimal use of intellectual property
created from public research and encouraging open access to knowledge
and innovation, the launch of a new generation of world-class research
facilities, and promoting the mutual recognition of qualifications.
Possibly as part of this miraculous transformation the EC is
proposing that 2009 be the European Year of Creativity and Innovation.
The Year will concentrate on helping people develop better skills in
problem-solving and applying knowledge and ideas in real life
situations - lovely. Activities focusing on social and entrepreneurial
innovation will also be encouraged.
Scientists older, funding static
Meanwhile back in the real world its official – scientists are
getting older! Yes the Statistical Office of the European Communities
(Eurostat – situated in a very large shopping mall just outside
Luxembourg City) has noted that since 2001, the percentage of senior
science workers aged between 45 and 64 in the total scientific working
population has increased every year by an average of 3.3%. The lack of
younger talent is putting the EU's innovation potential at risk and
Eurostat estimate that an extra half a million researchers are needed
to meet the Lisbon goals of innovation and competitiveness.
Perhaps if scientist were paid more that would help? Or if
Member States were actually doing what they say they do and clearly
investing more in R&D. Perhaps looking to increase national
research funding to the mythical 3% of GDP by 2010?
Sadly, but predictably, Eurostat also tells us that R&D
spending in Europe has remained unchanged at 1.84% of GDP for the last
three years. Some Member States (Finland and Sweden) have shown that it
is possible to achieve the 3% target – and not surprisingly these
countries are amongst those with the highest proportion of scientists
and engineers in their workforce (6.7% and 6.5% respectively). The EU
average in 2006 is 4.8%. The countries employing the highest shares of
scientists and engineers were Belgium with 7.9% and Ireland with 6.8%.
Data for the UK funding in 2006 is not available (why?) but UK research
spending slipped from 1.85% in 2000 to 1.76% with 4.9% of the workforce
officially classed as boffins in 2006.
Science prizes galore – PR disaster!
In my last column I mentioned the celebration of world-beating
collaborative science and technology that would be the European Science
Awards ceremony on 12 March. And if my quick 'n dirty analysis of media
coverage of the event and the excellent science it showcased is
anything to go by that will have been the first and last time you will
take heard anything about it
Why so little coverage? Well, the PR for the event would be an
excellent case study of how not to do it. Releasing some information on
the event to the media in advance could have helped. Inviting some
science hacks along would have been a good idea. Even better an
embargoed release with the names and details of all the winners
released a day or so before. But no, just a press conference on the
morning of the 12th to the usual Euro hack press corps (not renowned
for their grasp of/ interest in science) and a press release sent out
after the event – result little or no coverage for the "European
equivalent of the Nobel Prize". And that despite a huge investment in
material (a very fine brochure even though I say so myself), videos
etc. Its enough to make a grown comms man cry.
A bientôt - Tim
Tim Reynolds
Inta Communication Ltd
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