ESOF2008 Spells Success for COST
COST showcased its contribution to the European Research Area (ERA) at this year’s EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF2008) in Barcelona.
As part of its Outreach Strategy, COST has started promoting its activities through external events. During this year’s edition of ESOF, COST organised three Early Stage Researcher Workshops giving this group of scientists the chance to network with others in their field and communicate their experiences. A scientific session on preserving cultural heritage and an interactive exhibition stand also made COST’s participation an overall success.
“Our Early Stage Researchers took centre stage and became COST ambassadors during their time at ESOF2008. Wearing little blue lights, they clearly stood out in the crowd, helping them make contacts and promote COST activities to others in their field,” explained Professor Francesco Fedi, President of the COST Committee of Senior Officials (CSO).
Follow the Blue Light
Blue light activity was particularly high at the COST exhibition stand, located in between the European Science Foundation and EUREKA, close neighbours from the European Research Area. Messages were exchanged through the notice board and information was available on the Open Call, Domains and Actions.
There were many positive comments about COST and the way it supports scientists in their networking activities. About 200 visitors signed up for the COST database. One of the messages read: “I have been a participant in a COST Action (D37) for 2 years and have been able to make contacts and do collaborative work that would not have been easy otherwise”.
An interactive multimedia booth attracted the crowds showing clips about COST and its activities. Guided by a little yellow duck, users could travel through the virtual world and even take part in a small competition. Every afternoon, COST organised a prize draw to give visitors the opportunity to network and hear more about COST Activities while enjoying a glass of sangria. Prof. Fedi and Dr John Bartzis, Vice-President of the CSO, led the proceedings by handing over the prize to the lucky winner.
Early Stage Researchers
The three workshops focused on topics that affect our lifestyles. Fat: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly looked at the positive and negative aspects of fat consumption, generating fruitful discussions between scientists from different generations, countries and fields.
“Participating in the COST Workshop was very useful for me. New ideas came out. The way fat is perceived today is not the same as before, it has changed in an unexpected way. This event will have an influence on my work in the future,” said Tomislava Lovaković from University of J.J Strossmayer.
Digital Television: Users, Markets and Policies generated discussions on changes in viewing practices, business models and challenges for policy-making in the digital era. Finally, Decision Analysis for a Better and Safer World focused on topics such as promoting e-democracy and decision-making for counterterrorism, natural catastrophes, water distribution problems and energy planning.
“The workshop was inspiring and challenging and the group was very dynamic with a rich brainstorming,” said Pantelis Makris, an Early Stage Researcher from the Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute.
Crossing Disciplines
Former COST Science Officer Piotr Swiatek had invited Cristina Sabbioni from the Italian National Research Council CNR, Mark Dowsett from University of Warwick and Hannelore Roemich from University of New York to present a scientific session on Science and the Preservation of Cultural Heritage. They discussed the role each discipline plays in helping preserve our history and shared views on how scientists, conservators and curators can work together effectively.
“All countries have a different approach to cultural heritage and finding specialists is difficult. COST is the ideal instrument to provide a platform for these two societies [scientists and conservators], both involved in preservation,” explained Piotr Swiatek.
Debates and networking opportunities went hand in hand with the sunny and welcoming atmosphere of Barcelona. The experience has definitively sparked enthusiasm for the COST team to re-create the atmosphere at the next edition of ESOF, taking place in 2010 in Turin, Italy.
