Work Programme 2008
(pp. 32-34) in order to provide with a better idea of the proposals we are looking for.

SUB-PART 5.3 Third action line: Science and society communicate

Objectives 2007-2013: Activities will contribute to addressing the ambiguous feelings expressed by citizens regarding knowledge of and the potential benefits from science and technology. They will also help fight the perceived isolation of the world of science from the everyday realities of Europeans by promoting effective two-way communication channels: providing a wider public with more scientific information and enabling the public to engage with scientists. A specific focus will be given to the role of the media in this regard, approached in their role as one voice of society's expectations, concerns and interests. A closer dialogue with them will be promoted, including the exchange of best practice between scientists and media professionals. In addition, some of the funded activities will be requested to provide the public with tools to express its views on science.    

There is a significant need for more ambitious and innovative methods for the more effective communication of science itself. Among other benefits, this offers to help empower European citizens with more confident and sophisticated understandings of – and access to – the pressing scientific issues bearing on contemporary political choices. Where coverage of science tends to be sporadic, often over-simplified and unduly sensationalised, the role of the media is especially demanding of attention in this regard. There is no shortage of potential instruments for supporting this complementary channel in genuinely 'two way' science communication, building in particular on previous projects on participatory processes funded by this Programme (21). Rather than simply making the case for existing commitments, media initiatives could instead be aimed at catalysing debate over alternative directions and implications of research. Perhaps building on recent experience in 'foresight' and 'science shop' exercises, the internet could be used in innovative ways to foster public interaction in setting future research priorities and agendas.

Area 5.3.0.2 Training actions to bridge the gap between the media and the
scientific community

Indicative budget amount for calls for proposals: EUR 1.00 million (22), available for topics
SiS-2008-3.0.2.1 Support for training activities for high-level EC-funded scientists and
SiS-2008-3.0.2.2 Support training activities of journalists and authors in the EU Member States and the Associated countries in EC-funded research laboratories

Objectives:
1 – Improve the common understanding between journalists and scientists, for a better quality of dialogue between both communities.

2 - Prepare our best European scientists to present their work to international media in a
convincing, clear and accessible way.

SiS-2008-3.0.2.1 Support for training activities for high-level EC-funded scientists. The
training should improve their abilities to interact with national and international media, especially audiovisual ones (how to present their work on TV and radio especially). It should also include training to use new media with the objective to establish a better dialogue with society (interactive websites, blogs, mobile phones information systems, etc).

The proposers should be recognized media professionals with an excellent experience in high level media training. The Commission will assist the selected proposals by providing a list of high-level EC-funded scientists which must be used as a basis for this training action. This list may be amended only with the approval of the Commission. The proposal must adopt a transnational approach, including media training in several EU languages, and ensure that the project will be implemented in different Member States and/or Associated Countries (that is, demonstrating the ability to train scientists from different countries). These factors will be reflected in the evaluation.

"EC-funded scientist": means a scientist currently involved (at the time of training) in a research project financed by the European Commission (Research Framework Programme).

Funding Scheme: Co-ordination and support action (supporting)

Expected Impact: This activity should allow the best EU and associated country scientists to get used to presenting their research work in a clear way to the national and international mass media and to the broadest possible public. It should also help them to establish a two-way

communication process on their research.

SiS-2008-3.0.2.2 Support training activities of journalists and authors in the EU Member
States and the Associated countries in EC-funded research laboratories . The training should mainly target final year students in journalism but can include also professional working journalists and professional authors (e.g. fiction, screenplays). The journalists and authors are not obliged to have a scientific background in order to participate. The participation of non-science journalists is welcome. The objective of the training is to allow future journalists in the EU and associated countries and current press professionals and authors to spend on average one week in EC- funded laboratories to understand better the work of European research teams and learn more about European research.

The proposal must establish partnerships between EU journalism schools/ organisations and EUfunded laboratories. The proposal must adopt a transnational approach, and ensure that the project will be implemented in different Member States and/or Associated Countries (that is,

demonstrating the ability to train journalists in EC-funded laboratories in countries other than their home country). These factors will be reflected in the evaluation.

"EC-funded research laboratories": means a laboratory currently involved (at the time of training) in a research project financed by the European Commission (Research Framework Programme). A 'laboratory' can be any partner doing research in a research project consortium, such as a university department, industry, SME etc.

Funding Scheme: Co-ordination and support actions (supporting)

Expected Impact: The trained journalists and authors will have a better understanding of what European cooperation in research means and what scientists' everyday work entails. By opening the training to people who have not a scientific background, it is also expected to encourage non science media sections to include the European research and innovation dimension in their stories.

Third Action Line:  Science and society communicate
Indicative budget for Commissioncontribution (€ million)
Activity/Area 5.3.1.2 Training actions to bridge the gap between the media and the scientific community targeting the public    1.00   
5.3.1.2.        SiS-2008-3.0.2.1 Support for training activities of high-level EC-funded scientists     CSA (Supporting)                Topic quota: at least 2 proposals      
5.3.1.2 SiS-2008-3.0.2.2 Support training activities of journalists and authors in the EU Member States and the associated countries in EC-funded research laboratories         CSA (Supporting)                Topic quota: at least 2 proposals