During the ESOF in Manchester EUSJA board talked to some institutions regarding possible study trips, there were also officers from European Space Agency. Hope we shall organize with ESA very interesting study trip in a future, but for the moment they are kindly offering us 14 slots for the press trip to UK that will take place on January 31. You will find the details and the programme below.

The organizers will pay for the hotel for the 30th & 31st January, for meal and transfers to and from airport. Please note: they DO NOT pay for the tickets to and from UK, but they will pay for travel from the airport in the UK to Reading (the town where the organizers are based) and back to the UK airport from Reading.
The organizers are likely to operate a mixed-model where they book and pay for some tickets (to and from airport!) in advance, but for others we reimburse the journalist (but may limit the amount to maintain the budget). This will be decided once the successful registrants are known.

Please read the call and the programme below, forward to your members and ask to register for the trip to the given web page.
The participants will be selected on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. This is not our rule, but this is not a special EUSJA study trip, EUSJA journalists are invited to join the press tour.

With kind regards,

Viola Egikova

So,
Eyes on the Earth: Satellites, Sensors and Services protecting our world and economy
Copernicus facilities press tour

Dear EUSJA Members

On behalf of the Copernicus institutions based in the United Kingdom – the European Space Agency (ESA), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Satellite Applications Catapult, and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), I would like to invite science journalists belonging to the European Union of Science Journalists’ Associations to a press tour on 31th January 2016. Up to 14 seats will be available to the EUSJA members on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

This is a bespoke event for journalists explaining how Copernicus unlocks the potential of technology to help countries respond to climate change and resilience challenges in key sectors such as Energy, Health, Insurance and Urban planning.

Scientific institutions and private companies are major partners and contributors to the Copernicus programme because of their recognised scientific and technical expertise. During this press tour you will visit Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire and Shinfield Park in Berkshire to explore:

• ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT),

• RAL Space at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory,

• Satellite Applications Catapult

• The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)

The tour will provide opportunities to visit the facilities, speak to scientists, see data and analysis, and learn more about satellite data’s real world contributions and the services Copernicus is developing.

You will experience how:

• The Copernicus programme, the first integrated network of its kind – built on cooperation between agencies across the globe – is bringing evidence to the climate debate to inform policy and secure our economic future.

• Partners across the earth observation sector are making important contributions to this programme through their expertise and technology including playing a key role in delivering the European Union’s Sentinel Satellite Network.

• Through Copernicus, the Sentinel Satellite Network and other programmes, UK developed satellite technology is already helping governments respond to environmental, health, resilience and economic challenges.

The Copernicus institutions will be delighted to welcome you at this event.

Travel and accommodation within the UK will be sponsored for the participating journalists. Transport from Reading to the locations will be provided.

To register, simply fill in the accreditation form before 13 January 2017:
http://copernicus-satellite-facilities-press-tour.eventbrite.co.uk

If you have further questions or need more information, please do not hesitate to contact me: silke.zollinger@ecmwf.int

With kind regards,

Silke Zollinger
Press and Events Manager
ECMWF Copernicus Communication

Agenda

Tuesday, 31 January
9:30 – Pick up of participants at Novotel Reading Centre, transfer to Harwell Campus

10:20 – Welcome coffee at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT)

10:35 – Welcome address, European Commission (10min)

10:45 – Copernicus Space Component, Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes

11:00 – Introduction to Satellite Applications, Mark Hampson, Daniel Wicks – Satellite Applications Catapult

11:15 – Visit of Catapult Control Room and demonstration of satellite applications

12:00 – Transfer to RAL Space

12:15 – Visit of Copernicus testing laboratories at RAL Space

12:45 pm – 13:30 LUNCH at RALSpace

13:30 – Transfer to ECMWF; Showcase Copernicus data visualisation tool

14:30 – Weather Room

• Welcome, Florence Rabier, Director-General ECMWF (5 min)

• Overview Weather Wall, Timothy Hewson, Scientist Forecast Performance and Products, ECMWF (5 min)

• Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, Vincent-Henri Peuch, Head of Service, ECMWF (10 min)

• Copernicus Climate Change Service, Jean-Noel Thepaut, Head of Service, ECMWF (10 min)

15:00 – ECMWF Supercomputer Hall, Isabella Weger, Deputy Director Computing, ECMWF and Dr Umberto Modigliani, Head, User Support Forecasting Department ECMWF

15:30 – ECMWF Council Room

• Questions & Answers, Juan Garcés de Marcilla, Director ECMWF Copernicus Services

16:00 – Shuttle to Reading Station / Hotel

16:30 – Individual departure at Reading station

It is recommended that journalists arrive in Reading on Monday 30 January. Return will be facilitated on Tuesday 31 January, after the visit, or on Wednesday 1 February.

Roundtable in Toledo

Mundo Sano Foundation is inviting Health reporters to come to Spain to WorldLeish-6 Congress. http://worldleish2017.org

· Mundo Sano will cover the full costs of travelling and accommodation to 2 European Science journalists from EUSJA interested in an active participation in a Roundtable dedicated to “Communication & Neglected Tropical Diseases”.

· DATE: It will be celebrated next May 18th on the World Congress of Leishmaniasis

· LOCATION: The city of TOLEDO (Spain), near Madrid.

· Roundtable will be conducted by DNDi (Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative) Communication manager and wants to bring media and scientific press attention to a big Global health issue as NTDs. (Neglected Tropical Diseases affect 1 every 7 people in the World, they are a diverse group of 17 communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries and affect more than one billion people, costing developing economies billions of dollars every year. (See more info; http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/mediacentre/factsheet/en/)

· Interested people must be English spoken and have some experience working on Medicine/Health Divulgation.

· Applicants should send their CV before December 30th to Irene Tato, Manager of Mundo Sano Foundation in Spain, Irene.tato@mundosano.org

The Falling Walls Foundation invites EUSJA journalists to a 3 day study trip to Berlin (7-9 November). The trip will start on November 7 around noon with a Berlin Science Tour (including a visit to a research center and an event in the context of the Berlin Science Week). On 8 November, journalists will attend Falling Walls Venture and/or the Falling Walls Lab, on 9 November – the Falling Walls Conference. A full version of the programme (especially on 7 November) will be announced later.

EUSJA has 10 slots that include free tickets for the Falling Walls Conference, Lab and Venture, 3 night free accommodation (7-10 Nov) with breakfast, also lunch for 8 and 9 November. Important detail: journalists selected for the trip have to pay for the hotel where they will be accommodated before they arrive to Berlin (rooms reserved at special rate). They will receive the reimbursement upon arrival in Berlin. This is a bit unusual for an EUSJA trip, but we must follow the rules of this fellowship.

Additionally to these given 10 slots EUSJA may include a group of its members who do not need accommodation. Please indicate if there is no need of a hotel.

The applications should be sent to violae@mail.ru strongly via national association by September 15. Please write name, association, media, e-mail, mobile, passport details (because of security control). Please rank your applicants should you have more than one.

More info at
www.falling-walls.com.

Travel grants available: Engage with the world’s brightest mathematicians and computer scientists in Heidelberg! 18-23 september 2016.

Foundation awards 15 travel grants to journalists to cover the 4th Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF)

This September, recipients of the ACM A.M. Turing Award, the Fields Medal, the Nevanlinna Prize and the Abel Prize gather in Heidelberg to meet with 200 young researchers from all over the world at the 4th Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF). Recognizing the importance of a vital communication network, the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation will provide 15 travel grants for journalists to cover the Forum and connect with the preeminent scientists of mathematics and computer science. The 4th HLF will take place from September 18-23, 2016, and applications for the coveted travel grants are accepted until May 15, 2016.

The HLF offers a carefully selected group of young researchers in mathematics and computer science the extraordinary chance to meet the preeminent scientists in their fields for one week of cross-generational, scientific dialogue. What distinguishes the HLF from standard scientific conferences is the unique informal atmosphere that inspires a blend of acute scientific discussions and social interactions among the participants. Lectures, workshops and panel discussions embolden scientifically driven debate, while various social events encourage the participants to pursue their discourse outside the lecture halls and to get to know each other. Embedded once again into the program is the “hot topic” session, which is especially interesting for the media. At the 3rd HLF in 2015, the focus was on the social and ethical challenges of Big Data, viewed through the lens of computer science. The “hot topic’s” theme for the 4th HLF in 2016 will be announced soon.

The Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation offers 15 travel grants of up to 3,000 euros to enable journalists to report on this compelling networking event for the pinnacle in computer science and mathematics. Grants cover the travel costs as well as board and accommodation during the stay in Heidelberg (starting with a media get-together on the evening of September 17).

Until May 15, 2016, journalists from all over the world are invited to apply, irrespective of their media affiliation (print, TV, online, radio). The applications must include the following: a short CV, three samples of work (indicating respective medium), a synopsis of publications to date (indicating respective medium), planned contributions regarding the HLF as well as a preliminary travel itinerary including estimated costs.

Please send your travel grant applications to: media@heidelberg-laureate-forum.org

Application deadline: May 15, 2016

All journalists who wish to cover the 4th HLF are requested to register using the following link: (regardless of whether or not they will apply for a travel grant)

https://application.heidelberg-laureate-forum.org/intern/regj_registration_for.php

If you can answer yes to these questions you may use 5 minutes to fill in the nanotechnology questionnaire for journalists. A number of journalist from different countries and with different experience who have completed the questionnaire will be offered to participate in role play games on nanotechnology with decision makers.

Jens Degett
Eusja president

About NANO2ALL

NANO2ALL (www.nano2all.eu) is a project funded by the European Commission, under the framework of Horizon2020 (H2020) programme. It aims to facilitate a dialogue between scientists, businesses, governments, media, civil society organisation and citizens to discuss the important issues which arise from the use of nanotechnologies. NANO2ALL will also collect and share knowledge, tools and best practices of responsible nanotechnology research and innovation. The results of these activities will help the adoption of a more responsible nanotechnology research and innovation (R&I) in Europe both at the level of governance and R&I conduction.
Among its activities, NANO2ALL aims to assess and increase the knowledge of the different societal groups about concepts, like nanotechnologies, responsible research and innovation, as well as techniques for exploring future scenarios and for stakeholder engagement in research, development and innovation, among others.
Media and journalists like yourself play important roles in communication to the general public and specialised audiences. However, there is little information about what journalists know about nanotechnology, what they would like to learn about the technology and about responsible research and innovation (RRI) to be able to report accurately the latest trends.
In this view, we are now requesting you to kindly please fill out an online survey that helps us learn about your knowledge about such concepts and techniques. Please fill out the online survey that should take maximum 5 minutes of your precious time: http://nano2all.eu/survey/journalists
Your personal details will be treated carefully and confidentially and will not be shared without your prior written consent. Please see the Nano2all informed consent form at the bottom of the questionnaire.
We would greatly appreciate your response by June 10, 2016.
You are more than welcome to contact us if you have any questions / comments. Please contact Dr. Ineke Malsch: postbus@malsch.demon.nl
Kind regards,

The NANO2ALL team

This survey respects the EU Data Protection Directive. By completing this survey, you consent to the use of your responses in anonymised form in the report D2.2: “Online Training Needs Survey Report”, which will be published by the partners in the Nano2All platform (www.nano2all.eu). Should you request, we can send you a copy of your survey response and give you the chance to comment on the report before publication. We will not store or preserve your data longer than 6 months. Only the staff carrying out the processing of your information will have access to your data. The Nano2All team will not transmit any data to parties outside the consortium, without prejudice to a possible transmission to the bodies in charge of an inspection task in accordance with Community legislation, e.g. OLAF, or an investigating magistrate. The Nano2All project team will not share personal data with third parties for direct marketing.