Help us bring the attention of the EC on Science Journalism!

La Commissione Europea sta conducendo un sondaggio per raccogliere opinioni e idee sull’indirizzo futuro dei finanziamenti “Science in Society”, cui anche noi come Swim – e in alcuni casi come individui/gruppi professionali – vorremmo partecipare sempre più in futuro, anche nel contesto dell’EUSJA.

I consigli che stanno circolando per rendere particolarmente efficace dal nostro punto di vista questa consultazione sono i seguenti:

• Non selezionate troppi argomenti; solo quelli davvero rilevanti

• Nel rispondere alla domanda “The development of future policy options for the SiS Programme is of key concern for this study. Which is your preferred policy option for future SiS actions in general?” riflettete con calma, poi se sceglierete l’opzione ‘others’ potrete indicare per esempio qualcosa come: “Support professional science journalism and efforts to improve its quality coming from within the profession”.

• L’ultima domanda è la più importante, anche perché permette di aggiungere commenti sul perché il giornalismo scientifico – sempre più spesso confuso erroneamente con la comunicazione della scienza – ha un compito cruciale per la società, ma vive un periodo di profonda crisi.

E chissà che non si muova qualcosa…

Dear members of the European associations of science journalists, You are hereby invited to participate in the public consultation process within the study “Interim evaluation and assessment of the future options for Science in Society (SiS) Actions”.

This study has been assigned by the DG Research & Innovation of the European Commission and is being jointly conducted by Technopolis Group, Fraunhofer ISI and Science-Metrix.

You may find a letter of introduction from the EC here <http://www.isi.fraunhofer.de/isi-media/docs/p/sis-evaluation-letter-of-introduction.pdf> .

The public consultation process is based on a prospective analysis that aims to identify future policy options for the SiS-Programme regarding topics such as public engagement in science, science communication and education, ethics, gender, or open access. This survey is open to experts and the interested public alike. We hope that both groups will participate as we want to obtain as complete a picture as possible of the interests and opinions in the various communities.

The survey can be accessed through this link:  <http://ww4.efs-survey.com/uc/fraunhofer_isi_cc_p/1063/>

We kindly ask you to pass on the link to the survey via your respective national networks, newsgroups or personal contacts.

Please feel free to post the link in thematically relevant social networks. We would also like you to consider distributing it via your mailing list and newsletters. It is vital that a diverse and geographically widespread audience participates in the survey to help draft the future policy options in the SiS-Programme.

The survey consists of seven thematic areas (e.g. gender, ethics, science communication, etc.), each of which contains max. 9 statements which you are asked to assess as an interested individual and / or based on your professional background. It is up to the respondents which topic(s) they want to select.

Providing answers to each thematic area should not take more than approximately 10-15 minutes.

If you have any enquiries or comments please do not hesitate to contact us at Eval_SiS@isi.fraunhofer.de

Thank you very much for your support! Susanne Bührer & Thomas Stehnken (Fraunhofer ISI)

Italian Science Writers unite to promote a new vision of their profession in Italy

In addition to the usual role as a guide and a “catalyzer” for professionals often working alone, the Association SWIM-SWITY plans to conduct research on science and science writing, in partnership with colleagues and academic institutions in Italy and abroad

Turin (ESOF 2010) – A new Association of Science Writers was launched in the beginning of 2010 in Milan with the goal of becoming a reference for all professionals interested in promoting cooperation and debate within the professional community and with the scientific community – nationally and internationally – and in supporting multidisciplinary research on all aspects of science and science writing.

The association – called “Science Writers in Milan – in Italy”, SWIM-SWITY in short – is currently composed mostly of science reporters, editors, popularizers and writers in general, but is open to all the professionals involved in the communication of science and about science with a critical approach, particularly through the use of all new media.

Among the first accomplishments of SWIM-SWITY are science writing and health writing courses on the basic tools for the critical appraisal of scientific literature, organised on behalf of the Professional Order of Journalists of Lombardy.

The board of SWIM-SWITY – currently composed by science writers Daniela Ovadia, Guido Romeo (Treasurer) and Fabio Turone (President) – is in the process of applying to both EUSJA and WFSJ for affiliation, and is eager to cooperate with all individuals and organizations sharing the same goals, in Italy and all over the world.

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Our goals / Le finalità dell’associazione

The main goals of the association are:

- to promote the circulation of accurate information about science and technology in society, through all media directed to the general public and the scientific community

- to promote the analysis of the scientific enterprise and of its meaning for society in accordance to the highest journalistic standards

-  to provide its members with services and tools useful for improving their work

- to stimulate the professional growth through courses and other initiatives for continuing education

- to bring out the best examples of science writing

- to promote the professional interests of science reporters, editors, popularizers and science writers in general

- to favor cooperation and debate within the professional community and with the scientific community, nationally and internationally

- to promote multidisciplinary research on all aspects of science and science writing.

L’Associazione nasce come libero consesso di tutti coloro che operano professionalmente nel mondo dell’informazione e divulgazione scientifica e tecnologica.

In particolare, l’Associazione si propone di:

- promuovere nella società la diffusione di informazioni accurate sulla scienza e la tecnologia attraverso tutti i media normalmente impiegati per informare il pubblico e la comunità scientifica;

- promuovere l’analisi delle attività scientifiche e del loro significato per la società secondo i più elevati standard del giornalismo;

- fornire ai suoi associati servizi e strumenti che li aiutino nello svolgimento del loro lavoro;

- stimolare la crescita professionale degli associati ideando e realizzando corsi e altre iniziative di formazione e di aggiornamento professionale;

- realizzare e diffondere materiale informativo e divulgativo;

- valorizzare i migliori esempi di giornalismo scientifico;

- promuovere gli interessi professionali della comunità dei giornalisti, redattori e divulgatori scientifici (e tutti i professionisti che si riconoscano nella definizione inglese di “science writer”) in Italia;

- favorire la cooperazione e il confronto con la comunità internazionale dei giornalisti, redattori e divulgatori scientifici e più in generale dei “science writers”;

- favorire la cooperazione e il confronto con la comunità scientifica, a livello nazionale e internazionale;

- attivare rapporti sinergici con altre associazioni, enti, istituzioni, imprese, Università e centri di ricerca in Italia e all’estero per l’ideazione e la realizzazione di iniziative che si inquadrino nelle sue finalità;

- realizzare attività di ricerca scientifica e culturale sul tema dell’informazione, divulgazione e comunicazione scientifica per suo conto o in collaborazione con altre associazioni, professionisti, enti pubblici e privati, Università e centri di ricerca in Italia e all’estero;

- promuovere e patrocinare ogni tipo di iniziativa atta ad acrescere la qualificazione professionale dei suoi associati e diffondere nella società la conoscenza del giornalismo, dell’informazione, dell’editoria e della comunicazione in ambito scientifico e tecnologico.