Minerva supports Europe’s biggest science event

Telling stories and engaging citizens at ESOF 2014, Copenhagen

The Minerva team delivered key support and training at Europe’s biggest science event – the Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) – in Copenhagen from 21st to 26th June.

Storytelling

In partnership with the EU-funded project CommNet, which offers free communications support to European projects in the bioeconomy, Minerva raised its profile as exhibitors and delivered key drop-in sessions on the effective use of webinars and storytelling in communicating scientific research.

Rhonda Smith & Kate Viggers of Minerva demonstrate how to use storytelling in science.
Rhonda Smith & Kate Viggers of Minerva demonstrate storytelling in science.
Filming by William Productions at the CommNet stand
Filming at the CommNet stand with Danish film maker William Productions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minerva’s 3D-printed sausages cooking demo also attracted a crowd, which included William Productions, a Danish film-maker, who made this short video.

Citizen Engagement

Rhonda Smith, Director of Minerva, led two ESOF-sponsored Masterclasses in ‘Citizen Engagement’ at Copenhagen Business School; relaxed, interactive sessions packed full of ideas, advice and case studies to enable researchers to think about how, why and when we should involve citizens in science.

ESOF-Masterclass
Hard at work in the Citizen Engagement Masterclass

 

Watch the Masterclass slide set here:

140630-MasterclassSlides-FINAL

Is your project ready for citizen engagement? Download our self-assessment tool here:

140617-CitizenEngagementTool-FINAL

 

Symposium on genetics & cancer

Rhonda introduces the speakers...
Rhonda introduces the speakers

Rhonda was also invited to moderate a session on Genetic Profiling & Cancer Prevention, on behalf of CommHERE (Communicating European Health Research).

The session included talks from researcher Per Hall of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and award-winning journalist Christina Berndt of Suddeutsche Zeitung, Germany.  The speakers examined the power, limitations and future of genetic profiling and cancer prevention.  Following the presentations, Rhonda chaired a lively discussion around the personal, social and health care consequences of genetic profiling.

ESOF was a fantastic opportunity for Minerva to build links with other EU projects and network with key stakeholders, researchers and journalists.  The team thoroughly enjoyed its visit to Copenhagen … and a Carlsberg or two!

 

Rhonda pictured with Christina Berndt and Per Hall at the CommHERE symposium
Rhonda, Christina Berndt & Per Hall
Rhonda chairs the discussion
Rhonda chairs the debate

 

 

 

 

 

ESOF was a fantastic opportunity for Minerva to build links with other EU projects and network with key stakeholders, researchers and journalists.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Copenhagen … and a Carlsberg or two!