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.](https://www.minervacomms.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Storytelling.jpg)
![Filming by William Productions at the CommNet stand](https://www.minervacomms.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ESOF-Filming.jpg)
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](https://www.minervacomms.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ESOF-Masterclass.jpg)
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...](https://www.minervacomms.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ESOF-Symposium2.jpg)
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](https://www.minervacomms.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ESOF-Symposium.jpg)
![Rhonda chairs the discussion](https://www.minervacomms.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ESOF-Symposium3.jpg)
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!