The fourth edition of ESOF (Euroscience Open Forum) took place in the Lingotto Conference and Exhibition Centre, Torino, Italy.

During five days, between the 2^nd and the 7^th of July 2010, more than 4300 participants from 82 countries came to ESOF2010 which presented cutting edge scientific and technological developments in all scientific disciplines. ESOF2010 was a fantastic way to make scientists, business executives, politicians, policy makers, journalists and the general public meet in one place.

Scientists had the chance to meet personalities of the scientific world such as Julia Fischer (primatologist) or Anton Zeilinger (quantum optics and nanophysics) and Nobel Prize winners such as Peter Agre (Chemistry, 2003) and Harold Kroto (Chemistry, 1996).

The Scientific Programme proposed many attractive sessions to the various participants of ESOF 2010 such as “Science in a borderless world”, “Taming the wind = a strategic energy option for Europe” or “DNA patenting = truth and fears” to name but a few of the 100 sessions available.

The Career Programme was very well developed with more than 2000 researchers present including PhD’s, students and Post-docs. It offered the famous “Pizza with the Prof” event where students exchanged ideas and experience around an informal lunch.

The Science to Business Programme offered more than 15 sessions for business entrepreneurs and the Science in the City Programme overtook the entire city of Torino and presented workshops, concerts, theatre and sessions like “Mars challenges you” or “Mathemagics”. This was both very entertaining and very instructive.

Other features of ESOF2010 included the “Science bus” involving 40 young scientists travelling between Barcelona and Torino to debate science and its latest frontiers. Many site visits were organised such as the visit of the “Alfred Nobel and the dynamite factory” or CERN and there was much to enjoy.

For more entertainement, different events were organised such as a lunchtime reception, the famous ESOF party that took place in the Castello del Valentino in a stunning setting with dinner and music, a media party in the National Cinema Museum and the Youth Party. These gave the tempo to ESOF2010. Let’s not forget to mention the award ceremonies and the transfer ceremony between Torino and Dublin to close the event and transfer the ESOF passion.

For further information or for any access to the documents linked to ESOF2010, please contact the ESOF Hub at: esof@euroscience.org

Find out more about Torino hosting ESOF2010.

Read the address of Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic for the Opening of ESOF2010.

After the successful test case of the Science Shuttle between Torino and Barcelona for ESOF2008, multiple shuttles were organized to bring young scientists to ESOF2010 in Torino. One of those was the Science Bus, organized by Janssen Research & Development, an important partner of ESOF.

20 students were selected to embark on a mind-blowing trip to Torino. The heterogeneous group was composed of students coming from the universities of Lund (Sweden), Copenhagen (Denmark), Amsterdam (Holland) and Antwerp (Belgium). They passed the application process, granting them the opportunity to participate in this reputed event.

In addition to their seat on the Science Bus, the privileged students got the assignment to outline their view on life sciences in 2030. The story of this exclusive journey is now published and bundled in a booklet, together with the students’ views on life sciences in the future. You can find a digital version on the website www.sciencebus.se.