ESOF2020 News

Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, supercomputers and Big Data are breakthrough technologies that will play a pivotal role in the future of humanity and our planet. They will help us monitor public health, the environment and the medical sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have forced the organisers of ESOF, the Euroscience Open Forum, to modify the original programme and adapt it to the new sanitary emergency. But it also presents a new opportunity of discussion among policymakers, scientists and economists.

The EuroScience Open Forum is the largest pan-European event focusing on debate at the interface of science, technology, society and politics. Created in 2004 by the non-profit association EuroScience, the biennial forum provides a unique opportunity for interaction and discussion among scientists, innovators, politicians, entrepreneurs, communicators and citizens. Trieste has been nominated European City of Science 2020 and will host the ninth edition of ESOF. The EuroScience Open Forum - ESOF2020 will take place from 2 to 6 September.

The spread of Covid-19 and the need to carry out measures in order to contain its effects, has resulted in a significant re-organization of ESOF by implementing rules in order to avoid gatherings which could be the cause of high risk of infection.

First of all, the Organization has decided to opt for the best available technology for virtual conferences which allows speakers and audience to interact from their locations. Furthermore, ESOF will turn to a “hybrid” system thanks to which some speakers will be on site and others will be home. The audience will be both on site and at home and the interaction between on site and virtual will be guaranteed...