ESOF BARCELONA

The third edition of the EuroScience Open Forum convened in the Research and Innovation Exhibition Centre of Barcelona from 18th to 22nd July 2008. During these 5 days, more than 4000 participants, including 450 speakers from 60 countries, 500 journalists and 900 young scientists, came to ESOF to meet and debate around all scientific disciplines, and discuss the latest trends in science: stem cell research, security and terrorism, climate change, nutrition and body culture…

Many attractive sessions were proposed to the ESOF 2008 delegates such as “Science and the terrorist challenge”, “Smart energy homes” or “Dolly for dinner?” among a varied Scientific Programme composed of 10 exciting themes such as “Science and art” and “The very big and the very small”.

Attendees also had the chance to interact with science personalities and Nobel Prize winners such as Aaron Ciechanover (Chemistry, 2004), Paul.J.Crutzen (Chemistry, 1995) and Richard J. Roberts (Physiology, 1993).

Other features such as “Science meets Poetry” were highlighted. This was an opportunity to meet contemporary poets from all over Europe. The aim was to show that literature and science are not poles apart from each other. The Career Programme proposed its “Tapas with the Prof” event at the Caixa Forum, Barcelona. Students met famous scientists and ate tapas in a casual atmosphere.

For more entertainment, a welcome reception was organised by the mayor of Barcelona. Other parties were organised such as the ESOF 2008 party and the ESOF media party starting with an informal tapas style dinner, followed by the European Science Writer Award presented by Wilhelm Krull and finishing with a lot of dancing. To close the event and transfer the ESOF passion to the next organizing city, a transfer ceremony took place between Barcelona and Torino.

“ESOF 2008: Science for a Better Life”, was organized by EuroScience in partnership with the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI). Prof. Enric Banda was Champion for ESOF 2008 and Dr. Ingrid Wünning-Tschol was co-chair.

In 2022, the city of Leiden in the Netherlands will be hosting the 10th edition of the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) and the European City of Science.