News & Events

There are no coincidences, you force luck: Leiden has been the City of Science since the beginning of the year, the tenth edition of the largest European interdisciplinary science conference ESOF2022 – already brimming with science – was coming up when two more gifts arrived: the presentation of the first the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) photos, and the flowering (once every ten years for only 48 hours!) of the Amorphophallus Titanum; the giant penis plant in the Hortus Botanicus, where we hosted our ESOF delegate party.

From 13 to 16 July 2022, the European Union will be present at the ESOF2022 exhibition with a dedicated EU pavilion.  The physical EU pavilion programme will mainly focus on EU Missions, a novelty of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme bringing concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges and on young academic careers.

EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) 2022 takes place on 13-16 July 2022 in Leiden (the Netherlands), the European City of Science 2022. At the same time, ESOF 2022 Regional Site accompanying conference takes place on 15 July at the International Congress Centre in Katowice, the city preparing for the title of European City of Science 2024. Events in both places can be watched online on a specially dedicated platform.

From 13 to 16 July 2022, the European Union will be present at the ESOF2022 exhibition with a dedicated EU pavilion.  The physical EU pavilion programme will mainly focus on EU Missions, a novelty of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme bringing concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges and on young academic careers.

From 13 to 16 July 2022, the European Union will be present at the ESOF2022 exhibition with a dedicated EU pavilion.  The physical EU pavilion programme will mainly focus on EU Missions, a novelty of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme bringing concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges and on young academic careers.

From 13 to 16 July 2022, the European Union will be present at the ESOF2022 exhibition with a dedicated EU pavilion.  The physical EU pavilion programme will mainly focus on EU Missions, a novelty of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme bringing concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges and on young academic careers.

From 13 to 16 July 2022, the European Union will be present at the ESOF2022 exhibition with a dedicated EU pavilion.  The physical EU pavilion programme will mainly focus on EU Missions, a novelty of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme bringing concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges and on young academic careers.

Less than four weeks to go before the start of EuroScience Open Forum 2022 (ESOF2022), the largest interdisciplinary scientific conference in Europe! ESOF2022 will connect curious minds onsite in Leiden, the Netherlands or online via our immersive virtual conference platform and mobile app, to explore the complex, international issues of our times.

Especially in this year, the European Year of Youth, we want society and the academic world, to take advantage of every opportunity to engage the next generation of scientists and leaders. 2022 should be the year that brings about radical transformation for the scientific community and societies across the world. However, to be part of that transformation you must take part in the conversations and debates on global complex issues first. ESOF2022 is where that is possible.

How can science and art lead and moderate the cultural shifts and transformations that are happening within societies is the central thematic question of the Cultural Identities and Societal Transformations track of the ESOF2022 scientific programme.