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“It’s not rocket science, it’s medical science: get medicines to people who are sick in the developing world and they will get better – and development will be accelerated.” DEVELOPMENTS ISSUE 45
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Science journalists have a vital role to play in informing millions of people around the world about the latest advances and controversies in science and technology. At wcsj2009 we welcome journalists, editors and science communicators from both developed and emerging countries to enjoy our exciting programme of events, share experiences, develop new contacts and report great stories.
Welcome
On behalf of the Association of British Science Writers and the World Federation of Science Journalists, welcome to London. At the heart of our conference is the belief that good science journalism can change the world for the better. When I first started as a young reporter, science journalists were the geeks of the newsroom. On national newspapers they were given the “fun” stories to do to provide light relief from the serious coverage of politics and foreign affairs. I think that’s now changed.
Empowerment Through Journalism
In many parts of the world science journalists now cover more grown up stories: climate change, stem cell research and swine flu. As well as science, we also cover the policy through the prism of the science. Perhaps most importantly, it’s us specialists that have the confidence and background knowledge to test the scientific information we are given. As we know, everyone has an agenda, and it’s our job to scrutinize and challenge the narrative emerging from governments, corporations and scientific institutions. No one else is able to do this. Science is a force for good but it can only realise this potential if we do our jobs well. This coming together of the tribes of science journalism marks an important moment. The conversations we have, the talks we listen to and the questions we ask will become part of the on-going conversation that will define us as science journalists. It’s this culture of science journalism that we will be developing together over the next few days. The value of such a culture is that it empowers us all. It enables us to have our own perspective on the scientific developments that are changing and challenging our societies and not merely convey the views of revered scientists or indeed feared news editors. Enjoy the conference and together let’s shape the future of science journalism. Pallab Ghosh President, World Federation of Science Journalists and Science Correspondent, BBC News
ABSW Welcome
Calm sea, prosperous voyage... ABSW Chair, Ted Nield, welcomes the World Conference to London, and hails his successor as ABSW Chair. The last few years have not been easy for anyone, especially membership organisations - whose members have found themselves under financial pressure, and whose sponsors have found themselves needing to perform some financial retrenchment of their own. In these circumstances it is everyone’s natural instinct to stop spending on anything that can be classified as a “non-essential” activity. In companies, that usually means that sponsorship is first in the firing line, and with individuals this can often mean cutting pro bono and voluntary activities. While understandable, the wisdom of these decisions is of course questionable. Some would argue that companies should engage more with their supporters when they are experiencing tough times; and when individuals feel threatened, the support of a professional community surely assumes even greater importance than when the living is easy. But rationality is, by definition, not always to the fore when panic is in the air. So my first vote of thanks must go to all the sponsors of this conference for keeping the faith, and responding so generously to our appeals. Thank you also to all those who have overcome a journalist’s natural disinclination to pay to go to any conference, by realising that for once, this is a conference that’s just for you. And thank you also to all those who have pushed, cajoled and otherwise enabled the ABSW to make its successful bid to be your host. Welcome all.
I am a firm believer in quitting while I am ahead, so after three years at the helm I shall be handing over as Chair of the ABSW (the world’s oldest professional organisation for science writers and journalists) here at this international conference. My successor will be Natasha Loder, Science Correspondent of The Economist, who I know will enjoy everyone’s support as she takes the ABSW on to the sunlit uplands that lie beyond the World Conference and the current difficult economic times. ABSW membership remains buoyant, and the commitment of the younger members to reforming our processes and making us more cost-efficient, gives me every hope that ABSW will live on to go from strength to strength. Finally, a special thank-you to our Administrator, Barbie Drillsma, who for 17 years has been the life and soul of ABSW, and who is taking voluntary severance. Barbie has also worked tirelessly for this conference, and will continue in future to work with the ABSW - as our continuing EUSJA representative, as a member of the Executive Committee and on freelance projects. Finally, without the vision and drive of Julie Clayton and our WFSJ President Pallab Ghosh, I do not believe that the WCSJ would ever have come to our capital city. Thank you all. To join the ABSW, please visit www.absw.org.uk
Ted Nield
Natasha Loder
Contents
8
Acknowledgements
34
Skills Building Workshops
10
Development & Biomedical Strands
44
Programme
12
Conference highlights
45 Tuesday 30th June
16
Visit Great Britain
49 Wednesday 1st July
18
Visit London
61
20
Lead & Major Sponsors
70
Post-conference Trips
23
Sponsors
76
Index of Producers, Chairs & Speakers
26
Exhibition
28
Venue
30
WCSJ Background & Future...
32
Social Events
Thursday 2nd July
Organisation of WCSJ2009
Acknowledgements
Steering Committee
Steering Committee Executive Organising Committee Programme Team Partners, Foundation Partners, Seed Funders Sponsors and Exhibitors Friends of the Conference Programme Session Producers, Chairs, Speakers Workshop Facilitators Media and Marketing Partners Natural History Museum/Darwin200 Imperial College London Wellcome Trust Collection Science Museum Visit Britain and Visit London Chris Ledger Photography And our many helpers and volunteers....
Phillip Campbell, Editor-in-Chief, Nature Clive Cookson, Science Editor, Financial Times David Dickson, Director, SciDev.Net, UK Jean-Marc Fleury, Executive Director, World Federation of Science Journalists Pallab Ghosh, President, World Federation of Science Journalists and Science Correspondent, BBC News Sir David King, Director, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University Ted Nield, Chair of the Association of British Science Writers Jeremy Webb, Editor-in-Chief, New Scientist
Executive Organising Committee Julie Clayton, Conference Co-Director, WCSJ2009 Sallie Robins, Conference Co-Director, WCSJ2009 Barbie Drillsma, ABSW and EUSJA Ruth Francis, Nature Martin Ince, ABSW Claire Jowett, ABSW science writer awards Lisa Melton, Nature Biotechnology Frank Nuijens, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands Ginger Pinholster, AAAS Mike Shanahan, International Institute for Environment and Development Andrew Sugden, Science, Europe John Travis, Science, Europe Bob Ward, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science Pete Wrobel, ABSW
Partners We wish to acknowledge support from the following organisations who have provided a donation or grant in support of the WCSJ 2009 Conference: • • •
Programme Team • The programme development has been overseen by Fiona Fox, Director of the Science Media Centre, Sallie Robins and Julie Clayton, in consultation with various ABSW members and partner organisations, both in the UK and abroad.
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Danida via the Danish 92 Group International Institute for Environment and Development UNESCO
Foundation Partners
Seed Funders
Our Lead & Major Sponsors
We wish to acknowledge support from the following organisations that endorsed and supported our bid to bring the 2009 World Conference of Science Journalist to London:
We wish to acknowledge support from the following organisations who provided seed funding to help us in the early stages of development of the WCSJ2009 Conference.
WCSJ2009 Conference would like to thank the following organisations that have come on board as lead and major sponsors.
ABSW British Council Commonwealth Press Union Darwin200 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Guild of Health Writers International Institute for Environment & Development Internews Network Nature Novartis Foundation Office of Science & Innovation Open Democracy Pallab Ghosh, President, World Federation of Science Journalists and Science Correspondent, BBC News Research Councils UK SciDev.Net Sir Paul Nurse President Rockefeller University The British Science Association The Royal Society Visit Britain Wellcome Trust
Empowerment Through Journalism
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Development & Biomedical Strands Two major themes run throughout the conference programme, the Development Strand, and the Biomedical Strand, thanks to key support from the Department for International Development and Wellcome Trust.
Sessions and workshops in the Development and Biomedical Strands are highlighted throughout the programme with the following key:
Development Strand
The Development Strand supports plenaries, parallel sessions, workshops and top science journalists as speakers, to discuss the role of the science media in reporting on issues that are critical to international development such as climate change, food security and sustainability, health and medical research, and disaster management. Speakers include Sir Gordon Conway (UK), Saleemul Huq (UK), Patrick Luganda (Uganda), Nadia El-Awady (Egypt), Nalaka Gunawardene (Sri Lanka), Valeria Roman (Argentina), Richard Stone (China), Alex Abutu Augustine (Nigeria). The strand also highlights the importance of professional development in science journalism, through the activities and reporting opportunities with the Science and Development Network and the World Federation of Science Journalists, and of collaboration with major research funders such as the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. www.dfid.gov.uk
The Biomedical Strand links sessions, workshops and speakers on cutting-edge biomedical issues, ranging from the latest research into human disease genetics and infectious diseases, to how the media report on controversial areas of science such as stem cells and human hybrid embryos, genetics, cancer research and the pharmaceutical industry. Speakers include UK scientists Mike Stratton, Colin Blakemore, Lord Robert May and Leszek Borysiewicz, and journalists Deborah Blum (USA), André Picard (Canada), Robyn Williams (Australia), Yukiko Motomura (Japan), and Tim Radford (UK). www.wellcome.ac.uk
Biomedical Strand
THE SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT Are we using the Earth’s resources wisely? Is our natural environment in danger? What do we have to do to secure our future on planet Earth? 11
The Sustainability Project presents twelve books facing up to the challenges posed by globalization, of fering practical solutions for the 21st century. This in-depth series looks at ef ficiency and suf ficiency with scientific rigour, presented in an approachable format to show what we can do. In this way, The Sustainability Project gives the discourse on sustainability a new dimension. info@hauspublishing.com http://www.hauspublishing.com/pag e/10
Order at www.hauspublishing.com, www.amazon.co.uk, or call +44(0)20 7838 9055 Sustainability Ad ii.indd 1
4/6/09 10:49:11
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Conference Highlights The first thing I look at when attending a conference is the social programme. It’s the chance to talk earnestly about the great issues of science journalism, make high level contacts – and of course there’s always the free food and drink! There’s a party each night at some of the most interesting institutions in London including the Science and Natural History Museums – and at the conference venue itself which nestles close to the Thames and the Palace of Westminster.
I also want to go along to the session on investigative science journalism (Wed 16.30) organised by James Randerson of the Guardian. One of my favourite quotes is by the late British newspaper proprietor, Lord Beaverbrook who said “news is something that someone wants to suppress, everything else is advertising.” I think too many of us, myself included, spend too much of our time, advertising other people’s viewpoints. We need to develop our craft skills so that we can dig a little deeper in our coverage. And I also think we need to be a little less deferential – and make our journalism a bit more “kick-ass”.
The trick, however, is pacing oneself and not overdoing it so that you fail to make the conference sessions – or worse still, turn up worse-for-wear and end up snoring during a keynote speech. Sessions I hope not to sleep through include the Opening Plenary (Tue 13.30) on New Media. At the BBC I’ve found I’m doing much more work for the BBC News Website. Gone are the days when working on the web involved re-versioning a script and posting TV and radio broadcasts. The outlet is fast becoming more important than print, TV and radio – and requires its own tailor-made content and production values.
And I’ll be chairing the final plenary (Thu 16.30) dryly named science-based policymaking. But I think it’s one of the most important issues for us - as so much legislation is drawn up in the absence of independent scientific advice. Here, science journalists and science advisors can play an important role in bringing some rationality to the policy making process which is so often hijacked by vested interests to the detriment of society. Have fun, enjoy the conference and if you can’t stay awake during the sessions, please try not to drool especially if you are on a panel.
Photograph © copyright of Chris Ledger Photography
Pallab Ghosh — President, World Federation of Science Journalists and Science Correspondent, BBC News
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A major achievement of the World Federation of Science Journalists over the past few years has been to bring developing country science journalists into the mainstream of their profession. Indeed, ever since meeting in Brazil in 2002, its biannual world conferences have played a key role in strengthening the international outlook of the profession, in keeping with the international outlook of science itself. The London conference takes the process a step further. This time, a key goal of the planners has been to highlight how the internationalism of science also means that stories relating the needs and challenges of the developing world are (or should be) of interest not only to journalists in the countries concerned, but to the global science journalism community. Several sessions are marked in the programme as the ‘Development strand’, funded by the UK Department for International Development. They range from discussion of the techniques required to report on natural disasters effectively (Wed 16.30) to – perhaps inevitably – three sessions on reporting about climate change issues (Wed 10.00 & 14.30, Thu 14.30) a key task in the run-up to the Kyoto follow-up meeting in Copenhagen in December. But not all topics in the “development strand” are about development itself. Others, sessions such as the future of science news (Wed 11.30), or even how science journalists can “change the world” (Wed 11.30), remind us that in carrying out their work, developing country science journalists face the same professional challenges as the rest of us. Hopefully the result will be a stimulating dialogue on how science journalism can flourish in a world without borders – and what it can contribute to ensuring that this world meets the many challenges ahead. David Dickson — Director, SciDev.Net, UK
The first story I wrote about cancer concerned a 30-year-old woman with leukaemia. She wanted to see her daughters through high school and she agreed to a risky treatment hoping it would prolong her life. It killed her instead. She was dead before my story was published. It still seems wrong, it still bothers me and I’ve always wondered – if she’d known more about the risks, would she have chosen differently? While I don’t believe journalists can always make a difference in such decisions, I do believe we can help. If we do it right, we can help people understand daunting diseases and their often equally daunting treatment. So I was delighted to find the conference program included a workshop, ‘Informing attitudes and beliefs about cancer’ (Tue 09.30). It illustrates the approach that I like so much in the Biomedical Strand at the World Conference of Science Journalists, the medical information is neatly framed by the challenges of good reporting. Consider the workshop ‘Pitfalls of reporting about clinical trials’ (Mon 09.30) or Thursday’s session ‘A picture of health? Who shapes public opinion on pharma?’ (Thu 11.30) which raises the question of our current view of evil drug-makers is based on reality. These are exactly the kind of questions I’d like to see raised (and maybe even answered) and I hope you’ll look for me there, notebook in hand! Deborah Blum — Board member, World Federation of Science Journalists, USA and Professor, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin
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As Chair of the Programme Committee I distinctly remember the first meeting two years ago where we sat looking at a blank page where the programme of the 2009 World Conference of Science Journalists should be. It was terrifying. Now it is terrifying for an entirely different reason. Which of the many sessions that I have watched develop and grow over the past year do I have to miss? Because I am producing the session with Nick Davies on his seminal book Flat Earth News (Tue 15.45) which argues that the pressures on journalism today may mark the death knell of ‘truth telling’ journalism, I have to miss the session on the reporting of creationism (Tue 15.45) which will be the first time that Michael Reiss, who famously lost his job at the Royal Society after a media furore about his comments on the issue, has confronted James Randerson from the Guardian – one of the papers that splashed the controversy that led to his downfall. Similarly because I am producing the session on embargoes (Thu 14.30) in which a leading US academic will call on science reporters to start a boycott of the science embargo system, I am forced to miss the session on the reporting of the international financial crisis (Thu 14.30) where the wonderful Stephanie Flanders, Economics Editor at the BBC will sit in the Chair while one leading financial mathematician will argue that if the crisis had been reported by journalists who actually understand maths it could have been avoided.
My colleagues have told me I have to go to all the sessions on new media because they accuse me of failing to move with the times and I accuse them of being seduced by over-excited young geeks who wrongly describe people caught up in a crisis as Citizen Journalists when they are nothing of the sort – issues which will be raised in Jon Turney’s session on physics blogs (Thu 11.30), Phil Hilt’s session on the future of science news (Wed 11.30) and Jeremy Webb’s session on the future of science magazines (Wed 16.30). I fully expect to spend the entire conference in a state of extreme terror as I worry about all the amazing sessions I am missing...but people tell me that’s the sign of a great conference! Fiona Fox — Director, UK Science Media Centre
15
Choosing your route through a Conference programme is always a case of being torn between what you know you should go to and going to sessions just because you are ‘curious’. It is often the curious choices that are most inspirational and enjoyable. So on the ‘curious’ theme I am tempted by ‘As others see us: Science fiction writers on science journalism’ (Wed 14.30). I must confess that for me, science fiction is a case of “I’d rather have pins in my eyeballs”. I even tried feminist science fiction as a route in – now that was truly awful (well I only read one book!). So I am fascinated to see if this session might help me see the light! More obviously, as someone who has mainly worked in PR the session ‘Is the growing influence of PR on science journalism in the public interest?’ (Wed 14.30) is a must to weigh up the changing balance of power between PR and the media. Which leads to another question that I come back to time and time again: Do the media reflect opinion or establish it? So the Breakonomics session on the media’s influence in the current global crisis (Thu 14.30) is another hit for me, nice title too! And for inspiration and wonder then what could be better than hearing from those who put their heads above the parapet and made real change in ‘Four Science Journalists who changed the world’ (Wed 11.30). Sallie Robins — Conference Co-Director, WCSJ2009
Nick Davies is always a must for me. I went to his first course on investigative journalism, many years ago, and enjoyed every minute. I’m ashamed to say that I have had a copy of his Flat Earth News unread on my desk since last year. So maybe a short session with Mr Davies (Tue 15.45) will give me the nuts and bolts on the rise of churnalism. I’m also interested in the sessions that relate to the so-called crisis in science journalism (Tue 15.45). I think there are a lot of things going on in the media worldwide right now, I’m not sure that my term of choice would be a crisis in science journalism but I’ll keep an open mind. Finally, I’ll have my seat staked out for the science fiction writers session (Wed 14.30). I’m a huge fan of science fiction, and Iain M. Banks is one of my favourites. Can’t wait! Natasha Loder — Science & Technology Correspondent, The Economist
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Great Britain: a Snapshot Great Britain is full of contrasts. Whichever direction you travel in, you will find a wide variety of landscapes and diverse cultures to explore. England, Scotland and Wales are all unique countries with their own customs, cultures and traditions.
The North of England Famous destinations in England include the northern cities of Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Liverpool and Leeds – each with their own unique character and offering a wealth of heritage, music, sport and culture.
Whether you are seeking exhilarating adventure, peaceful countryside locations, art, music, heritage or sport, Great Britain has the perfect destination to allow you to make the most of your visit.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Bath The beautiful Georgian city of Bath justly deserves its status as a World Heritage site, with its delightful terraces, elegant crescents and stunning architecture. The Roman baths, built over 2000 years ago and still in perfect working order, are a must to experience.
Cambridge
Oxford & Cambridge Within easy reach are the world-famous university cities of Oxford and Cambridge. Both offer inspirational architecture, amazing museums and art galleries, as well as a wealth of history and an outstanding record for scientific and artistic achievement.
Oxford
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Wales Whether you choose the vibrant capital city of Cardiff or head for the 750 miles of stunning coastline, beautiful countryside and over 600 castles, Wales offers a great experience in its own language! Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is a land of immense variety, with wave swept coastal drives, hazy mountains, vast open moorland, loughs and glassy lakes, heavy with fish. There are intriguing towns and villages, tucked away or cosmopolitan cities, each with their own history and culture. Compact and accessible, it’s a region you can tour at your own pace. Plus it’s recognised as one of the safest holiday destinations in Europe. Above all, Northern Ireland is a place with heart, where you can always stop for a chat. The Causeway Coastal Route takes you along miles of the most beautiful coast imaginable. Through charming villages like Carnlough, Cushendall and Cushendun, past crescent bays, sandy beaches and fantastic rock outcrops, to reach the wonderful geological jigsaw puzzle, The Giant’s Causeway.
Scotland Scotland is everything you imagine and much more – whisky, golf, the romance of the clans and a wealth of castles and historic sites. The Highlands region is one of the last wildernesses in Europe. Explore the beautiful cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with their own individual style; learn about their gripping history and tradition while touring and exploring all that Scotland has to offer. For golfers, Scotland is a magical place for it was here that the game was invented. Soak up the atmosphere of the world’s most famous courses, such as St Andrews, Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Strathclyde, Turnberry and Royal Troon. For further details on itineraries and touring ideas outside London, take a look at Britain’s national tourism agency website, www.visitbritain.com.
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Don’t Leave London Without...
“Explore London’s east end markets; Sunday equals flowers on Columbia Road and nic nacs in Spitalfields.” Ruth Francis, Nature
“Don’t forget the suburbs. The most beautiful river walk is along the 18th century Chiswick Mall upstream of Hammersmith Bridge.”
London Canal Museum
Clive Cookson, The FT
“Use your imagination and transport yourself to Italy by walking along the towpath of the Regent’s Canal, known as Little Venice... nearest tube Warwick Avenue” Barbie Drillsma, ABSW
“Have an eclectic late night theatre experience in the atmospheric (damp) Shunt! Vaults under London Bridge station.”
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Photograph © copyright of Chris Ledger Photography
Simon Levey, UK Science Media Centre
“Tickle your taste buds on London’s Brick Lane – the hottest place in town for a curry.” Ruth Francis, Nature
“Go for an early morning dip in the al fresco bathing ponds at Hampstead Heath - swimwear optional!” Simon Levey, UK Science Media Centre
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Lead Sponsor
Major Sponsors
Department for International Development (DFID)
British Council Darwin Now
Sponsor: Development Strand The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK government that manages Britain’s aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty. DFID is led by a cabinet minister, one of the senior ministers in the government. DFID works in 150 countries and has 2,600 staff, half of whom work abroad. It has headquarters in London and East Kilbride, near Glasgow, and 64 offices overseas. DFID works with governments of developing countries, charities, businesses and international bodies, including the World Bank, UN agencies and European Commission. All share the ambition to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. www.dfid.gov.uk
Sponsor: Session & Friend of the Conference The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations and works in 109 countries to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people worldwide. Darwin Now is the British Council’s contribution to the celebration of the 200 year anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 150 year anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species. Darwin Now will engage international audiences and provide an opportunity to explore and debate the ideas that lie at the heart of evolutionary theory in an unprejudiced and open way. www.britishcouncil.org /darwin-homepage.htm
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European School of Oncology Sponsor: Session & Workshop The European School of Oncology (ESO) was founded in 1982 with a mission to reduce unnecessary deaths and suffering from cancer by promoting earlier diagnosis, optimal medical treatment and holistic patient care. In recent years ESO has addressed the wider political, administrative and organisational issues that affect the ability of health professionals to deliver top-quality patient-centred care. It encourages dialogue between all stakeholders active in the cancer arena within the pages of its bimonthly magazine Cancer World and through its conferences and seminars. In addition, ESO promotes more informed coverage of all cancer-related issues through its regular media training events as well as the Best Cancer Reporter Award. The scientific independence of the School is guaranteed by core funding from individual donors and charitable foundations. www.cancerworld.org/eso/
Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV Silver Sponsor Gala Reception co-sponsor Caring for the world, one person at a time... inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. They embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Employees of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world. Johnson & Johnson have more than 250 operating companies in 57 countries employing 119,400 people. The worldwide headquarters is in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. www.jnjpharmarnd.com
Joint Research Centre - European Commission Silver Sponsor Workshop The Joint Research Centre is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. Its mission is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of European Union policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Community. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national. Our goal is to deliver robust and fit-for-purpose scientific-technical support to policy makers based on a strong anticipation function, strategic dialogues with customers and stakeholders and an appropriate research base. http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/
Qatar Foundation
Research Councils UK (RCUK)
Silver Sponsor Lunch Session
Research Partner Lunch Session
The enrichment of human capital that is necessary for Qatar’s transformation depends to a large extent upon fostering a science and health research culture. This is an environment that encourages the pursuit of new knowledge, conducts scientific research and develops new technologies. Qatar Foundation’s Research Division and its partners are working hand in hand to build
Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity, and are uncovering solutions to national challenges in health, climate change, clean energy and other fields. Qatar Foundation, and its partners Sidra Medical and Research Center, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, and the Qatar Science and Technology Park are delighted to support the World Conference of Science Journalists.
Research Councils UK is the strategic partnership of the UK’s seven Research Councils, which invest annually around £3 billion in the UK research base, covering the full spectrum of academic disciplines. RCUK optimises the ways the Research Councils work together to enhance the impact of UK research, training and knowledge transfer. www.rcuk.ac.uk
JnJPRD_Adv_96x255mm:Layout 1
www.qf.org.qa
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CO M B I N I N G I N N O VAT I O N AND EXPERIENCE
Across the globe, around the clock, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development is committed to improving the lives of millions. www.jnjpharmarnd.com
© 2009 Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV
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Sponsors
Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Workshop sponsor www.innovation.ca/en/
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Media room co-sponsor www.ecdc.europa.eu
CERN Friend of the Conference public.web.cern.ch/public/
European Commission, Directorate General Research Friend of the Conference www.ec.europa.eu
Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) Tea Party sponsor www.berr.gov.uk
European Food Information Council (EUFIC) Session Sponsor www.eufic.org
ESRF Friend of the Conference www.esrf.eu
European Union of Science Journalists’ Association (EUSJA) Friend of the Conference eusja.sciencewriters.eu
EurekAlert! (AAAS) Supporting sponsor www.eurekalert.org
Government Office for Science Farewell Party co-sponsor www.dius.gov.uk/partner_ organisations/office_for_science
WCSJ2009 Conference would like to thank the following organisations that have come on board as sponsors.
AEA Technology Gala Reception co-sponsor www.aeat.co.uk
Aeras Lunch session co-sponsor www.aeras.org
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Workshop co-sponsor & Friend of the Conference www.bbsrc.ac.uk
Helmholtz Association Welcome Reception co-sponsor www.helmholtz.de 24
Natural History Museum and Darwin200 Session sponsor, Gala Reception hosts and co-sponsor www.nhm.ac.uk
Imperial College Name badges & Lanyards www3.imperial.ac.uk
Oxford Nanopore Technologies Lunch session sponsor www.nanoporetech.com Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Breakfast session sponsor www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative - IAVI Lunch session sponsor www.iavi.org
Kavli Foundation Friend of the Conference www.kavlifoundation.org
Knight Science Journalism Fellowships Friend of the Conference web.mit.edu/knight-science/
lightsources.org Welcome reception co-sponsor www.lightsources.org
NWO (The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) Friend of the Conference www.nwo.nl
Research4Life Farewell Party co-sponsor www.research4life.org
Nature Friend of the Conference www.nature.com Royal Society of New Zealand Friend of the Conference www.royalsociety.org.nz
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters Media reception co-sponsor www.dnva.no
Norwegian Seafood Export Council Media reception co-sponsor www.seafoodfromnorway.com
SciDev.Net Friend of the Conference www.scidev.net
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Lunch session sponsor www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ ESRCInfoCentre/index.aspx
Friends of the Conference Programme 25
The Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) Friend of the Conference www.ill.eu
The National Association of Science Writers (NASW) Friend of the Conference www.nasw.org
UK Commission for UNESCO Workshop co-sponsor www.unesco.org.uk
VWN (Dutch Association of Science Journalists) Friend of the Conference www.wetenschapsjournalisten.nl/vwn/
WHO-TDR Lunch session co-sponsor apps.who.int/tdr/
SciDev.Net Media Partner www.scidev.net
COSMOS Marketing Partner www.cosmosmagazine.com
Thank you to the following organisations for covering their own speakers’ expenses: African Centre for Technology Studies | AMRC | Australian Science Media Centre | BBC | blinkx | Centre for Investigative Journalism | Council for the Advancement of Science Writing | Environmental Change Institute and School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University | Financial Times | French Association of Science Journalists | Guardian News and Media | Institute of Education, University of London | Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change | Irish Government | La Recherche | Le Monde | Media Standards Trust | National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) | National Science Foundation | NHS England | O Eco online | Panos, UK | Physics World | Research in Motion (RIM) | Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford | Scientific American | Straight Statistics | The Guardian | The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) | The Kavli Foundation | The Lancet | The Sun | The Times | The Wall Street Journal | UK Medical Journalists Association | UK Science Media Centre | ULB | Wall Street Journal | Wired Magazine UK | Wolfson Centre for Age Related Diseases, King’s College London
The exhibition is located on the ground floor. Lunch and refreshments will be served in this area during all breaks. 26
Exhibition
The Welcome Tea Party and Welcome Reception on Tuesday 30th June and the Farewell Party on Thursday 2nd July will be held within the exhibition. We would like to thank the following organisations who are exhibiting at WCSJ2009. 21 AlphaGalileo 1 Association of British Science Writers (ABSW) / European Union of Science Journalists’ Associations (EUSJA) 18 British Council 6 CNAP Artemisia Research Project 19 Department for International Development
10 EurekAlert! 11 European Commission, Directorate General Research 4 Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV 3 Joint Research Centre - European Commission 20 National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada 2 Qatar Foundation 5 Research Councils UK (RCUK) 9 SciDev.Net 15 The Royal Society 13 Torino ESOF 2010 - Euroscience Open Forum 14 Wellcome Trust 17 Wiley 16 World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ)
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Central Hall, Westminster
level one
Conference Venue
Opened in the autumn of 1912, this unique Edwardian building, erected to mark the centenary of John Wesley’s death, became one of London’s premier meeting places and concert venues. Hosting events of national and international importance.
Perhaps most famously, Central Hall was the chosen venue for the very first General Assembly of the newly formed United Nations, in 1946; A time that saw the appointment of the first Secretary General, along with the creation of the Security Council and the International Court of Justice.
level two
The Suffragettes, campaigning for the vote for women, met here in 1914, Mahatma Gandhi spoke in the Lecture Hall in 1932, and General de Gaulle founded the free French here in the early 1940’s.
Over the years this building has welcomed British Prime Ministers, members of the Royal Family and other famous faces. We are delighted to be holding wcsj2009 at this historical venue. www.c-h-w.com
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Background & Future of wcsj
The World Conference of Science Journalists gets bigger and better every time since 1992. London follows on proudly from Melbourne (2007), Montreal (2004), and previous conferences in Rio de Janeiro, Budapest and Tokyo. So where will the 7th WCSJ be held? Teams from three countries are competing to host the 7th World Conference of Science Journalists in 2011. Two of the bidding teams make a strong statement about the growth of science journalism in the developing world - Egypt and Uganda.
Photograph © copyright of Chris Ledger Photography
The Arab Science Journalists’ Association (ASJA) has partnered with the United States’ National Association of Science Writers (NASW) to present the first ever joint bid between two associations to host a World Conference of Science Journalists. The conference would be held in Cairo. From Helsinki (Finland), the Finnish Association of Science Editors and Journalists (FASEJ) proposes to host the 2011 Conference at the University of Helsinki City Campus from 28th June to 2nd July 2011. In another first, the Uganda Science Journalists Association (USJA) is determined to host the Conference in Kampala, in 2011. This is the first time that a country from Sub-Sahara bids to host the World Conference of Science Journalists.
The three teams present their bids at the Ondaatje Lecture Theatre at the Royal Geographical Society on Monday 29th June, 16.00-17.45, and will be present at the main conference venue, Central Hall Westminster, from Tuesday 30th June to Thursday 2nd July, 2009. The winning team will be announced during the morning Plenary on Wednesday 1st July. Good luck to all! Julie clayton — Conference Co-Director, WCSJ2009
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Welcome Tea party Tuesday 30th June 14.30-15.45 @ Central Hall Westminster, exhibition hall
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Social Events
Media Reception
Enjoy a traditional English Tea whilst meeting journalists from around the world. The UK’s Science Minister Lord Drayson will host this opening event and Pallab Ghosh, President of the WFSJ, will officially open the Conference with some inspirational thoughts for the week ahead. Hosted by: Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Science and Innovation, UK Government Kindly sponsored by: Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS)
Monday 29th June 19.00-21.00 @ Science Museum, Making the Modern World Gallery This pre-conference reception will be held exclusively for journalist delegates of the conference, and for those involved in skills building workshops on Monday 29th June and the morning of Tuesday 30th June. The workshops that will be held during the day will culminate in this evening reception in an inspiring location. With Dan Glaser from Wellcome Trust as the evening’s compere, guests can browse the Making the Modern World gallery exhibits, enjoy a taste of the Arctic, sustainable seafood, Norwegian-style, as well as hear about some fascinating projects taking place at the North and South Poles as part of International Polar Year and other scientific endeavours. Kindly Sponsored by: The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and the Norwegian Seafood Export Council
Photograph supplied by Central Hall Westminster
Welcome Reception Tuesday 30th June 18.30-20.00 @ Central Hall Westminster, exhibition hall Relax at our first evening party, discuss the themes of the opening day of the Conference with new friends and colleagues and make plans for the week to come. Guest speaker(s) to be announced. Hosted by: Quentin Cooper, Presenter of the BBC’s Material World (UK) Kindly sponsored by: Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres and lightsources.org
Photograph supplied by The Science Museum
Gala Reception Wednesday 1st July 19.00-21.30 @ Natural History Museum, Central Hall
Timed tours through the Darwin Centre atrium will run throughout the evening with the opportunity to sign up on arrival on a first come, first serve basis. Guests will be addressed by the hosts, the Natural History Museum as well as the reception sponsors, including AEA TEchnology. We are very pleased to announce that the evening will also include the presentation of the ABSW Science Writer Awards 2009, kindly sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV. Sponsoring host: Natural History Museum/Darwin200 Kindly sponsored by: AEA Technology and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV
Photograph © copyright Natural History Museum
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The Natural History Museum is pleased to host the WCSJ gala evening, offering science journalists an opportunity to see the Museum after hours. Delegates will have the chance to unwind in the Museum’s iconic central hall, visit After Darwin: Contemporary expressions, as well as get a sneak preview of our new Darwin Centre, ahead of it opening in September. The Darwin Centre will be an awe-inspiring new building for both scientists and the public, inviting everyone to explore the natural world in an exciting and innovative way. It will be a state-of-the-art scientific research and collections facility, used by over 250 scientists at a time. At the heart of the Darwin Centre is the architecturally stunning 65-metre-long, eightstorey-high cocoon that will safeguard 17 million insect and three million plant specimens. When the Darwin Centre opens in September, up to 2,500 people a day will go into the cocoon, deep into the heart of the collections and get a glimpse of the working life of world-class researchers. In the Darwin Centre’s Attenborough Studio, visitors will be inspired to be naturalists, observing the natural world and debating our relationships with it, with a celebration of excellence in science communication, through natural history film footage, new media and faceto-face encounters with Museum scientists. Farewell Party
Thursday 2nd July 17.30-19.00 @ Central Hall Westminster, exhibition hall Celebrate on the last night of the Conference with a ‘Wimbledon Tennis’ theme. Your hosts ‘The Two Chris’s’ will review the week’s events both official and unofficial, humorous and serious, so any snippets of gossip you know who to inform! A chance to say farewell to new colleagues and friends. Hosted by: Chris Smith, The Naked Scientists (UK) and Christina Scott, African News Editor, SciDev.Net (South Africa) Kindly sponsored by: Research4Life and the Government Office for Science
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Skills Building Workshops
Please note that workshops should be booked in advance.
Key Sessions and workshops in the Development and Biomedical Strands are highlighted throughout the programme with the following key: Development Strand Biomedical Strand
WCSJ has a strong programme of scientific briefings and professional skills-building activities for science journalists and other science communicators which precede the main conference programme, taking place on Monday 29th June and the morning of Tuesday 30th June 2009. Organised by top scientific and media organisations, these are designed to provide introductions to controversies, challenges and developments in areas including climate change, food sustainability, human disease genetics, green energy technologies, quantum physics and astronomy, as well as background information, resources, and opportunities to interview leading scientists and policy makers. There are workshops also for those wishing to hone their skills at interviewing, pitching to editors, podcasting and other new media tools.
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Workshop 1: Reporting about Climate Change Date: Monday 29th June Time: All Day
Venue: Royal Geographical Society
Session sponsored by: UNESCO-HQ Paris & UK Commission for UNESCO Good climate change reporting means understanding the science of climate, the merits of proposed solutions, and the political and social context of the problem. This workshop will cover all three areas with a focus on the needs of journalists in developing nations. Topics range from the impacts of climate change to whether geo-engineering approaches such as ocean iron fertilisation can mitigate them. Expert speakers will also touch on adaptation to climate change, the IPCC and how it operates, forests as carbon stores, the Stern Review, and parallels between the credit crunch and the
climate crunch. Participants will have ample opportunity to share their climate change puzzles (and solutions) with experts and with other delegates. Producers James Fahn, Journalist and Executive Director, Internews’ Earth Journalism Network
Mike Shanahan, Press Officer, International Institute for Environment and Development
Speakers Gustavo Faleiros, Environmental Reporter, O Eco online
Jenni Metcalfe, Australian Science Communicators, E-Connect
Saleemul Huq, Senior Fellow in the Climate Change Group, Institute for International Environment and Development Liz Kalaugher, Editor, Environment Web (Institute of Physics) Luisa Massarani, SciDev.Net, Brazil
John Mitchell, Director of climate science, UK Met Office Chris Rapley, Director, Science Museum; formerly of the British Antarctic Survey and International Polar Year Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science
Workshop 2: Food Security and Sustainability - Can we avert a food crisis? Date: Monday 29th June Time: All Day
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Venue: Royal Geographical Society
Session sponsored by: Department for International Development (DFID); Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) In the face of an inexorably growing global population, changing diets, conflict and economic chaos, all against the backdrop of climate change, the only certainty we have is the coming crisis in producing enough nutritious food for everyone to eat. The UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser has already called for a 50% increase in global food production by 2030 if we are to feed everyone - despite the challenges of economics, trade, transport and conflict. This workshop features leading experts and scientists who will explore food security issues and some of the latest scientific developments that aim to deliver the required production increase. Topics include: increasing primary crop productivity, the use of fertilizers and pesticides, reducing waste in the food chain, the problem of diminishing fossil fuels on food production, the potential for damaging child development and improving food safety and nutrition.
The full-day workshop includes ample opportunities for networking, group discussions, and one-to-one interviews with food security and sustainability experts and scientists. The workshop is organised and sponsored by the UK’s main funding agency for research in the biosciences, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the UK Government Department for International Development (DFID). Speakers will include leading experts and decisionmakers from BBSRC, DFID, and other key players in the science, economics, and sociology of food security and sustainability. Producers Matt Goode, Deputy Head of External Relations, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Heather Pillans, Communications Adviser, Department for International Development
Speakers Mike Bevan, John Innes Centre
Julie Scholes, University of Sheffield
Ian Crute, Director, Rothamsted Research
Jon West, Rothamsted Research
John Foulkes, University of Nottingham
Brenda Wren, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Douglas Kell, Chief Executive, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Workshop 3: Journalism Skills Date: Monday 29th June Time: All Day
Venue: Imperial College London
Session supported by: Imperial College London
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This interactive workshop will be an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas about their own journalistic practice, as well as meeting some of Imperial College’s leading scientists. Imperial researchers will present their own work in a press conference context, giving workshop participants the chance to interview the scientists and develop news angles specific to their own media organisations. By bringing together the real-life press conference environment with the reflective mode of the exploratory workshop, participants will gain insights in to their own practice whilst also picking up ideas from their peers. Gareth Mitchell, a lecturer in Imperial College’s Science Communication group and presenter of the BBC’s Digital Planet, will lead the workshop. In his academic and broadcast work, Gareth is interested in the social media and the convergence of print, broadcast and online. Though new media will be addressed extensively in the main WSCJ sessions, this workshop should be an initial opportunity to evaluate science news values in the context of today’s rapidly evolving electronic media. Producers Becky McCall, Freelance
Speakers Aisling Irwin, Editor, SciDev.Net Malcolm Love, Freelance radio producer, trainer in media skills and science communication
Gareth Mitchell, Lecturer and Presenter, Imperial College’s Science Communication group; BBC’s Digital Planet
Jan Lublinski, Science journalist, trainer and consultant based in Bonn, Germany Christina Scott, African News Editor, SciDev.Net John Travis, European News Editor, Science
Workshop 5: Pitfalls of Reporting about Clinical Trials
Date: Monday 29th June Time: Morning & Lunch
Date: Monday 29th June Time: Afternoon
Venue: Wellcome Trust Collection
Session presented by: Wellcome Trust, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Session supported by: Wellcome Trust Part 1: Genetics in the 21st Century When the sequence of the human genome was announced, it had taken an international team 12 years to complete. Today, rapid advances in technology mean the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute alone could sequence one human genome per day. Join leading researchers on a journey through the human genome, exploring what makes us human and unique, and how our genetic information is providing surprising insights into what causes disease. Part 2: Translational research for epidemiology and diagnostics: the example of malaria and syphilis Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, one of the world’s leading centres of excellence in public health, international health and tropical medicine, explore the fight against two of the developing world’s major killers. Producers Craig Brierley, Senior Media Officer, Wellcome Trust
Don Powell, Press Officer, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Speakers Peter Donnelly, Director, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics (University of Oxford)
Mark McCarthy, Robert Turner Professor of Diabetic Medicine, University of Oxford
Gordon Dougan, Head of Pathogen Research, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Rosanna Peeling, Professor of Diagnostics Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Chris Drakeley, Senior Lecturer, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Mike Stratton, Head, Cancer Genome Project (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)
David Mabey, Professor of Communicable Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Venue: Wellcome Trust Collection
Session supported by: Wellcome Trust A drug’s life cycle, stage by stage, will form the core of this informal, hands-on workshop. Rick Turner, a pharmacologist and medical text book author from the Institute for Medicine in the Public Interest, New York, will track a drug’s development from early clinical trials to approval and beyond, pointing out the strengths and limitations at every stage. Bloomberg’s Eva von Schaper, of Munich, will provide a journalist’s perspective, sharing tips on what to watch out for, and how to get your story straight. Bethan Hughes, News Editor at Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, will help participants navigate through a clinical trial press release, and how to structure interviews so that there is no need to be an expert to understand its relevance. Producer Lisa Melton, News Editor, Nature Biotechnology Speakers Bethan Hughes, News Editor, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery J. Rick Turner, Institute for Medicine in the Public Interest, New York
Eva von Schaper, Pharmacologist, and Bloomberg reporter on vaccine trials by IAVI (International Aids Vaccine Initiative)
Wellcome Images
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Workshop 4: Human disease genetics and emerging infectious diseases
Workshop 6: From Quantum to Cosmos - New Frontiers in Science Date: Tuesday 30th June Time: Morning & Lunch
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Venue: Central Hall, Westminster Room: Robert Perks
Session sponsored by: Canada Foundation for Innovation Session supported by: Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics Session 1. The Quantum Tamers - Revealing our Weird and Wired Future This multimedia presentation will show how the “weirdness” of tiny sub-atomic particles is being harnessed for powerful new forms of information processing and communication. Using sneak previews of the new, international documentary, “The Quantum Tamers”, panel members will explain the nature of “superposition” and “entanglement” – concepts leading toward super powerful quantum computers, secret quantum codes and even quantum teleportation. In this session, three world-leading scientists (from among the many researchers you’ll see in the documentary clips), will take your questions and describe what newsworthy research is occurring now that the weird is becoming wired, ushering in a new era of quantum technologies that may rock the world. Session 2. The Future of Cosmology – From Theory to Experiment Cosmology is the study of the evolution of the universe as a whole. It has become one of the most exciting fields of science as new observational technologies enable exquisitely accurate and detailed observations to be made. New generations of particle colliders, neutrino observatories, gravity wave detectors, satellites,
telescopes and other devices are about to fuel all new knowledge about the entire cosmos – even dating back to the big bang. In this session, world-leading scientists will bring you up to the cutting edge of theory and experiment. Find out what novel ideas about the nature of space, time, energy and matter are being probed. Learn why certain experimental results will be newsworthy. Understand how this research will impact our core understanding of the entire universe - and everything in it - for generations to come. Producers Jennifer Dodd, Special Events Programming Manager, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics John Matlock, Director of Outreach and External Relations, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics Speakers Alain Aspect, Head of the Atom Optics group, Institut d’Optique, Orsay
Chairs Joseph Emerson, Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo Simon Singh, Science journalist, broadcaster and author
Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Ray Laflamme, Director, The Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo
Neil Turok, Director, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, Trinity College, Cambridge
Anton Zeilinger, Professor of physics, University of Vienna
Photograph © copyright of Chris Ledger Photography
Workshop 7: Green Energy Technologies Date: Tuesday 30th June Time: Morning & Lunch
Venue: Central Hall, Westminster Room: George Thomas
Session sponsored by: Joint Research Centre - European Commission 40
The session will broadly cover two main questions: 1) Can technology save the world from climate change? 2) Have the recent economic problems scuppered any chances of bringing green tech to market, and should we be worried about it? Scientific and policy experts from the UK and elsewhere in Europe will address these questions, and present some of the latest scientific advances in green energy technologies. Possible energy topics to be covered include oil, renewable energy (eg. wind and solar energy), nuclear energy, biofuels, carbon capture and sequestration, energy distribution and energy efficiency. Journalists will have the opportunity to participate in discussions, pose questions to the experts, and conduct 1-to-1 interviews. Speakers will include up to 10 experts on the science and economics of green energy technology, drawn from the UK and Europe. Producers Aidan Gilligan, Media Officer, Joint Research Centre - European Commission Alok Jha, Science and Environment Correspondent, The Guardian Speakers Andrea Alunni, Seed Investment Manager, Isis Innovation Giovanni De Santi, Director, Institute of Energy, Joint Research Centre - European Commission Alok Jha, Science and Environment Correspondent, The Guardian
Jeremy Leggett, Founder and Chairman, Solarcentury Heinz Ossenbrink, Head of the Renewable Energies Unit, Institute of Energy, European Commission’s Joint Research Centre Frank Raes, Head of Unit Climate Change, Institute for Environment and Sustainability
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Workshop 8: Informing attitudes and beliefs about cancer Date: Tuesday 30 June Time: Morning & Lunch th
Venue: Central Hall, Westminster Room: Maurice Barnett
Session sponsored by: European School of Oncology Journalists have a key role to play in informing attitudes and beliefs about cancer and conveying important messages about this complex disease. This workshop will look at how the misperceptions and myths about cancer prevalent in different countries can lead to stigma and unnecessary suffering and death. It will explore how journalists can help promote better understanding of the scientific evidence and of patients’ experience. Producers Peter McIntyre, Journalist, Cancer World magazine Anna Wagstaff, Assistant Editor, Cancer World magazine
Workshop 9: New Media Tools Date: Tuesday 30th June Time: Morning & Lunch
Venue: Central Hall, Westminster Room: Donald English
Session supported by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology This workshop will lay out the details of how to put together effective stories in the new media. Media tools to be discussed include podcasts, audio slide shows, mobile phone reports, writing effective blogs and using multiple blogs as sources. Practitioners of new media will talk about how they use these tools themselves, and how those tools are used in their respective regions of the world. Producer Phil Hilts, Director, Knight Science Journalism Fellowships, MIT Speakers Rory CellenJones, Technology Correspondent, BBC Hujun Li, Science and Health Writer, Southern Weekly (Nanfang Zhoumo)
Steve Mirsky, Scientific American Juliana Rotich, Environment Editor, Global Voices
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Workshop 10: Getting global coverage for science Date: Tuesday 30 June Time: Morning & Lunch th
Venue: Central Hall, Westminster Room: John Tudor
Session organised by: The UK Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine Public Relations Association (STEMPRA) A Stempra event for press officers and journalists at the World Conference of Science Journalists. Universities and other scientific institutions are increasingly seeking to communicate with globally dispersed audiences, either because student recruitment has become a global market or because their science impacts on other world regions (such as developing countries). This event will seek to explore how the relationship between press officers and more dispersed journalistic audiences can be made more effective, with talks, discussion and networking sessions.
Producers Elspeth Bartlet, Communications Manager, Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, University of York Speakers Deborah Blum, Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin Linda Capper, Press Officer, British Antarctic Survey Michel Claassen, Communication Unit, European Commission Nadia El-Awady, Program Manager & Founder, WFSJ & Arab Science Journalists Association
Claire Bithell, Media Manager, Human Tissue Authority
Annie Hoban, Programme Officer, Panos, UK Diran Onifade, Nigerian Television Authority AndrĂŠ Picard, Public Health Journalist, The Globe and Mail Patrick Vittet-Philippe, Press Officer, European Commission, Directorate General Research
Workshop 11: Heritage science: What next? (This session does not include lunch) Date: Tuesday 30th June Time: 9.30 to 12.00
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Venue: Central Hall, Westminster Room: Oxford room
Session supported by: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Where would we be without our treasures, artifacts and architecture, which lie at the very heart of our cultures and national identities? Join a discussion with five leading international experts in archaeology, conservation, art and heritage to discover the threats facing our heritage, from climate change to pollution and weather, and the behind-the-scenes efforts to discover more about our past before it is too late, and to preserve these precious objects and buildings for future generations to know and enjoy. They will speak about their current research
and key findings as well as explaining why their work is important (i) for science, (ii) for heritage and (iii) for society both in the UK and internationally. Producers May Cassar, Professor of Sustainable Heritage & Director, Centre for Sustainable Heritage, University College London
Jake Gilmore, Press and Public Affairs Officer, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Chair May Cassar, Professor of Sustainable Heritage & Director, Centre for Sustainable Heritage, University College London Speakers Nancy Bell, Head of Conservation, The National Archives, Kew Naomi Luxford, PhD student in Heritage Science, University of Southampton
Sonia O’Connor, Research Felllow in Conservation, University of Bradford Maureen Young, Stone Heritage scientist, Historic Scotland
Come and meet the SciDev.Net Team at WCSJ2009 Exhibition stand 9 Science and Development Network
SciDev.Net: Encouraging effective science journalism in the developing world
Science at the heart of development SciDev_HPH-178x124mm.indd 1
www.scidev.net 27/5/09 13:29:48
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Full Programme
Quick reference p. 45 p. 49 p. 61
Tuesday 30th June Wednesday 1st July Thursday 2nd July
Key Sessions and workshops in the Development and Biomedical Strands are highlighted throughout the programme with the following key: Development Strand Biomedical Strand Sponsored sessions are highlighted throughout the programme in blue.
When Julie Clayton mailed from Australia to say the ABSW had won the bid to host the World Conference of Science Journalists in London, there were celebrations all round. Of course by the next day the cold realisation crept in, it is one thing to come up with a bid winning conference on paper, another to actually pull it off. How would we find funding in the current economic climate? How would we satisfy that most probing of audiences – journalists? Two years later and I think we can safely say we did it as we welcome over 500 journalists from over 70 countries to a Conference with over 60 sessions covering every aspect of science journalism. From the outset we knew that the key to a successful programme would be the right team. At meetings in committee rooms and pubs, a list of producers was drawn up, individuals who really knew their field and who could pull together
inspiring, challenging and thought provoking panels. The message to producers was clear and loud this was a Conference about journalism first and science second, and this should be evident from our final programme. We are now delighted that we have around 200 speakers and producers involved in this truly International conference. The key to a great conference is not just bringing together panels full of leading experts and opinion formers. An equally, if not more important part of the equation is the probing questions and contributions from the floor. So our work is done and it is now over to you to listen, probe, and argue and make WCSJ2009 an agenda-setting conference for the future of science journalism. Sallie Robins — Co-Director, wcsj2009
1: Flat Earth News Date: Tuesday 30th June Time: 15.45 to 17.15
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Tuesday 30th
Plenary 1: New media, new journalism? Date: Tuesday 30th June Time: 13.30 to 14.30
Room: Great Hall
There is no question that the internet has dramatically changed the way news is gathered and disseminated. Blogging, podcasting and other innovations provide a voice for many who previously went unheard, but where does this leave journalists? Have new means of communicating and the overwhelming flood of information been to the detriment of science coverage? Or have they opened up new means by which to reach new audiences? Is a ‘new journalism’ required to match the ‘new media’? The panellists will be asked to predict how the media landscape might look in 20 years time and suggest what might be done to ensure a healthy future for critical, hard-hitting science journalism. Producer Sallie Robins, Co-Director, WCSJ2009 Speakers Krishna Bharat, Principle Scientist / Founder, Google News Ben Hammersley, Associate Editor, Wired Magazine UK
Chair Nick Higham, Correspondent, BBC News
Jeff Nesbit, Director, Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, National Science Foundation
Room: Donald English
Flat Earth News by Guardian journalist Nick Davies was one of the most seminal books on journalism this decade provoking outright fury from some of those it exposed, who raced to letters pages and blogs to attack it. But despite the outrage caused to some, many others recognised the bleak truth at the centre of Davies’ thesis, that fewer and fewer journalists filling more and more space has led to the collapse of accurate, truth-telling journalism and the explosion in ‘churnalism’ – journalists forced to churn out information straight from press releases. While Davies’ book covers many aspects of reporting he also covers science stories and argues that some of the most damaging and costly examples of Flat Earth News can be located in the sphere of science and health. Since publishing his book Davies has travelled the world debating his theories with other journalists and being challenged by press officers over his views on the dangers of relying on science and health PR. Now he is coming to the World Conference of Science Journalists to elaborate on the ideas in his book and answer your questions and criticisms. Producer Fiona Fox, Director, Science Media Centre, UK
Speaker Nick Davies, Journalist, The Guardian
2: Balance not needed? Science journalism and the reporting of creationism Date: Tuesday 30th June Time: 15.45 to 17.15
Room: Robert Perks
Session sponsored by: British Council Darwin Now Professional reporters are trained to listen to each side of a story; to reflect different points of view in our journalism; and to keep personal opinions in check. But what if the story is the rise of creationism, and the reporters in question are science journalists? Is it right that we should automatically give more weight and
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space to scientific opinion? Scientists worry that giving voice to creationists will fuel irrationality in society. Yet is our role to be the voice of rationalism? Or do our readers deserve to be told the story from many perspectives – even if one of these perspectives goes against what we know to be true? Producer Ehsan Masood, Acting Chief Commissioning Editor, Nature Speakers James Randerson, Environment Website Editor, Guardian News and Media
Chair Christine McGourty, Science Correspondent, BBC
Michael Reiss, Assistant Director and Professor of Science Education, Institute of Education, University of London
3: Science journalism in crisis? Date: Tuesday 30th June Time: 15.45 to 17.15
Room: Great Hall
From climate change to stem cell research, science is in the public eye as never before. But science coverage is being slashed in newspapers and on television in the US, UK and parts of Europe. At the same time, writing on science, health and the environment is thriving around Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East. A look at the uncertain future of international science journalism and the prospects for help from the changing world of multimedia. Producer Cristine Russell, President, Council for the Advancement of Science Writing Speakers Geoff Brumfiel, Senior News Reporter, Nature Miles O’Brien, Freelance journalist and former CNN correspondent
: Great talent, but are they credible? Date: Tuesday 30th June Time: 15.45 to 17.15
Room: Maurice Barnett
The credibility of scientific sources can fundamentally influence the credibility of a story. But how do you spot a credible expert? Mavericks have intrinsic news value, are they a necessary evil to stimulate debate? Does the need for balance excuse the use of less than credible experts? Producer Lyndal Byford, Media Manager, Australian Science Media Centre
Chair Robyn Williams, Science Journalist & Broadcaster, ABC Australia
Speakers Colin Blakemore, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Oxford
Diran Onifade, Nigerian Television Authority
Alok Jha, Science and Environment Correspondent, The Guardian
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Chair Philip Campbell, Editorin-Chief, Nature
Keeping Europe healthy Valeria Roman, Science and medical reporter, Clarín Cristine Russell, President, Council for the Advancement of Science Writing
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is an EU agency that works to strengthen Europe’s defences against infectious diseases. In partnership with the European Commission, WHO and health protection bodies across Europe, ECDC provides authoritative data, technical expertise and scientific advice.
www.ecdc.europa.eu
5: The challenges of regional reporting Date: Tuesday 30th June Time: 15.45 to 17.15
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Room: George Thomas
As scientific findings are reported around the world what challenges are faced by reporters looking at the same story in different regions? The recent swine flu outbreak was widely misreported in the Arab world while elsewhere reporters felt their experiences with avian flu had helped them, and their editors, pitch this pandemic right. Stem cell research may be hailed in Asia or the UK while damned in the US. Newly discovered fossils are recruited in the battle against Intelligent Design in the States but treated as quirky picture stories elsewhere. This session aims to share experience of working with newsdesk or political agendas and prompt discussion about sharing journalistic practice around the world. Producer Ruth Francis, Head of Press, Nature Speakers Nadia El-Awady, Program Manager & Founder, WFSJ & Arab Science Journalists Association
Chair Tim Radford, Freelance
Gautam Naik, Wall St Journal Philippe Pajot, Science Journalist, French Association of Science Journalists
collaborate through international networks to probe further, dig deeper and climb higher in an effort to realize some of their greatest ideas. So who makes this possible? Governments, universities and NGOs play an important role in supporting scientific research. But there are enormous gaps in what these traditional players - often operating through layers of bureaucracy - are funding. So who has the ability to spot the needs and seize new opportunities to shape and propel the future of science? Enter the philanthropists: they’re concerned about the state of our world and know what science and education can achieve, and they know how to take calculated risks and win. Now they are advancing basic research, healthcare, education, and a host of other endeavors that may help lead society toward an era of new knowledge, peace and prosperity. On this unique occasion, WCSJ2009 presents some of the world’s most influential philanthropists who will share their passions, pursuits and insights on public and private investment strategies in science, education and the knowledge economy. Producers Julie Clayton, Co-Director, wcsj2009 Jennifer Dodd, Special Events Programming Manager, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
John Matlock, Director of Outreach and External Relations, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Chair Colin Blakemore, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Oxford Plenary 2: How top philanthropists are accelerating science Date: Tuesday 30 June Time: 17.30 to 18.30 th
Room: Great Hall
Find out what philanthropy means for the future of science…and humanity. The successful pursuit of science requires creativity and dogged persistence. But these personal qualities alone are not enough. Scientists need enormous resources and funding if their brilliant ideas are ever going to see the light of day. Gone are the days of the lone researcher, toiling away in a backwater laboratory on a meager budget. Most of today’s scientists work in teams and
Speakers Suzanne Corbeil, VicePresident, External Relations and Communications, Canada Foundation for Innovation
Ralph Kohn, Pharmacologist, entrepreneur, musician and founder of Ralph Kohn Foundation
Fred Kavli, Founder and Chairman, The Kavli Foundation
Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research in Motion (RIM)
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Plenary 3: Climate change: Gearing up for Copenhagen Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 10.00 to 11.00
Room: Great Hall
Breakfast session 1: Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition (Breakfast will be served at this event)
The United Nations climate change conference due to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009 will be the most important international meeting since the Second World War. This session will explore whether success or failure is likely to result from the negotiations and what role the media might play.
Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 08.30 to 09.30
Winners of the bid to host the 2011 World Conference of Science Journalists will be announced at the start of this session.
Venue: The Royal Society
The Royal Society, the UK’s independent science academy, invites you to breakfast at this year’s Summer Science Exhibition. You will be welcomed by Lord Rees of Ludlow, President of the Royal Society, who will give you a brief overview of our upcoming activities, including plans for our 350th anniversary in 2010. You will then have a chance to have a look around over 20 fascinating, interactive exhibits and interview the people behind the research. Exhibits range from a virtual reality cow used in veterinarian colleges, to a chewing robot that can help us develop dental technology, to advances in detecting and treating breast cancer. For more information please visit ww.royalsociety.org and www.summerscience.org.uk/09/. The breakfast will be held in the Marble Hall, The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, sw1y 5ag. The closest tube stations are Piccadilly on the Bakerloo and Piccadilly Lines and Charing Cross for overland, Bakerloo and Northern Lines.
Press Briefings and Fringe Events 1: Nature press conference Date: Wednesday 1 July Time: 09.30 to 10.00 st
Room: Media room
Briefing on key paper from this week’s Nature.
Producer Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science
Chair David Shukman, Science Correspondent, BBC TV News
Speakers Damian Carrington, Head of Environment, Guardian and Observer
Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
David King, Director, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University
Roland Schenkel, Director General, Joint Research Centre - European Commission
Workshop: Pimp my podcast: Using multimedia to enhance your reporting (Please note this session should be booked in advance) Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 11.00 to 13.00
Room: Media room
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to make a podcast. All are welcome, from the computer illiterate to the multimedia savants.
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We will use the conference itself as the raw material, creating podcasts and audio slideshows that explore the bizarre world of a conference full of journalists. Those who have their own laptops, audio recorders, and cameras should bring them. To take part, please contact John Bohannon (gonzo@aaas.org) Producer John Bohannon, Contributing Correspondent & Visiting Scholar in the Program in Ethics and Health, Science Magazine & Harvard University
Speaker Chris Smith, The Naked Scientists
6: Four science journalists who changed the world Date: Wednesday 1 July Time: 11.30 to 13.00 st
Room: George Thomas
The panel will consist of four journalists who have tackled tough issues and have made a difference: Having governments implement new health policies in Canada, changing how scientists and engineers are perceived in Japan, standing up to bogus science in Nigeria, and documenting unnecessary and often dangerous medical treatment in the United States. These journalists can be an inspiration and role models for fellow science journalists as well as providing information on how to conduct an influential investigation. Producer Jean Marc Fleury, Bell Globemedia Chair in Science Journalism, Université Laval (Québec)
Chair Deborah Blum, Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin
Speakers Alexander Abutu Augustine, Science Correspondent, News Agency of Nigeria
Yukiko Motomura, Journalist, The Mainichi Newspapers
Shannon Brownlee, Senior Fellow, New America Foundation
André Picard, Public Health Journalist, The Globe and Mail
7: Science on television: Here today, gone tomorrow? Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 11.30 to 13.00
Room: Robert Perks
A showcase of the best of recent science television from around the world, followed by a panel discussion with some leading industry experts. What is the future of science on television? Will the broadcasting industry be able to carry on supporting science programming with so much competition in the form of digital channels and the internet? There will be an opportunity to ask the panel about science on television, so come prepared with any questions. Producer Liz Newton, Freelance Science Writer
Chair Jonica Newby, Science Writer
Speakers Gonzalo Argandona, TV producer, Cabala Producciones (Chile)
Jonathan Sanderson, Ex-BBC Producer, New Media Expert
Andrew Cohen, Editor, BBC Horizon (UK)
Patrick Vittet-Philippe, Press Officer, European Commission, Directorate General Research
8: Recipe for disaster: A growing population and climate change. Can science serve up a solution? Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 11.30 to 13.00
Room: Maurice Barnett
The world population is expected to increase by at least 50% over the next 40 years, but as more people join the middle classes it will require a doubling of grain production to feed. Meanwhile, prime agricultural land is being lost to erosion, desertification, salinisation and urbanisation. Can science help to meet demand at the same time as reducing the strain agriculture exerts on the planet? The Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, a professor of international development, a plant scientist
who has written a book with her organic farmer husband, and a South African farmer who grows GM maize will debate the subject. Producer Zoe Dunford, Media Manager, John Innes Centre and Institute of Food Research
Chair Gordon Conway, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for International Development (DFID)
10: The future of science news? Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 11.30 to 13.00
Room: Great Hall
Session supported by: Knight Science Journalism Fellowships
Sabina Khoza, South African Farmer
The pioneers of news organizations that have gone from traditional news format to news ways of delivering news will tell us how they did, what they did and what will come next. A number of different kinds of stories will be told: From the transformation of Scientific American from a stodgy print magazine to a multimedia news organization to the new effort to organize thousands of bloggers around the world and then to bring journalists to the bloggers as sources. The changing world of news will be described, from the booming blogs of China to the Guardian’s award winning website.
9: Does science need to be highbrow?
Producer & Chair Phil Hilts, Director, Knight Science Journalism Fellowships - MIT
51 Speakers John Beddington, Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA), UK Government
Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 11.30 to 13.00
Pamela Ronald, Professor of Plant Pathology, University of California
Room: Donald English
Session supported by: Knight Science Journalism Fellowships Readers’ and viewers’ appetite for science has increased hugely in the last decade and news editors of popular titles and high viewing TV stations have responded by placing the subject high on the news agenda. How has science reporting in these mediums changed science journalism, and how can science be best communicated to mass audiences? Can science be simplified to a level that all educational levels can understand and if so how? If sub-editors misunderstand the science, how can writers ensure accuracy? What is the impact of new media of helping communication of science to these audiences? Producer & Chair Jacqui Thornton, Freelance Speakers David Derbyshire, Environment Editor, The Daily Mail
Christina Scott, African News Editor, SciDev.Net Paul Sutherland, Journalist
Nalaka Gunawardene, Co-Founder and Director, Television for Education - Asia Pacific
Speakers David Dickson, Founding Director, SciDev.Net, UK Ian Katz, Deputy Editor, The Guardian Hujun Li, Science and Health Writer, Southern Weekly (Nanfang Zhoumo)
John Rennie, Former Editor-in-Chief, Scientific American Juliana Rotich, Environment Editor, Global Voices
10-1a: The Big debate: Is the British media the best or worst in the world at covering science? Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 11.30 to 13.00
Room: John Tudor
Professor John Martin, one of the world’s leading heart disease experts, has controversially compared the UK’s science journalists to the greedy bankers who have sparked the economic meltdown. He believes that the hyping and sensationalising of recent developments in science like stem cell research will lead to a similar collapse of faith in science and now himself boycotts the British press in favour of reading Le Monde and the
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Algemeiner Zeitung. But the Good Professor has met his match in Lord Drayson, the UK’s new science minister who, despite being mauled at the hands of the British press in recent years, has long argued that the UK’s science reporters are amongst the best in the world. Lord Drayson has challenged Professor Martin to a verbal duel for the entertainment and edification of the visiting reporters. Ably refereed by Roger Highfield, Editor of New Scientist let battle commence...
52 Producer Fiona Fox, Director, Science Media Centre, UK Chair Roger Highfield, Editor, New Scientist Speakers Paul Drayson, Minister of State for Science and Innovation, UK Government
John Martin, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, UCL Division of Medicine
Lunch session 1: Building research capacity and healthcare solutions in Africa to fight TB, river blindness and malaria (Lunch will be served at this event) Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 13.15 to 14.15
years - to license a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine that could help end this epidemic that kills nearly two million people each year. Producers Derek Bodell, Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation Jamie Guth, Communications Manager, TDR
Annmarie Leadman, Director of Communications, Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation Becky Owens, Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation
Chair Geoff Watts, Presenter, BBC Radio 4, science programme Leading Edge Speakers Boakye Boatin, Research Manager, TDR
Annette Kuesel, Ph.D., Research Manager, TDR
Michael Brennan, Ph.D., Senior Adviser for Global Affairs, Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation
Room: Donald English
Session sponsored by: TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases and Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation Health problems rarely get solved without local ownership and involvement. Poor countries need not only their own doctors and nurses, but their own researchers and research infrastructure. This session will provide 3 examples from innovative partnerships of international organizations and pharmaceutical companies showing how several countries in Africa are building research capacity, and out of that, extended community-based healthcare systems and economic development. Field researchers will explain the development of a new drug and new research facilities to combat river blindness (onchocerciasis) in war-torn Africa; a research study that documents for the first time how remote, rural communities can provide a variety of health services and double access to malaria treatments; and a collaborative north-south research effort to implement a massive Phase III trial - 40,000 participants over four
Lunch session 2: UK research: Excellence with impact (Lunch will be served at this event) Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 13.15 to 14.15
Room: George Thomas
Session sponsored by: Research Councils UK (RCUK) Professor Alan Thorpe, Chair-elect of Research Councils UK, will give a short presentation at the start of lunch to launch the latest in RCUK’s series of ‘Impacts’ brochures, showcasing the benefits that research brings to society and economy. He will highlight the importance and impact of UK research. This will be followed by an opportunity to network. Lunch and a glass of wine will be provided for all attendees. Packed with case studies of how research has informed and reformed public policy and services, each lunch guest will receive a free copy of ‘Impacts: success in shaping public policy and services’. There is a significant amount of research being conducted by higher
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education institutions in the UK in a wide variety of areas with relevance to public policy, in both central and local Government, and this brochure provides an insight into how successful research has been in shaping public policy and services.
Lunch session 3: The rise of the Middle East’s “Bayt Al-Hikma” (House of Wisdom): Developing Qatar as the region’s leading center for science, research and education (Lunch will be served at this event)
Speaker Alan Thorpe, Chair-elect, Research Councils UK (RCUK)
Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 13.15 to 14.15
Room: Robert Perks
Session sponsored by: Qatar Foundation The enrichment of human capital that is necessary for Qatar’s transformation depends to a large extent upon fostering a research culture. The Qatar Foundation, and its partners including Weill Cornell Medical College, the Qatar Science and Technology Park and the Sidra Medical and Research Center, is leading the pursuit of knowledge, research and discovery. Come and listen to the little told story of how Qatar is positioning itself as a regional leader in science and research. Producer Terry O’Donovan, Communications Project Director, Qatar Foundation Speakers Abdelali Haoudi, Vice President, Research, Qatar Foundation
Javaid Sheikh, Interim Dean, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar
David Kerr, Chief Research Adviser, Sidra Medical and Research Center and Professor of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Oxford
Photograph © copyright of Chris Ledger Photography
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Lunch session 4: SciDev.Net networking event (Lunch will be served at this event) Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 13.30 to 14.30
Room: Media room
Session sponsored by: SciDev.Net Come and meet the team behind the leading website on science and technology news view and analysis for the developing world. A great opportunity to meet the editorial team, SciDev.Net journalists and others committed to the importance of communicating science and technology for sustainable development.
known aspects to the science book trade, such as editing, publicity, and how a book gets reviewed. This session also hopes to address the question of whether the books that become bestsellers are the best books or those which publishing companies have spent the most money. Producers Sara Abdulla, Chief Commissioning Editor, Nature
Natasha Loder, Science and Technology Correspondent, The Economist
Anna Lewcock, News Editor, Chemistry World at Royal Society of Chemistry Chair Sara Abdulla, Chief Commissioning Editor, Nature
10-2A: ABSW’s How to publish a popular science book (No lunch will be served at this event, please eat prior to this session in the exhibition hall) Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 13.30 to 14.30
Room: John Tudor
Session supported by: Association of British Science Writers (ABSW) From an idea in an author’s head, to a book in a reader’s hand, there is much about the science book trade that may surprise. This session aims to unlock the mysteries behind writing a book proposal, such as getting an agent, making proposals to editors at publishing houses, how editors have to sell books to their sales/marketing teams, doing deals and getting book buyers interested. The session offers potential authors the chance to ask burning questions of those directly involved in the business in order to shed light on some of the less-well
Speakers Will Goodlad, Editor, Penguin
Peter Tallack, Literary agent, The Science Factory
John Gribbin, Author
Press Briefings and Fringe Events 3: Confronting the killers: European health research leads the fight Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 14.30 to 15.30
Room: Media room
Session sponsored by: European Commission, Directorate General Research Leading European scientists will unveil the latest results from EU-wide Research projects in the field of HIV-AIDS, Influenza, Tuberculosis, Breast Cancer and Heart Disease, as well as strategies to protect Europe from the next viral outbreak. Speakers Bruno Canard, Laboratories AFBM (FR)
Charles Kelly, King’s College London (UK)
Fatima Cardoso, Jule Bordet Institute (BE)
Thomas Muster, Green Hills Biotechnology AG (AT)
Stewart Cole, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
Willem Ouwehand, University of Cambridge (UK)
11: As others see us: Science fiction writers on science journalism Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
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Room: Robert Perks
Science fiction is a crucial setting for the public perception of and the public understanding and cultural response to science. People who read science journalism may often read (or watch) science fiction too – and people who read science fiction are almost certainly readers of science journalism. So are the people who write it. On this panel, three eminent science fiction writers will provide a critical consumer’s view of science journalism, discussing the similarities and differences they see between what we do and what they do, and how both forms of writing inform and are informed by the cultural setting of science. Producer & Chair Oliver Morton, Chief News and Features Editor, Nature Speakers Iain M. Banks, Novelist
Geoff Ryman, Author
Paul McAuley, Science Fiction Writer
Producer Tim Radford, Freelance Speakers Richard Lane, Director of Science, Natural History Museum
Robert May, Lord May of Oxford Tim Radford, Freelance
13: Is the growing influence of PR on science journalism in the public interest? Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
Room: John Tudor
As the editorial resources devoted to specialist journalism decrease, while at the same time public relations becomes bigger and more powerful, is there a risk of science journalism simply becoming the conduit for marketing from big science and health organisations? Producer & Chair Martin Moore, Director, Media Standards Trust
12: Strife at the top: Lord May of Oxford in conversation with Tim Radford Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
to Tom Stoppard, speaks with even more than usual frankness to Tim Radford, former Science Editor of the Guardian, about science, government, the media, biodiversity and controversy.
Speakers Simon Denegri, Chief Executive, Association of Medical Research Charities
Room: Donald English
Session sponsored by: Darwin200 and Natural History Museum Lord May of Oxford, OM, former Chief Scientific Adviser to the British Government, former President of the Royal Society, former Chairman of the trustees of the Natural History Museum, and former Adviser
Ben Goldacre, Bad Science Columnist, The Guardian
Andrew Jack, Pharmaceuticals Correspondent, The Financial Times
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14: Different strokes for different science folk Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
Room: Maurice Barnett
Science media centres already exist in the UK, Australia and New Zealand and one is about to be born in Canada. As well, exploratory discussions are under way in South Africa, with potential pan-African collaboration in Nigeria and Uganda. These centres share a goal of improving media reporting about science, but operate in markedly varied science cultures and journalistic environments. Hear from the people in charge about what differs and what is common in the operating philosophies of these centres. Discuss how science and journalism reflect national circumstances and characteristics. Producer & Chair Peter Calamai, Consultant, Canada Foundation for Innovation Speakers Susannah Eliott, CEO, Australian Science Media Centre
building journalists’ capacity to cover climate change and asks if the media is failing the vulnerable by neglecting to report on adaptation.
Peter Griffin, Founding Manager, New Zealand Science Media Centre
Producers James Painter, Latin America analyst, BBC World Service
Mike Shanahan, Press Officer, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
Chair Roger Harrabin, Environment Analyst, BBC Speakers Paddy Coulter, Oxford Global Media and Green College, University of Oxford Cristiane Fontes, Climate Change Communication Programme Manager, British Embassy Panellists Rod Harbinson, Head of Environment Programme, Panos, UK
Patrick Luganda, Editor-inChief, The Farmers Media Link Centre/Farmers Voice Newspaper and Chairman, NECJOGHA (Network of Climate Journalists of the Greater Horn of Africa)
Esther Nakkazi, Journalist, NECJOGHA (Network of Climate Journalists of the Greater Horn of Africa)
Saleemul Huq, Senior Fellow in the Climate Change Group, The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
Fiona Fox, Director, UK Science Media Centre
15: A drought or a flood? Climate change reporting around the world Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
Room: Great Hall
15-1a: Swine flu or whine flu? Pigging out on scare stories
Session supported by: Knight Science Journalism Fellowships
Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
This session explores climate change reporting in settings as varied as urban China and rural Uganda. It examines how journalists are working together and whether this creates barriers as well as benefits. It compares ways of
For 2 whole weeks around the world, the only news was swine flu news. In different countries media reacted with different levels of scepticism, reflection and temperance. As the dust settled on these first waves of infection many claimed it as another senseless scare story even though the experts had very real concerns. Scientists still believe that infectious diseases are going to have a huge impact
Room: George Thomas
in the future, but how fine is the line between informing and scaring? Has the reporting of the killer pandemic that failed to live up to its billing led to a public backlash against the reporting of infectious diseases? Will it be a case of the Boy who cried Pig? Producer Ed Sykes, Press Officer, Science Media Centre, UK
Speaker Mike Granatt, Luther Pendragon
57 Rob Lyons, Deputy Editor, Spiked
Each association has one vote. All participants are welcome but only associations with full membership can vote. The General Assembly will begin with the report from the President. Amendments to the Constitution will be submitted for vote.
16: The science controversy that broke the mould: The media battle for human/animal embryos Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 16.30 to 18.00
Press Briefings and Fringe Events 4: The Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research 2009 winner announcement press briefing Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 16.00 to 16.30
Room: Media room
Session supported by: Johnson & Johnson Established by Johnson & Johnson, The Dr. Paul Janssen Award salutes the most passionate and creative scientists in basic or clinical research whose scientific achievements have made a measurable impact on human health. It’s named for Dr. Paul Janssen, one of the 20th century’s most gifted and passionate researchers, who contributed to the discovery and development of more than 80 lifesaving medicines. Previous winners have gone on to win the Nobel Prize, so don’t miss your chance to be among the first to learn the 2009 recipient and hear about the outstanding science behind his work.
Room: Maurice Barnett
For decades the story of the relationship between science and the media has been a deeply troubled one with a series of disastrous encounters over the way the media covered a number of science controversies including BSE, the MMR vaccine and GM crops. But now at last the UK has an example of the story that worked - a story that scientists, science press office, science journalists and policy makers all agree was the model of how to behave when not aligned with media interests in a highly contentious controversy. The battle for human/animal hybrid embryo research raged in the headlines of the British press for over a year, intensifying in the run up to a parliamentary vote last summer. Here, some of the main players in that battle meet to reflect on what took place and why this experience has forever changed the narrative of science media relations. Producer & Chair Fiona Fox, Director, Science Media Centre, UK
Visit www.pauljanssenaward.com for more information.
Press Briefings and Fringe Events 5: General Assembly of the World Federation of Science Journalists Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 16.30 to 18.30
Room: John Tudor
Session supported by: World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) The 40 associations of the World Federation of Science Journalists meet to elect the 7-member board of the Federation for the following two years.
Speakers Leszek Borysiewicz, Chief Executive, Medical Research Council (MRC) Tom Feilden, Science Correspondent, Today programme, BBC Stephen Minger, Director of Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Wolfson Centre for Age Related Diseases, King’s College London
Chris Shaw, Professor of Neurology and Neurogenetics, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London Andrew Williams, RCUK Research Fellow in Risk, Health and Science Communication, School of Journalism at Cardiff University
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17: Covering a disaster from Sichuan to Sri Lanka Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 16.30 to 18.00
Room: George Thomas
Session supported by: Knight Science Journalism Fellowships On 12 May 2008, a magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck China’s Sichuan Province, killing at least 80,000 people. Hundreds of journalists converged on the region to cover the frantic rescue efforts. A handful of science journalists were on the scene as well. How did they cover the quake and its aftermath? How do their experiences compare with science journalists who covered the South Asian Tsunami of 2004? This session will feature three firsthand accounts of science reporting in disaster zones. Producer Richard Stone, Asia Editor, Science Magazine Speakers Nalaka Gunawardene, Co-Founder and Director, Television for Education - Asia Pacific
Chair Tim Radford, Freelance
Richard Stone, Asia Editor, Science Magazine
Hujun Li, Science and Health Writer, Southern Weekly (Nanfang Zhoumo)
18: Investigative science reporting: Does it exist? Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 16.30 to 18.00
Room: Great Hall
The terms science journalist and science writer are often used interchangeably. Science writing is an important skill that serves a vital function - making fascinating and important science more accessible to the public in an accurate and engaging way. But shouldn’t science journalists aspire to more than this? Isn’t journalism about challenging power and revealing the truth - whether that be politicians and their expense claims or scientists
biasing their work to suit their funders? This session will tap the brains of some vastly experienced investigative journalists and touch on huge stories from BAE paying Saudi Arabian princes in exchange for arms sales to Andrew Wakefield and MMR. Producer & Chair James Randerson, Environment Website Editor, Guardian News and Media Speakers Brian Deer, Journalist Luc Hermann, Editorin-Chief, Productions Tony Comiti
David Leigh, Investigations Editor, The Guardian Gavin MacFadyen, Director, Centre for Investigative Journalism
19: The death of science magazines: Real or exaggerated? Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 16.30 to 18.00
Room: Donald English
Science magazines have been hit by a double whammy: The rise of free internet publishing and a severe downturn in advertising both online and in print. So how are they going to survive? To look for ways out of this predicament, this session will bring together editors from a variety of top magazines: Scientific American, Science News, The Economist and Cosmos. It will cover issues such as the role and value of quality journalism, how magazines will make money in future and the role of the web and gadgets, such as Kindle and electronic paper, in publishing. Producer Jeremy Webb, Editorin-Chief, New Scientist
Chair Wilson Da Silva, Editor, COSMOS Magazine
Speakers Daniel Franklin, Executive Editor, The Economist and Editor-in-Chief, Economist.com
John Rennie, Former Editor-in-Chief, Scientific American Tom Siegfried, Editorin-Chief, Science News
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20: Food: The good, the bad and the misreported Date: Wednesday 1st July Time: 16.30 to 18.00
Room: Donald English
Session sponsored by: European Food Information Council (EUFIC) 59
How does the science journalist rise above the noise to accurately report on nutrition related topics when it appears that the scientific community cannot agree on the basics? And how much attention should be given to food crises that affect few, when millions of people fall ill every year from foodborne diseases? Have we set the right priorities when reporting about food safety issues? Finally, what if it isn’t “all the fault of the media today” and communicators responsible for disseminating scientific data were to adopt best practice? Would journalists embrace this and reflect greater accuracy in their reporting? Producer Laura Smillie, Communications Manager, European Food Information Council (EUFIC) Speakers Jeanne Goldberg, Director of the Nutrition Communication Program, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, USA
Chair Sylvia Rowe, President, SR Strategy LLC
Claudia Stein, Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases, World Health Organization (WHO)
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS ESO is pleased to announce its 5th Annual Best Cancer Reporter Award which acknowledges excellence in cancer journalism. There will be a top prize of €10,000 and one runners up prizes of €5,000. All winning articles will be published in ESO's Cancer World magazine. Would you like to nominate a journalist who deserves to be recognised for writing outstanding stories about cancer? Do you think that you should be rewarded for your clear and accurate reporting on cancer? Materials published in a newspaper, magazine or on a website between 30 April 2009 and 30 April 2010 will be accepted. The closing date for nomination is 30 April 2010.
Laura Smillie, Communications Manager, European Food Information Council (EUFIC)
For full details and a nomination form visit www.cancerworld.org/ mediaservice or contact Corinne Hall +39 02 8546 4522 mediaservice@eso.net
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INFORMATIVE, STIMULATING & COMPELLING coverage of scientiďŹ c news events around the world. Subscribe to Nature and receive a special 20% WCSJ delegate discount plus online access to Nature News. www.nature.com/wcsjdiscount
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Breakfast session 2: Meet the editors forum (for journalists only) (Breakfast will be served at this event)
Breakfast session 3: WFSJ Associations’ breakfast (by invitation) (Breakfast will be served at this event)
Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 08.30 to 09.30
Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 08.30 to 09.30
Room: Donald English
What are editors looking for? What kind of stories do they publish, and which don’t they want? What style, approach, length is most likely to succeed in a freelance pitch? Come and hear science editors talk about their media outlets - magazines, newspapers and online – and about their audiences, and the types of articles they need and want from freelancers around the world. Each editor will sum up the basics of what works and what doesn’t at their media outlet, and then take questions from the floor. Producer Wilson Da Silva, Editor, COSMOS Magazine Speakers Sara Abdulla, Chief Commissioning Editor, Nature Ben Hammersley, Associate Editor, Wired Magazine UK Aisling Irwin, News Editor, SciDev.Net, UK
Graham Lawton, Deputy Editor, New Scientist, UK John Rennie, Former Editor-in-Chief, Scientific American Mohammed Yahia, Former Editor, Health & Science section, IslamOnline, Egypt
Room: George Thomas
Session sponsored by: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) A rare opportunity for member associations of the WFSJ to meet and talk about their challenges and successes. Organized by the Canadian Science Writers Association (CSWA) and the Association des communicateurs scientifiques du Québec (ACS) thanks to support from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
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Plenary 4: Editors discuss the future of science journalism Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 10.00 to 11.00
Room: Great Hall
The last few years have witnessed seismic changes in the world media, through the twin economic and electronic upheavals. But what will our working world look like in a decade from now? As our media platforms continue to multiply -- print, video, web, twitter, YouTube, FaceBook, Kindle and mobile phones -- and our audiences fragment, regroup, disperse and re-gather into new mass mediums, where will science journalists belong? A panel of top editors from the BBC, The Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Scientific American, describe their visions of the global future for our craft.
slideshows that explore the bizarre world of a conference full of journalists. Those who have their own laptops, audio recorders, and cameras should bring them. To take part, please contact John Bohannon (email: gonzo@aaas.org) Producer John Bohannon, Contributing Correspondent & Visiting Scholar in the Program in Ethics and Health, Science Magazine & Harvard University
Speaker Chris Smith, The Naked Scientists
21: Advocacy science journalism Where does science fit in the evolving news agenda and how can it be the value-added of the best news brands? What is its role in the news of the future? How will science journalism adapt and change? These top editors discuss the crisis, the challenges and the opportunities for science journalism. Producer Natasha Loder, Science and Technology Correspondent, The Economist Speakers Laura Chang, Science Editor, The New York Times James Harding, Editor, The Times
Chair Robert Lee Hotz, Science Columnist, The Wall Street Journal
John Rennie, Former Editor-in-Chief, Scientific American Fran Unsworth, Head of Newsgathering, BBC
Workshop: Pimp my podcast: Using multimedia to enhance your reporting (Please note this session should be booked in advance) Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 11.00 to 13.00
Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 11.30 to 13.00
Some modern journalists, particularly those trained in the United States, see as their primary goal a neutral, “objective” story. In Europe and elsewhere, journalists are arguably much more impassioned, filing stories that follow the editorial stance of their publication or a perspective they believe to be true. How does one balance advocacy and journalism? This session will hear from a journalist who joined forces with an advocacy group of scientists to examine misuse science within the US Government, another who wrote about Bulgarian nurses jailed in Libya while working behind the scenes with scientists to free them, and a third whose modest online news site has had major impact on what Brazilians hear about their country’s environment and their government’s policies toward it. Producer John Travis, European News Editor, Science
Chair John Travis, European News Editor, Science
Speakers Declan Butler, Senior Reporter, Nature
Seth Shulman, Freelancer Writer
Room: Media room
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to make a podcast. All are welcome, from the computer illiterate to the multimedia savants. We will use the conference itself as the raw material, creating podcasts and audio
Room: George Thomas
Gustavo Faleiros, Environmental Reporter, O Eco online
22: Blogs, big physics and breaking news Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 11.30 to 13.00
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Room: Great Hall
How are blogs changing the way science news develops and is reported? The commissioning of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN will offer a telling case study over the next few years. Who will be first with news of the fabled Higgs Boson, and how will we know if they’re right? Producer Jon Turney, Freelance Writer, Department of Science and Technology Studies Speakers Matthew Chalmers, Freelance Journalist
Chair Matin Durrani, Editor, Physics World
Producer Eric Glover, Chef de service science, technologie, écologie, Courier International Chair Philippe Pajot, Science Journalist, French Association of Science Journalists Speakers Paul Benkimoun, Journalist, Le Monde François Heinderyckx, Professeur Ordinaire, ULB
Jacques Poncins, Scientific Journalist Valeria Roman, Science and medical reporter, Clarín
James Gillies, Head of Communication, CERN 24: A picture of health? Who shapes public opinion on pharma?
Tommaso Dorigo, Experimental Physicist, Member of the CMS collaboration at CERN
Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 11.30 to 13.00
23: Genetics in the news information in the daily press: a comparison between daily papers in Belgium, Canada and France Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 11.30 to 13.00
of view. We then take a broader view with a perspective from Argentina and ending with audience discussion.
Room: Maurice Barnett
Researchers from three different academic institutions have compared articles which deal with genetics in the national daily press of Belgium, Canada and France published during the years 2006 and 2007. This session will reveal the study’s results, from a Belgian and French point
Room: Robert Perks
The public reputation of the pharmaceutical industry has fallen precipitously over the last decade, according to opinion surveys, along with the industry’s market capitalization. Does the industry deserve this loss in public support, or has the media played a role in it, by portraying drug companies in a negative light? This panel will discuss public perceptions of the drug industry, and ask: Is press coverage too critical of it — or not critical enough? Producers Colin Macilwain, Editor, ResearchResearch
Chair Clive Cookson, Science Editor, Financial Times
Becky McCall, Freelance Speakers Sarah Garner, Associate Director (R&D), Clinical and Public Health Directorate, National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) Vera Hassner Sharav, Founder and President, The Alliance for Human Research Protection (AHRP)
John Ilman, Chair, UK Medical Journalists Association Paul Stoffels, Company Group Chairman, Global Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson
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25: Promises, promises: The Ethics of unbridled optimism Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 11.30 to 13.00
Room: Donald English
Science journalists insist on promising their audiences a better world. Reading through a few issues of any science magazine gives one the impression that all the problems in the world are now (or will soon be) solved with the help of science. But do science journalists really give accurate and trustworthy reports from the fields of science and technology, or do they give ungrounded promises? And, are these promises biased by economical, national, political, or religious motives?
and cripple the defense systems that ought to prevent an infection, and has developed some stellar tactics to do so. The challenge for scientists: how to develop a vaccine that outsmarts the virus and stimulates a better-thannatural immune response. What have scientists learned about HIV? Can it be beaten at all? And what is known about the rare number of people who seem to control or resist infection? What mysteries do they harbour, and could these clues lead to a vaccine? Two scientific experts will answer your questions on where we stand in solving one of the greatest scientific challenges of our time: the development of an AIDS vaccine. Producer Andrew Jack, Pharmaceuticals Correspondent, The Financial Times
Speakers Wayne Koff, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative Robin Weiss, University College London
This session will address this issue from four points of view-- historic, geographic, economic, and cultural. The aim is to show how science journalism’s often unbridled optimism, even if well-intended, may actually benefit ideological, religious, or chauvinistic interests more it does than the public—and to suggest ways journalists can avoid falling into these “promise-traps”.
Lunch session 7: Global uncertainties: Security for all in a changing world (Lunch will be served at this event)
Producer & Chair Kaianders Sempler, Editor, Ny Teknik
Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 13.15 to 14.15
Speakers George Claassen, Founding Director, Sceptic South Africa (SSA)
Session sponsored by: Research Councils UK, Global Uncertainties Research Programme
Wolfgang Goede, Science News Editor, P.M./Knowledge Matters magazine
James Cornell, President, International Science Writers Association (ISWA)
Lunch session 6: An AIDS vaccine: Mission impossible? (Lunch will be served at this event) Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 13.15 to 14.15
Room: Donald English
Session sponsored by: International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) Since the discovery of HIV as the cause of AIDS some 25 years ago, a vaccine to prevent people from infection with this formidable virus remains elusive. One of the main reasons is HIV itself. The virus is able to outsmart
Room: George Thomas
Security, conflict and justice are linked. Security operates at multiple levels, from the individual to the global and covers a wide range of issues. The Research Councils’ Global Uncertainties programme will integrate and support multidisciplinary research across the science and engineering base on conflict, crime, terrorism, environmental stress, and global poverty to: • Generate new knowledge about how these issues present novel security risks to the UK and globally; • Develop understanding about how these issues interrelate in a complex, interdependent world; and • Better understand how security threats develop, and how they might be predicted, detected, prevented and mitigated Speakers Jonathan Githens-Mazer, Co-Director, Exeter Centre for Ethno-Political Studies
Saskia Walcott, Head of Communications, ESRC
Lunch session 8: The $1,000 genome is coming: Are we ready? (Lunch will be served at this event) Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 13.15 to 14.15
Room: Robert Perks
Session sponsored by: Oxford Nanopore Technologies 65
What scientific, ethical and legal issues will we be reporting and how will science journalists work with nonscientific colleagues on these subjects? Chair Mark Henderson, Science Editor, The Times
Speakers Kevin Davies, Editor-inChief, Bio IT World
The session will explore how this relationship can be improved. It will debate the practical challenges for each community, and showcase techniques used by DFID funded researchers to communicate science, creating a win-win situation for both parties. Chair Chris Whitty, Head of DFID Research, Department for International Development (DFID) Speakers Alexandra Hyde, TARGETS Health Research Consortium Lazarus Laizer, Habari Maalum Media, Tanzania
Wayne Myslik, PANOS Relay Susanna Thorpe, WrenMedia
Christopher Hood, Chair, Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Lunch session 9: Friendship or Friction: How the media relates to the research community (Lunch will be served at this event) Date: Thursday 2 July Time: 13.15 to 14.15 nd
Room: Maurice Barnett
Session sponsored by: Department for International Development (DFID) The relationship between the media and the academic science community is seldom easy. The media, academics argue, do not engage with ‘proper’ science and when they do, they over-simplify and distort the research. Academics, retort the media, cannot communicate clearly, do not understand how the media works, and are unwilling to engage with journalists in real time. The truth lies somewhere in-between. Academic research is often difficult to access; researchers have no incentives or reward for communicating with the media; and journalists do not have the resources to find it and translate it for their specific audiences.
Press Briefings and Fringe Events 7: Meet the European CDC – a source of data, comment and analysis for science journalists (No lunch will be served at this event, please eat prior to this session in the exhibition hall) Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 13.30 to 14.30
Room: Media room
Session sponsored by: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Since becoming operational in 2005 the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has worked on diseases ranging from “bird flu” to XDR-Tuberculosis and from Chikungunya Fever to Clostridium difficile. The Centre is currently deeply involved in supporting the EU’s response to the new H1N1 influenza virus. Ben Duncan is ECDC’s Corporate Communications Officer and a member of WHO’s IHR Risk Communication Working Group. Ben will present ECDC’s work, explain the services it offers journalists and answer questions. Speaker Ben Duncan, Corporate Communications Officer, ECDC
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25-1A: How to start up a science media centre.. and keep it running in top gear (No lunch will be served at this event, please eat prior to this session in the exhibition hall) Date: Thursday 2 July Time: 13.30 to 14.30 nd
Room: John Tudor
Science media centres are proving to be very effective mechanisms for injecting evidence-based science into public debate. Independent, fast-responding and news savvy, they provide a “public good� service that ensures the public has access to the best information available on the most important issues of the day. Centres are operating in the U.K., Australia and N.Z., a fourth is about to open in Canada, and others are being discussed in Africa. If you want to start a Science Media Centre in your country or want to know how to take advantage of an existing centre, this session is for you. Producer Peter Calamai, Consultant, Canada Foundation for Innovation Speakers Lyndal Byford, Media Manager, Science Media Centre, Australia Susannah Eliott, CEO, Australian Science Media Centre
Peter Griffin, Founding Manager, New Zealand Science Media Centre Penny Park, Science Media Centre, Canada
Fiona Fox, Director, UK Science Media Centre
Press Briefings and Fringe Events 8: Nanotechnology: Addressing the risks, fulfilling the promise Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 14.30 to 15.30
Room: Media room
Session sponsored by: European Commission, Directorate General Research Key European scientists and industry representatives will brief participants on exciting new nanotechnology applications from European research in the field of healthcare, environmental technologies and
sustainable industrial production. They will also illustrate European strategies on risk assessment and safety issues of nanotechnology. Speakers James Callow, University of Birmingham (UK) Hans Enggrob, DHI Water Environment Health (DK) Bengt Fadeel, Karolinska Intitutet (SE)
Costas Kiparissides, Centre for Research & Technology (GR) Athanasios Konstandopoulos, (GR) Paul Reip, Intrinsiq Materials Ltd (UK)
Hans Hofstraat, VP, Philips Research (NL)
26: Embargoes in science reporting: Friend or foe? Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
Room: Robert Perks
Few issues provoke such impassioned debate as the issue of Embargoes in science reporting. Some science journalists are increasingly angry about what they see as ever more draconian sanctions on journalists for minor infringements of embargoes. Some others are angry that that science journals are wrongly labelling genuine scoops as embargo breaks and thus imposing unjustified sanctions. Science Press officers are angry that journalists complain about embargoes when the embargo is their property and one of the very few aspects of control they have over the story coming from their institution/journal. And now a leading US academic has written a book arguing that the entire system is having a corrupting influence on investigative and critical journalism and science journalists should collectively withdraw from the embargo agreements with journal publishers.
In the spirit of the WCSJ, Fiona Fox has brought together all sides of this lively and passionate debate to have no holds barred discussion of all the issues involved..wear a hard hat! Producer & Chair Fiona Fox, Director, Science Media Centre, UK
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Speakers John Davidson, Head of communications, UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation Richard Horton, Editorin-Chief, The Lancet
Vincent Kiernan, Associate Dean, Georgetown University Geoff Watts, Presenter, BBC Radio 4, science programme Leading Edge
During the session ESO’s Best Cancer Reporter Awards will be presented to the 2009 winners. Producer Kathy Redmond, European School of Oncology Speakers Franco Cavalli, Director, The Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI) Stella Kyriakides, President, Europa Donna – The European Breast Cancer Coalition Michael Richards, National Cancer Director, NHS England
Chair Sarah Boseley, Health Editor, The Guardian
Phil Thomson, Vice President, Corporate Media Relations, GlaxoSmithKine plc Axel Ullrich, Director, Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biology Pawel Walewski, Medical Journalist, Polityka
27: Reporting cancer breakthroughs: Striking the right note Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
Room: Donald English
Session sponsored by: European School of Oncology The media plays a pivotal role in raising awareness about cancer and promoting informed debate about improving treatment and care. However, the quality of coverage is often poor - particularly the reporting of cancer breakthroughs. Cancer is a challenging topic to cover well. Journalists often face problems in accessing accurate information, finding credible sources and resisting the pressure to sensationalise stories. This session will explore how journalists can report cancer breakthroughs in a more balanced manner.
28: Breakonomics, did careless reporting precipitate the global crisis? Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
Room: George Thomas
So we now know that top dogs in the banking sector should have paid more attention in maths class and maybe taken a compulsory lesson in ethical business practices. But what about claims that many reporters’ understanding of the crisis is less than perfect and this compounds the situation? Are hyperinflated reports of the latest downturn doing more harm than good, or could (preemptive?) optimism in the media really save the economy? And would specialist science correspondents, with their ‘superior grasp’ of probabilities, risk and mathematical modelling, have covered the crisis differently? Producer Simon Levey, Science Media Centre, UK Speakers Tim Harford, Columnist & Editorial Writer, The Financial Times Nigel Hawkes, Founder, Straight Statistics
Chair Staphanie Flanders, Economics Editor, BBC
Timothy Johnson, RCUK Academic Fellow in Financial Mathematics, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh
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29: Heartbreak and hype: The only way to sell an engineering story
30: Climate change coverage: The messy marriage of science, policy, and politics
Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 14.30 to 16.00
Room: Maurice Barnett
Room: Great Hall
Can you use the end of the world to sell a story? The switch-on of CERN’s Large Hadron Collider took the world’s media by storm in September 2008 after rumours started to circulate that it could generate tiny black holes. Physicists and engineers were confident that, even if this happened, these would disappear instantaneously and could not grow to swallow up the Earth, but the myth persisted and even resulted in a court case against CERN. How far can journalists and press officers collude to raise interest in otherwise standard stories? Or, when exhaustive safety assessments had already shown the risk of disaster to be negligible, was it legitimate gratefully to ride the wave of publicity? The session will also ask: who needs media stunts when you can ride a comet and crash into the Sun?; and does it take a disaster to get engineers into the media?
In 2009, global climate change heats up on the international stage. The United Nations will attempt to hammer out a new international treaty to curb greenhouse gas emissions, culminating in the Copenhagen meeting in December. The world will be watching for a strong signal from the new American President and Congress that the United States is ready to move forward after eight years of inaction by the Bush Administration. At the same time, the issue of climate change has enormous competition from other global issues, from an economic meltdown to food shortages. How well are the media in the U.S., Europe and other parts of the world doing in covering the science and policy choices? Or are journalists just falling into old patterns by emphasizing the drama and covering climate change like a political horse race?
Producer Jane Sutton, Communications Manager, Royal Academy of Engineering
Producer & Chair Cristine Russell, President, Council for the Advancement of Science Writing
Speakers James Gillies, Head of Communication, CERN Richard Knight, Director, Mission21
Chair Jonathan Glancey, Architecture Correspondent, The Guardian
Scott Steedman, Vice President, Royal Academy of Engineering
Speakers Richard Black, Environment Correspondent, BBC News Maxwell Boykoff, Research Fellow and Departmental Lecturer, Environmental Change Institute and School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University
Andrew C. Revkin, Environment Reporter, The New York Times
Plenary 5: Science based policy making: Advising Government Date: Thursday 2nd July Time: 16.30 to 17.30
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Room: Great Hall
The United States has until recently ignored scientific advice when it was inconvenient to the Administration’s political priorities, particularly on environmental issues. Conversely the European Union is proposing tightening environmental regulations that will do more harm than good because policy making has been based more on political correctness rather than scientific analysis. The UK has had a Chief Scientific Adviser since 1964, in Ireland the post has existed since 2004. In other regions no specific post exists but advice on scientific issues is taken from those who head national scientific institutions, such as the Science & Technology Park in Qatar. Does the establishment of a specific post ensure science has a stronger influence in policy making or do the policy makers look to scientists to ‘back up’ their chosen
policy decisions? Pallab Ghosh, President of the World Federation of Science Journalists and BBC News Science Correspondent will lead a lively discussion to close London’s World Conference of Science Journalists. Producers Julie Clayton, Co-Director, WCSJ2009 Sallie Robins, Co-Director, WCSJ2009 Speakers John Beddington, Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA), UK Government Patrick Cunningham, Chief Scientific Adviser, Irish Government
Chair Pallab Ghosh, President, World Federation of Science Journalists and Science Correspondent, BBC News
Tidu Maini, Executive Chairman, Qatar Science & Technology Park
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Post Conference Trips Please note that trips should be booked in advance. If you would like to attend a trip and have not pre-booked, please ask at the conference registration desk.
There is an abundance of reporting opportunities for those still itching to find more stories after the main conference ends. From Friday 3rd July there are trips for delegates to visit a selection of top scientific institutions around the UK, The Netherlands, France and Switzerland. The trips are a fantastic
opportunity to see scientists at work, discuss with research teams their progress and hopes for the future, and sample more of the delights of the host countries. Our seed funder, the Royal Society, also invites delegates to visit the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2009, where media-friendly scientists from around the UK are showcasing some of the very best of UK scientific research.
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British Antarctic Survey & Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge www.antarctica.ac.uk | www.darwinendlessforms.org Hot Topics...Cool Science... Understanding the Polar Regions is crucial for advancing knowledge of key global issues such as climate change and biodiversity. Scientists from the world-leading British Antarctic Survey have, for over 60 years, undertaken a programme of scientific research, survey and long-term observations in the Earth’s greatest natural laboratory. Evidence from its investigations into ozone depletion, climate change, and biodiversity have influenced international environmental policy and highlighted the
relevance of the Polar Regions to society. Researchers will describe key findings from BAS research and discuss the implications for governments, business and society at large. Short tour facilities included in the visit. In the ‘year of Darwin’, a ground-breaking exhibition at The Fitzwilliam Museum opens up an entirely new perspective on the wider impact of Darwin’s legacy. The exhibition’s curator, Jane Munro, will lead a tour of exhibition highlights or guide delegates through the exhibits and themes according to specialism and interest, as well as taking questions.
CERN, ESRF and ILL – European laboratories of the Alps (4-6 July) www.cern.ch | www.esrf.eu | www.ill.eu
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Delegates to arrange transport to London Gatwick airport. Transport, accommodation and food will be provided in return for a contribution of 150 Euro (waived for scholars). Travel is from London Gatwick airport to Geneva, and then from Geneva to Grenoble by bus before returning to London Gatwick or Heathrow. N.B. A minimum of 10 delegates is required for the trip to go ahead. Caution: The UK and mainland Europe require separate visas. So if you want to join the excursion to the CERN, Switzerland and the ESRF and ILL in France, please check visa requirements with the conference office if you would like to attend this trip. A two-day excursion, which takes in three world-leading research labs - CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) in Geneva and the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) and the ILL (Institut Laue-Langevin) in Grenoble. Journalists will leave for Geneva in the evening of 4th July for an extensive tour of the world-famous particle physics research institute, CERN, the following day. They will transfer to Grenoble that evening to visit ESRF and ILL on 6th July. Here, 5000 scientists every year use the complementary tools of neutrons and Xrays, respectively, for groundbreaking research in many disciplines, notably new materials and life sciences.
Delft University Water Research Centre www.water.tudelft.nl The Dutch are well known for the innovative ways we use to defend ourselves from intruding water. Our Deltaworks, polders, dikes and the Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier are well known world wide, as are our civil engineers. A little less known perhaps is that we are also very good at making our tap water drinkable. Our tap water is considered to be of the highest quality in the world, without us using - for example - chlorine in the treatment process. To show off our expertise in both fields we aim to visit both the Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier and the water filtration plant in the dunes of Scheveningen during this post-conference trip. Engineers of Delft University of Technology will present the ins and outs of both projects on site and in the bus.
Fusion, Materials, the Environment and Much More. Inspiring Science (and Oxford) Diamond Light Source: www.diamond.ac.uk Central Laser Facility: www.clf.rl.ac.uk ISIS: www.isis.rl.ac.uk JET (Joint European Torus): www.jet.efda.org
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World-class science in the Oxfordshire countryside Oxfordshire has been at the forefront of the UK’s scientific research activity for over 50 years. To illustrate the amazing diversity and significance of Oxfordshire based science facilities, four research establishments will open their doors to delegates of the WCSJ on Friday 3rd July. Visitors will get to see behind the scenes at each facility and there will also be an informal evening reception in the nearby city of Oxford. During each tour, and during the evening reception, journalists will have the opportunity to speak to scientists about their latest research work so there will be plenty of scope for science stories during the event. The trip will include visits to: Diamond Light Source, the UK’s new synchrotron science facility, JET, Europe’s premier fusion research facility, Central Laser Facility, ISIS, the world-leading neutron and muon Source.
Visitors to LGC’s headquarters in Teddington, South West London, will have the opportunity to meet scientists from across LGC’s four business areas. These will include our forensic experts who recover DNA from items retrieved from a crime scene and our toxicologists who will show you an example of various drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as our scientists who analyse nutrients, nut allergens and aflatoxins, for example, in food, and pesticide and veterinary residues from our food and drink. Our mass spectrometry team can show you their impressive selection of equipment used to monitor the presence and concentration of a huge range of chemicals in almost any material. Recent examples of our work include counterfeit drug detection, cocaine on bank notes and poisonous metals in plastics. Find out how our scientists in LGC Standards help laboratories maintain the quality and safety of the foods you eat, the medicines you take and the water you use. Come and meet our colleagues from LGC’s most international division, whose products and services impact on many aspects of everyday life. The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) www.oceanography.ac.uk The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) is a collaborative institution owned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the University of Southampton. NOCS is based at a purpose-built waterside campus and is home to some 520 research scientists, lecturing support and seagoing staff, as well over 750 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The centre is the national focus for oceanography in the UK with a remit to achieve scientific excellence in its own right as one of the world’s top five oceanographic research institutions.
LGC www.lgc.co.uk LGC is an international science-based company and market leader in analytical, forensic and diagnostic services and reference standards. LGC operates internationally through four divisions * LGC Forensics, Life & Food Sciences, LGC Standards and Research & Technology, which includes specialist laboratories delivering contracts under the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and supporting LGC’s designated role as the UK’s National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalysis.
NOCS delivers a diverse mission, which includes managing the national research vessel fleet, which includes RRS James Cook and RRS Discovery and other major facilities, such as the Autosub6000 autonomous underwater vehicle and Isis submersible. It carries out programmes of strategic research for NERC, and delivers academic research and education in ocean and earth sciences in support of the University’s mission. The centre’s activities also encompass major ocean technology development, long-term observations, managing international science programmes, promoting enterprise and knowledge transfer, providing advice to Government, business and NGOs, and the engagement between science and society.
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Norwich Research Park
Rothamsted Research
Institute of Food Research: www.ifr.ac.uk John Innes Centre including Genome Analysis Centre: www.jic.ac.uk The Sainsbury Laboratory: www.tsl.ac.uk University of East Anglia: www.uea.ac.uk
www.rothamsted.ac.uk | www.bbsrc.ac.uk
The home of purple tomatoes, superbroccoli and the world’s first low carbon beer. A chance for a heads-up on future stories on food, health, plant genetics and environmental science. For example in 2006, JIC reported a step towards transferring the ability of peas to feed themselves to other major crops such as rice. If rice was able to produce its own nitrogen, it would do away with the need for nitrogen fertilizers - currently responsible for half of the fossil fuel usage of agriculture. Key research areas: food allergy, healthy aging, preventing cancer through diet, climate change, food security, sustainable agriculture. Some highlights: Pharming – generating antibiotics and vaccines from plants and microbes. Low carbon research to develop products and services. Model gut – the launch was an Associated Press exclusive. A model that can be fed real food. The only one available worldwide that models both the physical processes and biochemical environment of the gut. Food waste – in collaboration with Lotus cars, IFR is developing transport fuel generated from food waste. Low fat feel-good foods - we are researching ways to produce foods that give all the pleasure of high-fat foods but with less fat. Also foods that help to suppress appetite. Tipping Elements research was covered worldwide in 2008 and awarded Research Project of the Year by the Times Higher
Rothamsted Research is the world’s oldest agricultural research station. The Institute, based at Harpenden just outside of London, is one of the world’s leading crop and agricultural research centre. Scientists at Rothamsted Research are contributing to research in areas such as climate change, food security and international development. Long term experiments at Rothamsted, dating back over 150 years, have enabled scientists to track the effect of pollution, nuclear fall out, fertilizers and climate change on the crops that the world relies on. The Institute also has an extensive programme of collaboration with scientists in the developing world. The trip to Rothamsted Research will combine an opportunity to hear about the heritage and history of this picturesque research station together with its latest cutting edge research. Journalists will have the chance to hear from, talk to and meet scientists working on highlights including food sustainability in developing countries, mosquito research, insect tracking, fungicides, sustainable bio energy, large scale field trials and to tour the research farm. Lunch and the opportunity to network and build contacts with Institute scientists will also be provided. Rothamsted Research is an Institute of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which is sponsoring the trip. BBSRC is sponsoring a workshop before the conference on food security and this trip will also offer the opportunity to discuss those issues in greater detail with researchers.
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, London www.summerscience.org.uk Exclusive private viewing opportunity for conference delegates who attend the breakfast session at the Royal Society on Wednesday 1st July 8.30am9.30am. All conference delegates are invited to attend this breakfast session free of charge. This year the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition isn’t just an opportunity to marvel at the smart thinking that’s shaping the world around us, it’s a brilliant chance for you to meet and fire questions at the scientists behind the research.
We’ve got over 20 fascinating, diverse and interactive exhibits. Fields of study range from how fluorescent fish could provide better understanding of human diseases, to a chewing robot that can help us develop dental technology, to how new space missions could help to unlock the history of the universe. The people responsible for this work, and many more, will be there for you to grill. 75
Public opening hours are: Tuesday 30th June 2009: 10.00-21.00 (last entry: 20.30) Wednesday 1st July 2009 to Saturday 4th July 2009: 10.00-17.00 (last entry: 16.30) Please note that last entry is 30 minutes before closing time on each day.
Imperial College, South Kensington, London www.imperial.ac.uk Imperial College London is consistently acknowledged as one of the top three UK universities for research, with about 3,000 researchers of the highest international quality based in central London. Our ground-breaking research at the frontiers of scientific, engineering, business and medical knowledge frequently features across the international media. Recent examples include our teams of scientists working on infectious diseases and global pandemics, novel sources of biofuels from plants, and new advances in bioengineering. This trip is an excellent opportunity for you to find new stories and contacts, by meeting some of our leading academics and finding out more about their research.
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Index of Producers, Chairs & Speakers
All Conference producers, chairs and speakers are listed here with the code(s) of the session(s) they are involved in. The relevant page number for each session is also listed so that you can look up producers, chairs and speakers within the main programme.
A-B Sara Abdulla: Session 10-2A (p.54), Breakfast session 2 (p.61) Andrea Alunni: Workshop 7 (p.40) Gonzalo Argandona: Session 7 (p.50) Alain Aspect: Workshop 6 (p.39) Alexander Abutu Augustine: Session 6 (p.50) Iain M. Banks: Session 11 (p.55) Elspeth Bartlet: Workshop 10 (p.42) John Beddington: Plenary 5 (p.69), Session 8 (p.80) Nancy Bell: Workshop 11 (p.43), Paul Benkimoun: Session 23 (p.63) Mike Bevan: Workshop 2 (p.36) Krishna Bharat: Plenary 1 (p.45) Claire Bithell: Workshop 10 (p.42) Richard Black: Session 30 (p.68) Colin Blakemore: Session 4 (p.46), Plenary 2 (p.47) Deborah Blum: Workshop 10 (p.42), Session 6 (p.50) Boakye Boatin: Lunch session 1 (p.52) Derek Bodell: Lunch session 1 (p.52) John Bohannon: Workshop: Podcast (p.49 & 62) Leszek Borysiewicz: Session 16 (p.57) Sarah Boseley: Session 27 (p.67) Maxwell Boykoff: Session 30 (p.68) Michael Brennan: Lunch session 1 (p.52) Craig Brierley: Workshop 4 (p.38) Shannon Brownlee: Session 6 (p.50) Geoff Brumfiel: Session 3 (p.46) Declan Butler: Session 21 (p.62) Lyndal Byford: Session 4 (p.46), Session 25-1A (p.66) C Peter Calamai: Session 14 (p.56), Session 25-1A (p.66), James Callow: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 8 (p.66) Philip Campbell: Session 3 (p.46) Bruno Canard: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 3 (p.54) Linda Capper: Workshop 10 (p.42) Fatima Cardoso: Press Briefings and Fringe Events 3 (p.54) Damian Carrington: Plenary 3 (p.49) May Cassar: Workshop 11 (p.43) Franco Cavalli: Session 27 (p.67) Rory Cellen-Jones: Workshop 9 (p.41) Matthew Chalmers: Session 22 (p.63) Laura Chang: Plenary 4 (p.62) George Claassen: Session 25 (p.64) Michel Claessens: Workshop 10 (p.42) Julie Clayton: Plenary 2 (p.47), Plenary 5 (p.69) Andrew Cohen: Session 7 (p.50) Stewart Cole: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 3 (p.54) Gordon Conway: Session 8 (p.50) Clive Cookson: Session 24 (p.63) Suzanne Corbeil: Plenary 2 (p.47)
James Cornell: Session 25 (p.64) Paddy Coulter: Session 15 (p.56) Ian Crute: Workshop 2 (p.36) Patrick Cunningham: Plenary 5 (p.69)
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D Wilson Da Silva: Breakfast session 2 (p.61) John Davidson: Session 26 (p.66) Kevin Davies: Lunch session 8 (p.65) Nick Davies: Session 1 (p.45) Giovanni De Santi: Workshop 7 (p.40) Brian Deer: Session 18 (p.58) Simon Denegri: Session 13 (p.55) David Derbyshire: Session 9 (p.51) David Dickson: Session 10 (p.51) Jennifer Dodd: Workshop 6 (p.39), Plenary 2 (p.47) Peter Donnelly: Workshop 4 (p.38) Tommaso Dorigo: Session 22 (p.63) Gordon Dougan: Workshop 4 (p.38) Chris Drakeley: Workshop 4 (p.38) Paul Drayson: Session 10-1A (p.51) Ben Duncan: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 7 (p.65) Zoe Dunford: Session 8 (p.50) Matin Durrani: Session 22 (p.63) E-F Nadia El-Awady: Workshop 10 (p.42), Session 5 (p.47) Susannah Eliott: Session 14 (p.56), Session 25-1A (p.66) Joseph Emerson: Workshop 6 (p.39) Hans Enggrob: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 8 (p.66) Bengt Fadeel: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 8 (p.66) James Fahn: Workshop 1 (p.35) Gustavo Faleiros: Workshop 1 (p.35), Session 21 (p.62) Tom Feilden: Session 16 (p.57) Stephanie Flanders: Session 28 (p.67) Jean Marc Fleury: Session 6 (p.50) Cristiane Fontes: Session 15 (p.56) John Foulkes: Workshop 2 (p.36) Fiona Fox: Session 1 (p.45), Session 10-1A (p.51), Session 14 (p.56), Session 16 (p.57), Session 25-1A (p.66), Session 26 (p.66) Ruth Francis: Session 5 (p.47) Daniel Franklin: Session 19 (p.58) G Sarah Garner: Session 24 (p.63) Pallab Ghosh: Plenary 5 (p.69) James Gillies: Session 22 (p.63), Session 29 (p.68) Aidan Gilligan: Workshop 7 (p.40) Jake Gilmore: Workshop 11 (p.43) Jonathan Githens-Mazer: Lunch session 7 (p.64) Jonathan Glancey: Session 29 (p.68) Eric Glover: Session 23 (p.63)
Wolfgang Goede: Session 25 (p.64) Ben Goldacre: Session 13 (p.55) Matt Goode: Workshop 2 (p.36) Will Goodlad: Session 10-2A (p.54) Mike Granatt: Session 15-1A (p.56) John Gribbin: Session 10-2A (p.54) Peter Griffin: Session 14 (p.56), Session 25-1A (p.66) Nalaka Gunawardene: Session 9 (p.51), Session 17 (p.58) Jamie Guth: Lunch session 1 (p.52) H Ben Hammersley: Plenary 1 (p.45), Breakfast session 2 (p.61) Abdelali Haoudi: Lunch session 3 (p.53) Rod Harbinson: Session 15 (p.56) James Harding: Plenary 4 (p.62) Tim Harford: Session 28 (p.67) Roger Harrabin: Session 15 (p.56) Vera Hassner Sharav: Session 24 (p.63) Nigel Hawkes: Session 28 (p.67) Franรงois Heinderyckx: Session 23 (p.63) Mark Henderson: Lunch session 8 (p.65) Luc Hermann: Session 18 (p.58) Nick Higham: Plenary 1 (p.45) Roger Highfield: Session 10-1A (p.51) Phil Hilts: Workshop 9 (p.41), Session 10 (p.51) Annie Hoban: Workshop 10 (p.42) Hans Hofstraat: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 8 (p.66) Christopher Hood: Lunch session 8 (p.65) Richard Horton: Session 26 (p.66) Robert Lee Hotz: Plenary 4 (p.62) Bethan Hughes: Workshop 5 (p.38) Saleemul Huq: Workshop 1 (p.35), Session 15 (p.56) Alexandra Hyde: Lunch session 9 (p.51) I-J John Ilman: Session 24 (p.63) Aisling Irwin: Breakfast session 2 (p.61), Workshop 3 (p.37) Andrew Jack: Session 13 (p.55), Lunch session 6 (p.64) Alok Jha: Session 4 (p.46), Workshop 7 (p.40) Timothy Johnson: Session 28 (p.67) K Liz Kalaugher: Workshop 1 (p.35) Ian Katz: Session 10 (p.42) Fred Kavli: Plenary 2 (p.47) Douglas Kell: Workshop 2 (p.36) Charles Kelly: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 3 (p.54) David Kerr: Lunch session 3 (p.53) Sabina Khoza: Session 8 (p.50) Vincent Kiernan: Session 26 (p.66)
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David King: Plenary 3 (p.49) Costa Kirparissides: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 8 (p.66) Richard Knight: Session 29 (p.68) Wayne Koff: Lunch session 6 (p.64) Ralph Kohn: Plenary 2 (p.47) Athanasios Konstandopoulos: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 8 (p.66) Annette Kuesel: Lunch session 1 (p.52) Stella Kyriakides: Session 27 (p.67) L Ray Laflamme: Workshop 6 (p.39) Lazarus Laizer: Lunch session 9 (p.65) Richard Lane: Session 12 (p.55) Graham Lawton: Breakfast session 2 (p.61) Mike Lazaridis: Plenary 2 (p.47) Annmarie Leadman: Lunch session 1 (p.52) Jeremy Leggett: Workshop 7 (p.40) David Leigh: Session 18 (p.58) Simon Levey: Session 28 (p.67) Anna Lewcock: Session 10-2A (p.54) Hujun Li: Workshop 9 (p.41), Session 10 (p.51), Session 17 (p.58) Natasha Loder: Session 10-2A (p.54), Plenary 4 (p.62) Malcolm Love: Workshop 3 (p.37) Jan Lublinski: Workshop 3 (p.37) Patrick Luganda: Session 15 (p.56) Naomi Luxford: Workshop 11 (p.43) Rob Lyons: Session 15-1A (p.56) M David Mabey: Workshop 4 (p.38) Gavin MacFadyen: Session 18 (p.58) Colin Macilwain: Session 24 (p.63) Tidu Maini: Plenary 5 (p.69) John Martin: Session 10-1A (p.51) Ehsan Masood: Session 2 (p.45) Luisa Massarani: Workshop 1 (p.45) John Matlock: Workshop 6 (p.39), Plenary 2 (p.47) Robert May: Session 12 (p.55) Paul McAuley: Session 11 (p.55) Becky McCall: Workshop 3 (p.37), Session 24 (p.63) Mark McCarthy: Workshop 4 (p.38) Christine McGourty: Session 2 (p.45) Peter McIntyre: Workshop 8 (p.41) Lisa Melton: Workshop 5 (p.38) Jenni Metcalfe: Workshop 1 (p.35) Stephen Minger: Session 16 (p.57) Steve Mirsky: Workshop 9 (p.41) Gareth Mitchell: Workshop 3 (p.37) John Mitchell: Workshop 1 (p.35) Martin Moore: Session 13 (p.55) Oliver Morton: Session 11 (p.55)
Yukiko Motomura: Session 6 (p.50) Thomas Muster: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 3 (p.54) Wayne Myslik: Lunch session 9 (p.65) N-P Gautam Naik: Session 5 (p.47) Esther Nakkazi: Session 15 (p.56) Jeff Nesbit: Plenary 1 (p.45) Jonica Newby: Session 7 (p.50) Liz Newton: Session 7 (p.50) Miles O’Brien: Session 3 (p.46) Sonia O’Connor: Workshop 11 (p.43) Terry O’Donovan: Lunch session 3 (p.53) Diran Onifade: Session 4 (p.46) Heinz Ossenbrink: Workshop 7 (p.40) Willem Ouwehand: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 3 (p.54) Becky Owens: Lunch session 1 (p.52) Jeanne P. Goldberg: Session 20 (p.59) Kumar Pachauri: Plenary 3 (p.49) James Painter: Session 15 (p.56) Philippe Pajot: Session 5 (p.47), Session 23 (p.63) Penny Park: Session 25-1A (p.66) Rosanna Peeling: Workshop 4 (p.38) André Picard: Workshop 10 (p.42), Session 6 (p.50) Heather Pillans: Workshop 2 (p.36) Jacques Poncins: Session 23 (p.63) Don Powell: Workshop 4 (p.38) R Tim Radford: Session 5 (p.47), Session 12 (p.55), Session 17 (p.58) Frank Raes: Workshop 7 (p.40) James Randerson: Session 2 (p.45), Session 18 (p.58) Chris Rapley: Workshop 1 (p.35) Kathy Redmond: Session 27 (p.67) Martin Rees: Workshop 6 (p.39) Paul Reip: Press Briefings & Fringe Events 8 (p.66) Michael Reiss: Session 2 (p.45) John Rennie: Session 10 (p.51), Session 19 (p.58), Breakfast session 2 (p.61), Plenary 4 (p.62) Andrew C.Revkin: Session 30 (p.68) Michael Richards: Session 27 (p.67) Sallie Robins: Plenary 1 (p.45), Plenary 5 (p.69) Valeria Roman: Session 3 (p.46), Session 23 (p.63) Pamela Ronald: Session 8 (p.50) Juliana Rotich: Workshop 9 (p.41), Session 10 (p.51) Sylvia Rowe: Session 20 (p.50) Cristine Russell: Session 3 (p.46), Session 30 (p.68) Geoff Ryman: Session 11 (p.55) S Jonathan Sanderson: Session 7 (p.50) Roland Schenkel: Plenary 3 (p.49)
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Julie Scholes: Workshop 2 (p.36) Christina Scott: Workshop 3 (p.37), Session 9 (p.51) Kaianders Sempler: Session 25 (p.64) Mike Shanahan: Workshop 1 (p.35), Session 15 (p.56) Chris Shaw: Session 16 (p.57) Javaid Sheikh: Lunch session 3 (p.53) David Shukman: Plenary 3 (p.49) Seth Shulman: Session 21 (p.62) Tom Siegrfried: Session 19 (p.58) Wilson Da Silva: Session 19 (p.58) Simon Singh: Workshop 6 (p.39) Laura Smillie: Session 20 (p.59) Chris Smith: Workshop: Podcast (p.49 & 62) Scott Steedman: Session 29 (p.68) Claudia Stein: Session 20 (p.59) Paul Stoffels: Session 24 (p.63) Richard Stone: Session 17 (p.58) Mike Stratton: Workshop 4 (p.38) Paul Sutherland: Session 9 (p.51) Jane Sutton: Session 29 (p.68) Ed Sykes: Session 15-1A (p.56) T Peter Tallack: Session 10-2A (p.54) Phil Thomson: Session 27 (p.67) Kip Thorne: Workshop 6 (p.39) Jacqui Thornton: Session 9 (p.51) Alan Thorpe: Lunch session 2 (p.52)
Susanna Thorpe: Lunch session 9 (p.65) John Travis: Workshop 3 (p.37), Session 21 (p.62) J. Rick Turner: Workshop 5 (p.38) Jon Turney: Session 22 (p.63) Neil Turok: Workshop 6 (p.39) U-Z Axel Ullrich: Session 27 (p.67) Fran Unsworth: Plenary 4 (p.62) Patrick Vittet-Philippe: Workshop 10 (p.42), Session 7 (p.50) Eva von Schaper: Workshop 5 (p.38) Anna Wagstaff: Workshop 8 (p.41) Saskia Walcott: Lunch session 7 (p.64) Pawel Walewski: Session 27 (p.67) Bob Ward: Workshop 1 (p.35), Plenary 3 (p.49) Geoff Watts: Lunch session 1 (p.52), Session 26 (p.66) Jeremy Webb: Session 19 (p.58) Robin Weiss: Lunch session 6 (p.64) Jon West: Workshop 2 (p.36) Chris Whitty: Lunch session 9 (p.65) Andrew Williams: Session 16 (p.57) Robyn Williams: Session 4 (p.46) Brendan Wren: Workshop 2 (p.36) Mohammed Yahia: Breakfast session 2 (p.61) Maureen Young: Workshop 11 (p.43) Anton Zeilinger: Workshop 6 (p.39)
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Notes
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Hotels
Social Events
Holiday Inn Kensington Forum 97 Cromwell Road, sw7 4dn t: +44 (0)870 400 9100 Nearest Tube: Gloucester Road
Natural History Museum Cromwell Road, sw7 5bd t: +44 (0)207 334 3922 Nearest Underground: South Kensington
Holiday Inn Bloomsbury Coram Street, wc1n 1ht t: +44 (0)871 942 9222 Nearest Underground Station: Russell Square
Science Museum Exhibition Road, South Kensington, sw7 2dd t: +44 (0)207 942 4446 Nearest Tube: South Kensington
Express Holiday Inn London Victoria 106-110 Belgrave Road Victoria, sw1v 2bj t: +44 (0)207 630 8888 Nearest Tube: Pimlico IBIS Earl’s Court 47 Lillie Road Earl’s Court, sw6 1ud t: +44 (0)207 610 0880 Nearest Tube: West Brompton Imperial College Halls Of Residence – Biet Prince Consort Road, sw7 2bb t: +44 (0)207 594 9908 Nearest Tube: South Kensington Imperial College Halls Of Residence – Southside Princes’ Gardens, sw7 1lu t: +44 (0)207 594 9438 Nearest Tube: South Kensington
Venue Central Hall Westminster Storey’s Gate, sw1h 9nh t: +44 (0)207 222 8010 Nearest Underground Station: Westminster The Royal Society 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, sw1y 5ag t: +44 (0)207 451 2211 Nearest Tube: Piccadilly or Charing Cross
Workshop Venues Royal Geographical Society 1 Kensington Gore, sw7 2ar t: +44 (0)207 591 3000 Nearest Underground Station: South Kensington Imperial College London Exhibition Road, South Kensington, sw7 2az t: +44 (0)207 589 5111 Nearest Underground Station: South Kensington Wellcome Trust Collection Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, nw1 2be t: +44 (0)207 611 8888 Nearest Underground: Euston Square
Association of British Science Writers
World Conference of Science Journalists 2009
World Federation of Science Journalists
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