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Call for Proposals - Scientific Session
Welcome to ESOF2006! We are delighted that you would like to propose a scientific session. Please read the proposal instructions below carefully and indicate that you have read them by ticking the box.
In the application process you can choose between the two following options:
- I would like to fill out the form and submit immediately: click here
(In this case, please note that you will not be able to access and alter your proposal after submission.)
- I would like to fill out the form, save the information and return to the proposal later: click here
(In this case, please register first by clicking here. After the registration you will shortly receive your personal login credentials allowing you to proceed with your submission.)
Proposal Criteria
Euroscience Open Forum 2006
New Research, New technology, New Thinking
Munich July 15-19, 2006
Call for proposals: Scientific Session
The Euroscience Open Forum 2006 (ESOF2006) is the 2nd Pan-European Meeting on science and research. Its motto is ‘ESOF2006 - New Research, New Technology, New Thinking’.
The main objectives of the meeting are:
- to present science and the humanities at the cutting-edge
- to serve as an open forum for debates on science
- to involve the general public with all the stakeholders in science-related issues
- to build bridges between science in Europe and in other parts of the world.
You are cordially invited to propose a session for the Euroscience Open Forum (www.esof2006.org).
Procedure criteria
All proposals will be reviewed and assessed by expert referees. When assessing the proposals they will pay special attention to:
- The quality of the proposal
- Its international perspective
- Its relevance to the objectives of the Open Forum
- Its originality
- Its degree of interdisciplinary interest
- Its potential to attract public/media interest
The deadline for proposal submission is June 15, 2005 at 24.00 hours. Decisions on proposals submitted on schedule will be announced in January 2006.
If your proposal is accepted, ESOF2006 will provide the venue, the overall organisation of the Forum and its overall marketing. However, session organizers can help in this process by promoting their session to their own contacts. Activities must be otherwise self-financed including contributors’ travels, accommodation and any organisational expenses. ESOF2006 assumes that you have taken or will take measures to cover all costs related to your proposal. You cannot apply to Euroscience or the ESOF2006 committees for financial support.
Proposal instructions
Proposals should include ALL of the following:
1. ESOF2006 theme under which the proposal is submitted and a general title
If the proposed session is intended for a particular theme (see proposed themes below) in the meeting, please indicate. You may not choose more than two themes simultaneously. It is preferable for applicants to choose a particular theme. Exceptionally, proposals outside the published themes may be considered. In this case, please specify under which newly formed thematic track the proposed session might be placed. To attract large participation sessions should feature cutting-edge science presented in a thought-provoking format. The Programme Committee also welcomes sessions that highlight the interdisciplinary mission of ESOF2006. Thus, ethical, social and legal aspects as well as science communication viewpoints can be included in session proposals under any theme.
Proposed themes:
1) Beyond Quantum mechanics and Relativity
2) Social Integration
3) Evolving Patterns of Disease
4) Science Policy in Europe and Beyond
5) Nanosciences and Nanotechnology
6) The Nature of Time
7) Dealing with Disasters
8) Ageing – Is it all bad news?
9) Science – Security and Safety
10) The Workings of the Brain
11) Evidence and Belief
12) Environment, Energy and Resources
13) The Fabric of Science
14) Digital Worlds
15) New Planets – New Worlds?
16) Epigenetics – From Genes to the Individual
17) What’s new in green or soft chemistry?
18) The Pervasive Nature of Mathematics
19) Other
2. Title of proposed session
Title of proposed activity: Please limit the title to no more than ten words. When choosing a title, please bear in mind that journalists and other meeting attendees are more likely to attend a session with an interesting and/or controversial title.
Synopsis: Provide a clear, succinct synopsis of the proposed activity of 200 to 250 words. Describe the subject of your proposed session, highlighting its relevance, the major questions and issues, controversies and where the field is headed. You should include provocative questions in your abstract. DO NOT list the speakers or summarise their presentations in the synopsis.
PLEASE NOTE:
ALL SYNOPSES WILL COME UNDER EDITORIAL SCRUTINY BY THE PROGRAMME COMMITTEE BEFORE INCLUSION IN THE PROGRAMME OF ESOF2006. THIS WILL NOT ALTER THE OVERALL CONTENT BUT MAY AFFECT THE PRESENTATION AND LENGTH ALL OF WHICH MUST CONFORM TO THE ESOF “HOUSE STYLE”. In case an important angle of your session has been lost in translation, please inform the ESOF Project Team.
3. Type of proposed session
Remember that the audience, which will include science journalists and policy makers is keenly interested but not necessarily knowledgeable in your particular field. Thus, it is important to think quite differently about the communication style and be prepared to change from the style you would use in a conventional scientific meeting. Contextualise as much as possible, open up and give ample time for questions, comments and debate. It is also important to create, if possible, a ‘lasting effect’, i.e. to plan a follow-up, distribute results, hand out summaries or post session details online.
Please describe your session: e.g.:
‘Pro’ and ‘con’ debate - Two speakers are involved. One is assigned to speak for a certain belief or viewpoint and the other speaker against. It is essential that there is a certain element of respectful dialogue in a session of this kind in order to bring the topic forward. The session should be moderated by a third person with strong communication skills.
Workshop - Could be on any topic. It may be practically oriented or have a more theoretical content. It should be led by someone experienced in stimulating exchanges of views, and there should be a large degree of preparation including work material if necessary.
Discussion - One to three speakers set the stage with brief (5 minutes) opening presentations. Each speaker should have a different perspective on the subject, e.g. industrial, philosophical, economic or moral points of view. Thereafter the floor is open to an interactive dialogue with the audience.
Lecture - A plenary talk by a distinguished scientist on a currently relevant topic in research or science policy.
Seminar – A session involving two to four speakers and an interactive educational dialogue with a participant audience.
Symposium - A session involving two to three speakers (if 1.15 hrs) or four to six speakers (if 2.5 hrs) with a broad audience addressed and a large attendance expected.
Other: It is also possible to choose any stimulating format that suits your proposal, but you must describe what you have in mind and give reasons why your chosen format is preferable to those listed above.
4. Organiser and co-organiser
Each organiser and co-organiser must give their name, institution, complete mailing address, telephone, fax, and email. If you or any participants are members of a Euroscience, please indicate. Each proposal must have only ONE individual designated as the Organiser. There should not be more than two Co-organisers. The Organiser deals with all the activity/organisational correspondence.
5. Session details
Target audience: Briefly describe the intended audience for your session. Is it the scientific community at large, industry, media, policy makers, students, teachers and/or the general public? Do you expect the session to be primarily general, discipline specific, or interdisciplinary? Indicate why you believe your proposal is of particular relevance for the aims of the open forum and how you propose to promote your session to contacts in your field.
Proposed session contributors: Provide a list of those you either have invited or intend to. For each, provide name, full address, telephone, fax, and e-mail. For each one, also provide a provisional presentation title and two to three sentences describing the proposed content or perspective of the expected presentation. This is crucial to the reviewers' understanding of why you propose these particular contributors. Lists of possible contributors and topics are discouraged. It is better to suggest a tentative list and a few possible alternates should one or more of your first choices decline. Finally, for each contributor please indicate if he/she has tentatively or definitely agreed to participate if the proposal is accepted. While recognizing that some changes will occur, the Programme Committee reserves the right to re-examine proposals where the final list of contributors results in a focus for the activity that differs substantially from that initially proposed.
Suggest referees: Suggest names of three possible referees who might be best suited to review the proposal. Please note that the individuals suggested will not necessarily be consulted.
6. Scheduling
Time requested (1.15 – 2.5 hours): You MUST indicate the amount of time requested for this activity. In general, the committee expects a 1.15-hour session to include two to three speakers. A 2.5-hour symposium should include four, but not more than six speakers. The final 15 minutes of 1.15 hour sessions and 30 minutes of 2.5-hour symposia is reserved for discussion. All 2.5-hour symposia will pause for a 10 min break after the first 1.15 hours. The Programme Committee reserves the right to accept proposals but alter the time allotted.
7. Additional information
Special needs and remarks: You can specify for instance special technical needs (e.g. video projector, beamer, etc.) or make other remarks regarding your proposal.
Please pay special attention to this:
1. Provide an explanation of how each speaker fits into your activity.
2. While it is acceptable to list discussion leaders or moderators who have not yet been contacted, please be sure that the names listed are names of persons from whom you can reasonably expect a commitment to participate.
3. Once a session is accepted, the organiser functions as the liaison to the ESOF Project Team on behalf of the activity. Incomplete proposals will not be considered.
Proposal submission
Submit your proposal on the website: www.esof2006.org.
Euroscience Open Forum 2006
If you have any questions regarding the application and peer-review procedure for scientific sessions, please contact
Euroscience Office
8, Rue des Écrivains
67000 Straßbourg
France
Tel.: +33 (3) 88 24 11 50
Fax: +33 (3) 88 24 75 56
E-Mail: proposalsESOF2006@euroscience.org
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