Cafe Cientific Meeting

We spoke with Mara and we can meet with her to discuss about the café Científico next TUESDAY @ 1:30.
Because we want to get this going soon, we should try to make a more definitive plan next week.

In our “agenda” we will have to decide on:

• final venue
• dates (for all the 3 cafes)
• speakers (Roser, Vincent, Isa, could you maybe already contact your speakers and get the topics and maybe a short description of what they want to discuss with the public?)
• dissemination
• a nice image or a logo…I’m not sure who is the most creative in the group J
• …so a little homework for all the people who want to get involved in the organization J did I forget something?

I booked ALTSUD but if it’s sunny (and warmer than today!) we can meet on the terrace.

Ciao

Michela

19th March S&S meeting summary

Summary of our wee meeting this afternoon, not much to tell but here goes:

Café Scientific:

• To do the café scientific in both bars and the library, was decided as it might attract a different audience in both places, helping us to reach a wider area of society.
• The advantages of the library are as follows: being free help to set up, advertise and pick the brains of those who have done it before.
• However there was concern about the which/ and the location of the library but these details will be arranged by the café scientifico sub-group individually, by emailing the library contact (Isabel (think?).
• The first three café scientificios will be held in April/ May and June.
• First one in the last week of April

2. Next Meeting:
• THURSDAY 27^th March 1:30pm in South Attic level 5
• Invited next week will be Mara, Eleanor Thompson, and Maurcha (Sorry for spelling!)
• Marucha (PRBB): in order to discuss the best way invite/ and inform the PRBB as a whole of the work we are doing and let people know they can participate and that this is not a closed doors initiative.
• It was decided that the best way to do this is probably via ellipse and the PRBB mailing list, in order to reach as many as possible, although this can be discussed further with the PRBB next week.
• Mara invited to discuss the café scientific, plans.
• Michela is going to email them to invite them and send the full proposal, for next week.

posted by Roni

12th March S&S meeting summary

We have basically talked about:

1. How to present the projects to the CRG: Right now we have a written "proposal" for all the projects (open day, café científico and interview series) except for the movie project of Solenn+Isa (they will do it today). The people in charge of every project should send a final version to Bruna Vives or Gloria Lligadas, who will reorganize all the project in a unique document. Very important: to calculate an estimate budget (for the projects that need it). Bruna or Gloria will give that document to Isabel Vernós or Juan Valcárcel, who will present it at the next Executive Committee meeting (Monday 17th of March).

2. Movies project: Solenn and Isa explained a bit the idea of their project. They also have the possibility to contact TV3 for getting the needed budget.

3. Café científico: Dani will talk to Mara, who is (among lots of other things) the president of ICuB (Institut de Cultura de Barcelona). This institution could help us in the publicity of the "café científico" activity and could also offer us the possibility to do it in the public libraries of Barcelona. Once we know exactly how they could help us, we will discuss the options. Another point was to do it in CCCB's bar (and then we may have publicity from CCCB as well). I could ask for that possibility and also other optional bars (closed to Pl.Universitat) and so, for the next meeting we can finally decided which will be the place for Café Científico activity.

I think that's all.

Next meetings:

- Wednesday 19th at 13:30h at the 5th floor terrace (if the weather is good, if not, let's go to Altell Sud :)) We realized yesterday that maybe we need another meeting before the one with Juan, Mara and Eleonor to specify a little bit more the projects... We didn't decide a date for next week meeting, but since is closed to Eastern, many people will be gone already on Thursday.

- Thursday 27th at 13:30 at Altell Sud: with Juan Valcárcel, Mara Dierssen and Eleonor Thopson

Que tingueu bon dia tots!

Roser

6th March S&S meeting summary

The main aim of the 6^th March meeting was to volunteer for some of the projects. So here are the projects, the people involved and the topics discussed (given that some of you were not there on this meeting, the doors are not closed …Don’t hesitate to join any of these…).

- Communication : Christoforos, Vincent, …

Get a contact with the Ellipse magazine (Maruxa Martinez : mmartinez@prbb.org)

…to get some space to be able to announce the different events we will set up.

…to present our S&S group, projects, expectations (I think Tobias (?) raised this idea a few weeks ago)

- Scientific cafés : Todos !!

…The website sent by Michela (http://cafescientifique.org/index.html) should learn us a lot about what exists, what are the different strategies, the different topics…

…the place ? It has been proposed to keep the Mantra (for the moment of “forever”) and investigate for possible places near Placa Universitad.

…Evreryone should be involved in this project, but it has been proposed (although I’m not sure at all it’s consensual…give me your feedbacks…) that a small group of people get dedicated to one specific subject to contact speakers and prepare all the documents they can propose to the rest of the group.

Subjects :

- Genetically Modified Food/Organism : Isabel proposed a speaker she already contacted (who prefers short presentation followed by participative debate, rather than a dual “for” versus “against”debate)

- Neurosciences (proposed speaker : Mara Dierssen) : to be discussed with Mara for a next meeting.

- Philosophy/BioEthics : (volunteers : RoserZ, Vincent)…contacts through Solenn and Isabel.

- Open Door : RoserP, Sylvain, Roni, Marija, Antoine

…Contact the CMIMA (via Elisabeth…see Solenn) to learn from their experience of such activities on the Placa Darwin (down the PRBB building).

…See what is already proposed by the PRBB/CRG, and how proposed ideas can be implemented.

- Sense about science :

Roni contacted her former association in UK to ask if translation in Spanish was possible.

- Movie : Isabel, Solenn, Vincent (?)

- Interviews series : Tobias, Uli (proposed), Vincent (?), Christoforos (cf mail)

Concerning these two later projects, a question was raised about the possibility to get benefit of the new PRBB TV to diffuse the images….

About the fundings,

Gloria and Bruna advised us to group all the fully described projects in one single big “Science&Society funding request”.

About the next meetings,
- Thursday, 13^th March, 21 P.M, at the Mantra ( www.myspace.com/barmantra ; C/salva 21 poble sec). For this meeting, every subgroup (/ project) should write a one page on the proposed project.
- Thursday, 20^th March : break (too close to Eastern)
- Thursday, 27^th March : 13:30, Sala Altell Sud, with the presence of :

Eleonor Thompson (Programme Coordinator, Continuing Professional Development, interested in our activities (notably cafes scientificos)
Juan Valcarcel : to hear opinions of a PI interested on our project, who was involved in the S&S committee in EMBL…
Mara Dierssen : to discuss about the Scientific Coffee on Neuroscience.

(Marija will send them an “invitation” with a brief explanation of our projects.)

Here it is,

See you,

antoine

Project Proposals - Main Guidelines

Bruna was very kind to give us an idea about how the Project Proposals should look like. Below there is a rough outline

---

- Project title

- Abstract: the project summary should answer in a clear and simple way the relevance of the project (why), the project objectives (what) and the project implementation (how)

- Relevance of the project: justify the necessity and relevance of the proposed activities

- Target public: who are the addressees of the proposed project?

- Objectives of the project: specify the objectives to be achieved with this project

- Implementation: specify how the proposed project will be implemented (phases) to achieve the objectives, the personnel involved in the different phases, resources required, etc. (a gantt chart might be useful, see template attached, this template should be simplified for smaller projects)

- Dissemination: how do you plan to disseminate the proposed project? Press releases, distribution lists, ads (where), web sites or thematic portals etc.

- Budget: give details and justification for the budget required to achieve the objectives of the project: personnel (profiles and time), external resources, material, dissemination costs, etc.

- Timetable: it should include the different phases of the project, including preparation, duration of project itself, follow-up etc. When it’s a series of events, the periodicity should be indicated

---

Interview project

Hi,
so the idea is to make intervies with leading scienctists in Europe, mainly for the sake of having video footage of them. This project is scalable, meaning we can start with the scientists of the CRG (prbb, Barcelona, Cataluna, Spain...) of course, depening on the funding body.
Basically, we would need:

1. A selection of scientists to interview
2. An interviewer (I suggest Uli, since she has got TV experience).
3. A set of questions to ask (along the lines: where do you come from, what do you do, where do you go)
4. A camera, cameraman, bluescreen, cutter
5. A platform to broadcast, also depending on who we are interviewing
6. People watching the interviews and deciding to do science/ come to the CRG/ join the group of the interviewed scientist,..

How to implement:
1. Wait for Bruna to send around a sample paper in form of executive report
2. Do detailed planing with people who are interested in joining the project
3. Bring all that in written form
4. Hand paper to administration and make them organize the money.

Sense about Science

Sense About Science- what I was gibbering on about…….

What:

Sense About Science (SaS) is a charity organisation set up in the UK to help the public understand the scientific issues that important to them in their lives.

http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php

Who:

SaS was set up by scientists early in their careers who were tired of the way science and the people who work were and are portrayed by the media. Run by a staff based in London and volunteers all over the UK who write articles, attend events etc. As well as a huge email list of scientists who are available (If required to answer questions on there expertise).

What:

SaS activities stretch to any project which covers the main aim of the organisation. One of the most important roles is to build bridges with the media and provide a mediator between “honest” journalists ( I know-really!!!!) and scientists, so that the journalists can get quotes and information from people who actually know what they are talking about and not some dodgy maverick. Other projects include:

Spots:

Just tabs on the website with articles explaining issues which the public are interested in ie GM, stem cells, peer review (what is it!), energy, MMR, detox etc etc.

Voice of Young Science:

This is a day long “ workshop” in which PhD students and Postdocs have a chance to meet up with journalists and other folk from the media to discuss the way in which in which there area of research is portrayed in the media and how as two opposing groups they can work together to paint a more accurate picture for the public. Having attended one of these sessions it can be quite heated at first but overall the day serves both parties well I think. This is something maybe we can do? Locally at first with local papers? Even just say “Hola” first, let them know what we are trying to do.

http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/about/11/

Celebrity and Science:

Was a little project to shame celebrities and their sudo-science claims.

http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/132/

There goes the Science bit:

Project against bogus science claims in products.

http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/about/11/

Funding:

Yup copied and pasted from the website! I’m not writing all that out, but just to give you an idea. The ABPI, AstraZeneca plc, BBSRC, The Biochemical Society, Blackwell Publishing, BP plc, British Institute of Radiology, Dixons Group plc, Elsevier, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Garfield Weston, GE Healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline, Halifax Bank of Scotland, Health and Science Communication Trust, Institute of Physics, Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, John Innes Centre, John Innes Trust, Medical Research Council, NESTA, New Scientist, Oxford GlycoSciences plc, Pfizer plc, The Physiological Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Astronomical Society, Royal College of Radiology, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, Royal Society of Chemistry, Science Careers.org, Social Issues Research Centre, The Society for Applied Microbiology, The Society for Endocrinology, The Society for General Microbiology, Unilever plc. Help with equipment, facilities and services has been received from: AXA Investment Management, Horticultural Research International, Institute of Biology, The Natural History Museum, Lord Stevenson of Coddenham, and WPP.

Where:

Ahhh in the UK, we could have it translated into Spanish and Catalan for the Spanish public? Maybe? Or have a wee Barcelona franchise SaS? I will email as talk to them about it if everyone is ok with that? And see how we can maybe work together.

That’s me I think……. See you in the bar next week…Roni

Weekly Meeting (14/02/2008)

2008-02-14 Science and society:



I. Participants: the ones present at the date in bold


Antoine Graindorge antoine.graindorge@crg.e

Bruna Vives bruna.vives@crg.es

Frank Herrmann frank.herrmann@crg.es

Isabel Peset isabel.peset@crg.es

Marija Mihailovic marija.mihailovic@crg.es

Michela Bertero michela.bertero@crg.es

Roser Pinyol roser.pinyol@crg.es

Roser Zaurin roser.zaurin@crg.es

Solenn Patalano solenn.patalano@crg.es

Tobias Maier tobias.maier@crg.e

Ulrike Brandt-Bohne (Uli) ulrike.brandt-bohne@crg.es

Gloria Lligadas Peñarrubia gloria.lligadas@crg.es



II. Projects


Since I was not present the first meetings I can only suggest that you please list here the projects proposed by now and maybe add a short summary at the end or as an extra document. Thanks.


Project 1. Isabel Peset + Solenn Patalano …. Videoclip

Project 2. Tobias Maier …. Interview

Project 3. xxx…Science Café

…..



III. Discussed topics


1 Planned project by the CRG: (Gloria Lligadas Peñarrubia)


1.1 web page (linked to the existing CRG page)


- could be a platform to present specific proposed activities (proposed by participants at S&S meeting, e.g. short movies, interviews, blogs…)

- this page is not yet set up – still in the planning period (!) – application for fundings on to do list


- in the context of this page a cooperation with a scientific journalist exists: Luis Angel ( Writer/author of booklet about the CRG)


1.2 Planned activity for students (age 17-18) to visit the CRG: (Gloria Lligadas Peñarrubia)


background: an activity organized by the Sociedad Catalana de Biología has already taken place in December 2007 (ask Uli for more details), meaning that a bulge of students came to see us in our lab and we explained our research and showed them the experimental procedures necessary for data collection. This was done to show the kids what science means, to explain what kind of profession you can exert here, what possibilities you have, fundings… and we just talked about our CV and experience.


News: `visiting the lab´ activities will now be planned by the CRG directly.

Gloria:

- will inform the group leaders ask for their interest in participating at this activity

- will, according to the feedback, set up a timetable for such activities



2 Proposal form


…for possible future activities (suggestion Gloria Lligadas Peñarrubia and Bruna Vives, brainstorm all of us)


- no lack of ideas, but rather a lack of budget supporting the planned projects

- in order to ask for fundings a proper proposal form needs to be set up

- kind of `universal´ proposal form possible to make life much easier?

- therefore: we have to think about the necessary content of this form

- drafts for a project proposal form should be done by each of us – so we can decide in the next meeting which points are essential and which ones are not..


As we all are scientists it is like planning an experiment, isn´t it?


 Possible proposal form should include: (!?)

*

project name
*

project idea (summary)
*

`significance´ of the project: Why you do it and why you think it could be of interest for others
*

Promotion: how will people know about the planned activity?
*

`experimental´ procedures: meaning the course of action
o

Time you need for the work
o

People included
o

Material – list of material
o

Etc.
*

cost estimate/budget: Costs for personal, material, promotion…
*

justification/outlook? E.g. why you plan to present your project at a specific place…., the proposed project could be a serial event


3 new timetable for Science and Society meeting?


- it was proposed to move the time and location of the Science and Society meetings to the evening and a bar. No desition has yet been taken.



III. Next Science and Society meeting


 Thursday 21.02.2008, 13.30 hours , altillo sud, 5th floor