Experts from 10 countries gathered in the world's largest scientific laboratory to discuss the image of science in the eyes of modern society and the prospects for the development of global scientific communication.Among the scientists who spoke at the conference were James Gillies, the head of the CERN communication group, Alexander Potapov, the executive director of the Russian Venture Company, Alexander Gerber, the professor of scientific communications at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, scientists and experts: Arshana Sharma (CERN), Dzhadip Chaudhary (Bilcare Limited), Antonella Guidazoli (Cineca Supercomputing), Marcos Pinoti Barbosa (Federal University of Minas Gerais).
"Communicating Scientific Breakthrough is an attempt to form the agenda of scientific communications not only at the international level, but in the context of interpersonal interaction. The session was held in the framework of the professional event World Communication Forum Davos, the international forum in Davos, that annually attracts more than 150 professionals in the sphere of public and corporate communications from more than 30 countries. Thanks to the Russian Venture Company's Communication Laboratory project, the opportunity to attend the session was given, in particular, to the authors of a special Open Science project, among which there are many members of Russian universities," Lena Brandt explained, the coordinator of educational projects in the SPN Communications and the conference moderator.
The Russian delegation was particularly large: Alexandra Borisova, the head of the TASS-Science project, Elena Maksimenko, the PR-director of the Innopolis University, Dmitry Malkov, the specialist in scientific communication at the ITMO University, Dmitry Benemanskiy, the head of the Ural Federal University press service and their other Russian colleagues.
"Science communication in Russia are just beginning to appear, we still have much to learn. That's why these meetings are very important: it is an opportunity to see how they work in other countries, to find common interests, contacts for specialists training. Moreover the visit to CERN itself inspires everyone who wants to deal with the popularization of science, it is a special place," Alexandra Borisova says, the head of the TASS-Science project.
Conference at CERN has demonstrated the need for creating a sustainable practice of scientific communication in Russia.In ITMO University this activity will be developed within the framework of special projects of the University, which are aimed at improving the infrastructure of scientific communication in Russia.Among the projects are: the project of creation the Science museum in Lakhta Center, opening the specialized master’s degree program in the sphere of the scientific communication and a number of other projects for the popularization of science.
Results of the conference will be announced on March 20 in Moscow, during the Open Science event, where the CERN session participants will discuss the Russian experience in the field of scientific communication.