fasej bid wcsj 2011

8/14/2019 Fasej Bid WCSJ 2011

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Science Journalism – moving with the times

WCSJ 2011 Helsinki Bid

28.6 – 2.7.2011, University of Helsinki

City Campus, FinlandHost organisation: The Finnish Association of Science Editors and Journalists

Partner organisation: University of Helsinki

Welcome to Helsinki

WCSJ 2011 Helsinki will be an illuminating interdisciplinary forum

for the future challenges of science journalism. The conference will

map the work in science media, nd ways to navigate ahead and pro -

vide a range of instruments for all players in science communication.

The programme consists of plenaries and parallel sessions, work-

shops and sessions open to the public. We also plan to hold workshops

at different University of Helsinki campus sites where participants

can interact with scientists at work.

The social events include a Welcome Reception, a Receptionhosted by the Mayor of Helsinki, a Conference Dinner and a Barbe-

cue Party.

Post congress tours will be organised to Tallinn, Estonia, St. Peters-

burg, Russia and two Finnish university cities – Turku and Tampere.University of Helsinki Main Building. Front page: view of central Helsinki with the

National Library and university buildings in front.

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Themes and programme, pages 4–5

Conference arrangements, pages 6–9

Support, page 10



Science journalism – moving with the times

WCSJ 2011 Helsinki invites science journalists and other science

communication professionals into a dialogue with researchers, politi-

cal decision makers and citizens.

WCSJ 2011 Helsinki will promote deep and fruitful discussions.

Our workshops will produce practical ideas and courageous visions

about what the world will look like in 2016 and what kind of a role

science journalism will have in the future.

WCSJ 2011 Helsinki will benet from the country’s innovative,

multi-cultural society with its rich heritage which has resulted in it be-

ing recognised as one of Europe’s top capital cities. It still, however,

retains its romantic roots from its wild northern background.

WCSJ 2011 Helsinki – the happiest and most productive World

Congress ever!

Our world

People all over the world show growing interest in research and tech-

nological and other innovations. Citizens, political decision makers,

people in the business world and many others want to learn about

scientic interpretations of climate change; decisions and solutions

concerning the world economic crisis; development of societies; cul-

tural changes and questions concerning health and well-being.

These interpretations are best disseminated by the media. To do

this, we need open science communication and independent, critical,

professional science journalism.

How can science journalists from different parts of the world un-

derstand and learn from each other? How can they communicate andnetwork on an equal basis with each other? Science journalists from

developed countries and countries in transition – what can we give

each other?

Discussing WCSJ 2011 Helsinki will be an illuminating interdiscipli-

nary forum for the future challenges of science journalism.

Our values

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United

Nations General Assembly on10th December 1948 states: “Everyonehas the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community,

to enjoy the arts and to share in scientic advancement and its bene-

ts.”

How has this basic human right come true in different parts of

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Themes and programme

Professor Leena Palotie

from Finland, one of the

world’s leading geneticists.



the world? What is the signicance of science journalism and science

communication in this process?

Freedom of speech is also a basic human right stated in the Uni-

versal Declaration of Human Rights. Can people in different parts of

the world speak, write, study and satisfy their curiosity and informa-

tion needs freely in their own language?

Can science journalists work and publish freely in different coun-tries?

Multicultural WCSJ 2011 Helsinki speaks out on the most burning

ethical issues.

Our work

Besides traditional science journalism, there are new kinds of science

related journalism emerging. To name a few, we have innovation jour-

nalism, citizen journalism and campaign journalism.

Innovation journalism covers innovations, innovation processesand innovation ecosystems. Citizen journalism, at its best, controls

political decision making and the media. Campaign journalism, for

one, is strongly inuensed by industrial, business, political or social

interests.

There is also a growing amount of web blogs written by research-

ers and science journalists. These, too will be explored in our new

media workshops.

Are the borderlines clear enough between science journalism and

other types of research related journalism? Are there cases where co-

operation or other kinds of cross border communication is needed?A growing tendency for entertainment can be observed in the me-

dia. This is the case especially on the internet where aggravating and

exaggerated headlines are used solely to catch large audiences.

This is a threat to science journalism and communication. Science

journalists should have a vision how to combat this tendency – or

should science journalism move in same direction?

Professional WCSJ 2011 Helsinki will map the work of the science

media, nd ways to navigate ahead and provide a range of instru-

ments for all players in science communication.

News on science

The conference will feature major scientic, technological, social and

nancial research facilities, companies and universities – with tours,

discussions and hands-on workshops.

Exciting WCSJ 2011 Helsinki will provide daily breaking news and

present new innovations in science and technology.

Science under the midnight sun

One of the highlights of the WCSJ 2011 Helsinki will be “Scienceat Midnight”, an outdoor spectacular in the light of the northern

summer night. You’ll see stars only on the stage!

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Why Finland

Finland has in modern times purposefully invested heavily in science

and education to increase citizens’ well-being and standards of living.

The Finnish public has a proven great trust in science and research-

ers. Finland is one of the most research intensive countries in the

world with a national spending on research and development totaling

3.5 per cent of the GDP. Finland is also one of the world’s biggest

science publishers, relative to population and GDP. Finland is a stable

and welcoming country at peace with itself and other nations.

Finland is the home of the mobile phone and other communica-

tion technologies. The Finnish Association of Science Editors and

Journalists (FASEJ) will use contacts in these elds to ensure that the

best technologies are utilised to disseminate the conference proceed-

ings.

Funding and support

The conference will be funded by participation fees and sponsorship.

The University of Helsinki has already agreed to sponsor the World

Conference by offering its facilities free of charge as the venue for the

conference.The host organisation, the Finnish Association of Science Editors

and Journalists (FASEJ) has a very good and stable nancial situa-

tion. This will facilitate the effective and continuing working of the

whole conference organisation and management.

A number of science related organisations have expressed their

support for this bid. This leads FASEJ with a feeling of optimism that

the majority of fund-raising can be in place as soon as its bid is ap-

proved.

Participation of developing country delegates As hosts to WCSJ 2011 FASEJ will advertise the world conference

and promote it through various information channels and networks

available in the developing countries and economies in transition.

Our aim is to make a special effort to reach out to colleagues in these

countries so that the number of delegates from these regions is in-

creased.

We will also make a special effort to attract sponsorship for grants

intended to cover travel and accommodation costs for journalists from

resource poor countries.

Participation of journalism students

FASEJ will especially promote the participation of science journal-

ism students from the Baltic and Nordic countries and from Russia.

This will be done by disseminating information about the conference

through journalism schools and media institutions in these countries.

All journalism students will be offered grants or reduced rate registra-

tion fees.

Location and facilities

Helsinki

Helsinki is a modern city with over half a million residents, situated

on the Baltic Sea. The lifestyle in the second-most northern capital

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Conference arrangements



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WFSJ President Candidacy

In case of successful bidding the FASJ will nominate its former Presi-

dent, science journalist Ulla Järvi as President of WFSJ 2011-2013.

Bid team

This bid has been produced by a team appointed by the Finnish

Association of Science Editors and Journalists and chaired by Vesa

Niinikangas.

Team members

Ulla Järvi, FASEJ

Reetta Kettunen, the Governmental Committee for Public

Information

Jorma Laakkonen, University of HelsinkiRaili Leino, FASEJ

Tapio Markkanen, the Finnish National Commission for UNESCO

Jari Mäkinen, Kupla Productions Ltd

Vesa Niinikangas, FASEJ

Helena von Troil, FASEJ

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Academy of Finland

City of Helsinki

Governmental Committee for Public Information

Finnish Society for Scientic Information

Federation of Finnish Learned Societies

Finnish National Commission for UNESCO

Ministry of Education

The Swedish Academy of Engineering Science in Finland

Technology Academy Foundation

Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation

Yleisradio, the Finnish National Broadcasting Company (YLE)

The following organisations express their support for this bid

Support

fasej bid wcsj 2011

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