ESOF 2010
The fourth ESOF – Euroscience Open Forum was held from 2 to 7 July 2010 at the Lingotto in Torino. This important event takes place every two years and is dedicated to scientific research and innovation and to their impact on society. It brings together students, young researchers and scientists, academics, journalists and policy maker to explore the frontiers of scientific and technological research and to debate controversial topics and compare experiences.
One of ESOF2010's key objectives is to provide career openings and targeted programmes for postgraduates and young researchers.
ERC involvement
The ERC organised a joint career workshop with Marie Curie and EURAXESS and a press briefing during which the media had the opportunity to conduct interviews with ERC representatives. An ERC representative was also available to answer question and give out ERC publications at the European Commission stand in the exhibition area. One of the keynotes speakers was Andrea Ferrari, ERC Starting Grant holder 2007.
Practical details:
1) ERC Session
Date: 5 July 2010
Time: 15.45-17.00
Location: Room 8
"Passionate about research? Funding opportunities in Europe for creative minds from anywhere in the world"
Speakers
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Pauliina Damdimopoulou
Marie Curie Fellow, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
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Massimo Gaudina
European Research Council, Belgium
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Eleni Zika
European Research Council, Belgium
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Louise Byrne
Research Executive Agency, Belgium
The workshop aims to present funding opportunities for first-class, up-and-coming researchers, who are keen to develop and fast-track their careers in Europe.
The Marie Curie Actions (MCA) and the European Research Council (ERC) offer such funding in a complementary way: whereas the first provides fellowships for career development at post-graduate and post-doctoral level for excellent mobile researchers, the second offers attractive grants to promising post-doctoral researchers enabling them to establish or consolidate themselves as independent leaders of a research team.
Since 1996, MCA have played a central role in the European Research Area by improving researchers' careers and promoting their mobility. Created in 2007, the ERC reflects a substantial step in the way Europe manages its research base to progress towards the Lisbon targets. By challenging the brightest minds, both ERC and MCA grants will help broaden Europe's knowledge base and will help to bring about new discoveries to meet tomorrow's global challenges.
Both funding schemes are open to researchers of any nationality and encourage talent from further afield to settle in Europe.
The workshop will explain the aim and synergies of the two funding schemes as well as provide answers to practical questions.
In addition, Marie Curie Fellows and ERC Starting Grantees will be present to share their experiences with these funding initiatives and will answer questions from the audience.
2) Press activities
Date: 5 July 2010
Time: 18.15-19.00
Location: Press briefing room
A press briefing will be held with the ERC President Prof Helga Nowotny and 2 ERC grant winners:
- ESOF key note speaker Dr Andrea Ferrari (see also point 4)
- ERC starting grantee Dr André Mischke
Interview opportunities: between 3-7 July (also on an ad hoc basis)
3) ERC counter at the EU stand the exhibition area with an ERC Representative available to answer questions and provide documentation.
Date: 2-7 July 2010
Time: 09.00-17.00
Location: European Commission STAND N. B, Pav.5
4) Keynote speech: Andrea Ferrari
Date: 5 July 2010
Time: 17.15-18.00
Location: Room 2
Andrea Ferrari is a Reader in Nanotechnology and Royal Society University Research Fellow in the Electrical Engineering Division of the Cambridge University Engineering Department. He is also Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge. He is the head of the Nanomaterials and Spectroscopy Group. Dr Ferrari has been awarded the Marie Curie Excellence Award for his research on carbon nanotechnology, and a Starting Independent Research Grant from the European Research Council.
