We are delighted to be able to offer substantial discounts to members of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW) and Associations belonging to the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ). Be a part of the 6th World Conference of Science Journalists, debate the critical issues, network with journalists, editors and science communicators from around the World, and ensure science journalists shape the future of science reporting.
We are pleased to announce an exciting array of top speakers, including the following plenary speakers; Fred Kavli, Mike Lazaridis, David King, John Rennie, Andy Revkin and Nick Higham. Details of all conference speakers, sessions and producers can be found on the conference website. Please click here for the full programme timetable.
We're delighted to announce our first Platinum Sponsor, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), supporting the conference Development Strand with sessions and speakers relating to global development issues such as climate change and food sustainability, a skills-building workshop and scholarships for journalists from developing countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. We're also pleased to thank UNESCO and the UK Commission for UNESCO for supporting a workshop on "Reporting about Climate Change" and scholarships for journalist trainers from Centres of Excellence in Journalism Training in Africa; also the Royal Society for inviting all conference delegates to a breakfast celebrating this year's Summer Science Show; new "Friend of the Conference", British Council Darwin Now supporting journalists from South America and Near-East North Africa, Danida via the Danish 92 Group and International Institute for Environment and Development for supporting journalists from Africa, Mexico and Egypt, Johnson&Johnson Pharmaceutical R&D for co-sponsoring the Gala Reception at the Natural History Museum, The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters for the Journalists Reception at the Science Museum, the Economic and Social Research Council for a lunchtime research briefing, and the European Food Information Council for the session "Nutrition and Diet: Is food really so risky?" Further details on the times of these session are in the conference Programme Timetable. Other "Friends of the Conference" supporting travel bursaries include BBSRC, Nature, the European Union of Science Writers Associations, the Dutch Association of Science Journalists and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, the European Joint Research Centre and NASW. Two fellowships, each in the amount of $2,500 USD, are awarded in memory of past National Association of Science Writers President Laura Van Dam, who died in 2006. Laura was a strong supporter of this organization's commitment to international science writing and, in fact, helped organize the World Federation of Science Journalist's first meeting in Montreal in 2004. Our goal is not only to encourage ties between NASW and the World Federation as a way of helping the development of our craft around the world, but also to give the two selected Van Dam fellows a chance to pursue story opportunties in the U.K.
Sharon Guynup is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Scientific American Mind, Popular Science, Audubon, The Boston Globe, nationalgeographic.com and other publications; her stories have also been distributed through the The New York Times Syndicate. Her first book is State of the Wild 2006: A Global Portrait of Wildlife, Wildlands and Oceans. She lives in Hoboken, NJ, USA and is an adjunct professor in New York University's graduate Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program.
The effects of climate change are being felt worldwide and pose an enormous threat to human security causing, amongst other things, economic instability, food and water shortages, rising sea levels and mass migration. In short, climate change is a critical issue which affects daily lives. Science journalists play a vital role in helping to tackle climate change; by reporting on its causes, impacts, mitigation opportunities and adaptation processes, they inform and educate the public and policy makers to understand better the issues at stake and to respond to climate change concerns.
Reporting on climate change is an important but challenging task which will feature strongly at this year’s WCSJ. UNESCO and the UK National Commission for UNESCO are jointly supporting a skills building workshop on the subject for developing country journalists. The workshop will help developing country journalists to understand better the science of climate change, of mitigation and adaptation proposals, and of how to make coverage both accurate and accessible. We are pleased to be supporting the Conference in this way.
Alec Boksenberg, Chair, UK National Commission for UNESCO
'At J&J PRD we believe good science writing is the mother of progress. The writer has a triple function: to analyse, to make understandable and to spread knowledge. As an industry with a crucial need to innovate we cannot survive without a strong belief in the virtues of science. And that strong belief can only exist thanks to the hard work of thousands of science writers'.
Frederik Wittock, Director of Communications, Johnson&Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Dutch Association of Science Journalists have very kindly offered scholarships to six Masters students studying science journalism or science communication to join us in London.
I love to make stories more accessible using images and examples, to try to explain the seemingly unexplainable. And I would love to make that my profession. Practice makes perfect, so I hope to get as much practice as possible at the WCSJ2009! Annelies Meijer Science can be fun, amazing and educational, but often there’s a gap between scientists and society. Translating the science to a level where the fascination of science can be transferred to ‘laymen’ is the ultimate challenge for me. Attending the skills building workshops, talking to experienced journalists and hearing about the current issues in the profession will be very educational and I’m really looking forward to it! Barry van der Meer
 The Best Cancer Reporter Award (BCRA) was established by the European School of Oncology (ESO) in 2006 to acknowledge excellence in cancer journalism and promote intelligent and critical coverage of cancer stories. The Award is open to consumer journalists who write for print or online publications and have demonstrated outstanding ability in covering cancer stories. Journalists can nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague or member of the cancer community. The BCRA winner receives a cash prize of €10,000 plus an all expenses paid trip to attend the Award Ceremony. There are also two runners-up prizes of €5000 each. In addition, an article written by the award winning journalists are published in ESO’s CancerWorld magazine. You can nominate a journalist for the 2009 Best Cancer Reporter Award by completing a nomination form and sending it to ESO by April 27 2009. Further details are available at: www.cancerworld.org/mediaservice
Research4Life: Reception Sponsor
Research4Life provides scientists, policymakers, librarians, educators, healthcare workers and students in developing countries with free access, or at little cost, to more than 7000 scientific journals, e-books, and databases. 4500 universities, hospitals, and research institutes in 108 countries with GNI under $3500 are registered for the programs. Research4Life is a partnership of United Nations agencies, leading universities and STM publishers and is made up of three programs, each focused on an area where access to research has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life – health (HINARI), environment (OARE) and agriculture (AGORA). Scientists working in developing countries consistently report that access to current research has the power to transform their work, help their local communities improve health and living standards, and increase their capacity to contribute to the scientific record.Nature: Our Marketing Partner NPG is immensely proud of Nature, its flagship journal and is pleased to announce Nature’s participation in the 6th World Conference of Science Journalists in 2009 as an official marketing partner. Nature the 2008 Webby Awards have both named Nature the leader in scientific communication whether in print, or online. For more information please contact: press@nature.com
More information on all the thought provoking topics, sessions and speakers at WCSJ will be announced via these conference newsletter updates.
To ensure that you are kept up to date with conference plans - and if you didn’t receive this email directly from us - make sure you sign up to our mailing list.
You will then receive all future conference updates direct to your inbox! Please also feel free to forward this email to your colleagues. We look forward to seeing you in London, WCSJ2009 Conference Steering Group |
| Conference Office: WCSJ2009 | Benchmark Communications | 14 Blandford Square | Newcastle upon Tyne | NE1 4HZ | UK T: +44 (0)191 241 4523 | F: +44 (0)191 245 3802 | E: info@wcsj2009.org | W: http://www.wcsj2009.org/ |
We wish to acknowledge the support of the following organisations who provided seed funding to help us in the early stages of development of the WCSJ2009:
Thanks also to our partners who have provided a donation or grant in support of the WCSJ 2009:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 
| |