Background and aims

The science & technology field is increasingly important and it interests, concerns and affects people. It is not always well understood or perceived in the media or by the public. Since it is to a large extent funded by the public a better communication with society is necessary.

The main aim is to bring people interested in science & technology from all over Europe to ONE meeting and to respond to the challenges and begin to provide solutions to the major problems the world faces today. Other aims at ESOF2004 are to:

• present science and the humanities at the cutting-edge
• stimulate scientific awareness
• foster debate on science and society
• offer cross-disciplinary interaction and communication between the public, politicians, policy makers and the media on current trends and future roads for the sciences

ESOF2004is initiated by Euroscience and is open to scientists from all fields, the public, policy makers, politicians, media, industry, teachers and students.

The Open Forum will be in a major European "City of Science" every other year. The host for EuroScience Open Forum, 2006 will be Munich.