A Distinctly European Meeting

Abstract

It’s been called “the AAAS meeting of Europe,” in reference to the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. And although that’s true in a sense, the biennial Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF)—in its short, eight-year history—has developed a character and flavor that is distinctly European. This year’s meeting, ESOF 2012, was held on July 11–15 in Dublin. As Europe’s largest general science meeting, it featured more than 500 sessions covering a wide range of scientific disciplines. It also included sessions on science careers and business and an exposition featuring more than 60 exhibitors from industry, academe, and the nonprofit world. In a nod to Ireland’s great literary tradition, 12 Irish poets contributed to a book of poetry that was included in every conference registration packet. ESOF is meant to “highlight science on the European agenda,” says one of its founders, Carl Johan Sundberg, an associate professor ...