Dublin’s 2012 ESOF Bid arrives with a big bang in Barcelona
Dublin’s 2012 ESOF Bid arrives with a big bang in Barcelona
Date: 29 July 2008
ESOF2008 was held in Barcelona from 18-22 July with a record 5,000 delegates, including 500 media. The quality of the venue and the all-round professional approach definitely moved the ESOF series on to a new level.
Dublin’s 2012 Bid Committee were represented in force. In addition to Ireland’s Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) and ESOF 2012 Dublin Champion Prof. Patrick Cunningham, Eamonn Cahill, Aidan Gilligan and Meagan Keating were present from the CSA’s Office.
Head of Science Foundation Ireland, Frank Gannon; Cork Institute of Technology’s Eamonn Cashell; Institute of Technology Ireland’s Tim Creedon, and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation’s Matt Moran were also on-site.
The Science Gallery sent Lynn Scarff to assist on the stand which also served as a meeting point for further Irish speakers and participants such as John O’Brien, Michael Mansfield and Sheila Donegan.
Dublin’s 2012 bid team members Aidan Gilligan, Prof. Patrick Cunningham and Eamonn Cahill with Gabriele Tamborini, EU’s Joint Research Centre (centre) and Paul Thompson, Atomic Weapons Establishment, UK (left) at the Dublin 2012 stand.
...In the news
News Editor Philip Bromwell from the national broadcaster RTE spent two days following events in Barcelona to produce a feature that made prime-time news on Tuesday 22nd July. The piece included interviews with Ireland’s Chief Scientific Adviser Prof. Patrick Cunningham, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation’s Matt Moran, and ESOF 2008 Barcelona Champion Professor Enric Banda. Watch it online in the archive section at www.rte.ie
Cordis News used ESOF 2008 as a hook to run a feature interview with Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Cunningham. Read the article at www.cordis.europa.eu
Silicon Republic interviewed Science Foundation Ireland’s Frank Gannon on Dublin’s bid and Irish science. Read the interview at www.siliconrepublic.com
Science Magazine ran a daily blog in Barcelona. Chief Scientific Adviser Prof. Patrick Cunningham moderated a well-attended keynote session entitled “Mars and Venus: How Americans and European view and use science”. This generated much discussion and resulted in prominent media coverage. View the blog at www.blogs.sciencemag.org
Right to Left: Dr. Roland Schenkel, Director General, European Commission’s Joint Research Centre; Irish Chief Scientific Adviser Prof. Patrick Cunningham and Alan Leshner, CEO American Association for the Advancement of Science.
...Publicity
A definite highlight across the event was the widespread interest expressed by delegates in learning more about what Dublin had to offer for 2012.
Our well-located stand in the Expo Area was busy pretty much non-stop from 8.30am to 6.00pm every day. In fact, the postcards, stickers and calendars we had made to publicise our bid were in heavy demand and could be seen on delegates at symposia, satellite and social events around the city.
ESOF Sticker and Postcard.
...Welcome reception
On Saturday 19th July the Bid Committee hosted a reception, attended by up to 750 delegates, to promote Dublin as a venue for 2012. The approach was to welcome science stakeholders from all corners of Europe and further afield, to answer their questions and to give a truly professional image of Dublin’s bid.
The feedback we had from EuroScience, ESOF 2008 organisers and participants on the ground was that this approach very much appreciated. Ireland’s Ambassador to Spain, Peter Gunning also made the journey from Madrid to co-host the event.
The Dublin 2012 bid committee's welcome reception was attended by 750 delegates.