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PCB Organises Debates and Workshops at ESOF 2008 to Bring Research Closer to the Public

By 14 de July de 2008November 18th, 2020No Comments
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 14.07.2008

PCB Organises Debates and Workshops at ESOF 2008 to Bring Research Closer to the Public

As part of the Euroscience Open Forum 2008 (), to be held on 18-22 July in the Palace of Congresses at the Barcelona Exhibition Centre (Fira de Barcelona), the Barcelona Science Park (PCB) is set to host activities that will bring the world of research closer to the public. As with the PCB's programme, the activities aim to encourage debate and participation from the public. There will also be a dedicated stand (nº 62) located in the exhibition area, where information on the PCB and the University of Barcelona will be available.

Daily events on offer will be free of charge. Headlining the scheduled programme will be:

A hands-on workshop with the title “Research! How are medicines made?” will offer participants first-hand knowledge from the researchers themselves on how a new drug is developed until it reaches the marketplace. Participants will be able to conduct a number of experiments currently being done to find new therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and schizophrenia. This lively and engaging event will be led by Anabel Molero, researcher in the PCB’s Combinatorial Chemistry Unit. Session schedule: 18 July at 2.30 pm; 19 July at 10 am; 20 July at 12.30 pm; 21 July at 10 am.

Another activity on offer will be an interactive debate using a card game based on the EU project “Decide” (www.playdecide.org). The aim of the project is to promote the exchange of opinions and discussion in society at large on the ethical, legal and socioeconomic issues generated by emerging scientific areas. The chosen topic is nanotechnology, its applications and its impact on our daily lives. Debate will also serve to surface public views and concerns regarding the latest scientific and technological advances.

The debates will be moderated by: Rosina Malagrida, director of Communications at the PCB; Anna Calderer, coordinator of the Scientific Diffusion Area at the PCB; Aitor Aguirre, researcher with the Bioengineering Institute of Catalonia; and Itziar Lecuona, researcher with the University of Barcelona’s Observatory on Bioethics and Law, located at the PCB. Session schedule: 19 July at 4.00 pm, 20 July at 6 pm; 21 July at 4 pm.

The Euroscience Open Forum stands at the pinnacle of the multidisciplinary pursuit of science in Europe. It is organised every two years by the EU’s Euroscience organisation. Each event is hosted in a different city and Euroscience gives over the task of managing the event to local organisers. This year’s event is being run by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI). At present, more than 3,000 scientists, politicians and businesspeople are expected to take part and visitor numbers will reach roughly 20,000, with over 70 exhibitions and public events awaiting them at ESOF 2008.