European participation in Science Agora 2015 (Tokyo, 14-15 November)

EU News 240/2015

18 November 2015

The 10th edition of the Science Agora, the largest science communication event in Japan, was open for the first time to international participants. The S&T Section at the EU Delegation with support from several Member States seized the opportunity and organised an ambitious European participation.

Not only one of the two European Round Tables ("Cyber-Societies of the Future – Views from Europe and Japan") was included among the 5 "Keynote Sessions" of the event, but the Delegation also received one of the 5 prizes given for best booth (among the 80 or so) for the "Europe Light House". The award was for the excellent promotion of scientific exchanges between Europe and Japan, especially among young scientists. One more Session dealt with "The role of Public Research for Shaping Future Societies in Europe and Japan". Both Sessions assembled top policy makers and experts from both Europe and Japan and attracted considerable audiences.

On 14 November, there was an impressive inauguration event with 3 Ambassadors (EU, Greece and Ireland), several EU MS S&T Counsellors, representatives of Japan Science and Technology Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as exhibitors and panellists from Europe and Japan. (Programme)

25 top level scientists and policy makers, from both Europe (11 came all the way from Europe or, linked through skype) and Japan, were involved in Delegation's various events. (Programme)

Close to 10,000 people (mostly general public, many children) visited Science Agora this year. The "Europe Light House" booth attracted many, thanks to the quality of the posters, the interactive exhibits and the enthusiastic scientists (both from Europe and Japan) and S&T Section staff, who were there to explain the world-class research with light being conducted in European facilities and the cooperation with Japanese counterparts. At a separate "Europe Light Stage", 14 public lectures on light-related research conducted in collaboration at key European research infrastructures were given over the two days by European and Japanese scientists.

Europe Light House - Science Agora, Miraikan, 14-15 November 2015 (Yasuhiko Shimazu, Tom Kuczynski) (C)EU, 2015 URL

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