As part of our advocacy campaign for science engagement in the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon Europe), we will be organising an event for Members of European Parliament and other EU stakeholders on Tuesday 15 May. Polish MEP Michał Boni launched the invitation, together with Ecsite and the Copernicus Science Centre.

The event will start with speeches from Michał Boni, another MEP, a representative of the European Commission and Ecsite President Herbert Münder. The second part of the event will be a workshop, facilitated by representatives from the Ecsite Board and from Ecsite member organisations and based on Ecsite's position paper entitled "Together for a democratic and sustainable Europe".

If science engagement is crucial to the innovation system, we will ask, what should Horizon Europe do to support it? How can we restore trust between science and society and combat fake news? How do we make sure that emerging technologies reflect the needs and values of European citizens? How do we encourage youth to choose scientific careers? We will be presenting key challenges for the future of science and society. Using an interactive engagement format, a discussion will unfold along five thematic strands, identifying how Horizon Europe can successfully encourage the public to take a more active – and positive - role in science.

Background: more on Ecsite's advocacy campaign here and about the EU Framework Programme legislative process here.