Introduction.- Why communicating European research?.- Background information.- Thinking science, talking science.- Opening speeches.- Let's make science the next headline.- Information and communication technology research and its impact on growth and job creation.- The evolving context for science and society.- Science communication on demand.- Scientists and communication.- Bringing scientists to the people.- 'Science meets Parliament'.- The science-media interface: interactions of scientists and journalists.- Science news on the net.- The changing paradigm of science communication: challenges for researchers.- Training scientists in communication skills.- Communication of science, communication in science.- Advancing European protocols for science communication.- Science goes local: local media matters.- Communication and training.- Debate, communicate, educate.- Media skills workshops: breaking down the barriers betzeen scientists and journalists.- Training for dialogue and debate.- Training science communication in a swift moving society.- Science Events.- The Science Days - Contact with science.- The challenge of showing and discussing the unknown.- Science & the city.- The Genova science festival.- Science education.- Science class 2012.- Scientific literacy.- Perceptions and images of science and science education.- Television.- Representing science through multiple-channel digital television.- Radio.- How to get science in the news.- I heard it on the radio!.- Communicating research in developing countries.- Media and press.- Getting R&D results into the press.- Towards more responsibility in communicating science.- European media: two cultures of science communication.- How to reach the business media?.- The same old future.- Sectoral communication.- Europe in space - taking off without the public.- Population exposure to air pollutants in Europe (PEOPLE).- Communicating EU food and health research.- Communicating environmental research.- Talking nano ¿ what makes nanotechnology special.- Communicate internationally- with partners from the New Independent States (NIS).- How to communicate an interdisciplinary project?.- Conclusion.- When diversity means richness.- List of authors.

The book contains a series of 40 articles written by forward-thinking speakers who presented their findings at the "Communicating European Research 2005" event which was organised by the European Commission in Brussels on 14-15 November 2005.
This event was attended by well over 2,100 participants. The contents of this book clearly illustrate that a highly important element of research projects funded by the European Union is communication. Authors include scientists, journalists and communication professionals.
The book covers the main aspects of science and technology communication today and addresses topical questions such as: Is science journalism necessary at all? Should communication become one of the basic skills of scientists, as compulsory as thinking, testing and experimenting? Should our schools of the future put scientific literacy at the top of the science curriculum? Do we need science critics? Does the coverage of science in the media reflect the choice of the editors or does it accurately mirror the public¿s interest? How does one capture the public¿s attention when promoting science on local, commercial or entertainment radio? Why would we need standards in science communication? How can we remove any obstacles to communication among researchers and between researchers?
The book casts light on these issues and many others. It offers a selection of good practices and professional services to scientists and science communicators, and should help them design and carry out their communication activities with a European and international dimension.