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ESCMID Is Good for EuropeThe role scientific societies play in the Western world is important. This began in 1660 with the foundation of the Royal Society in the United Kingdom, followed by other learned societies in most European countries and North America. In the beginning their main purpose was to witness experiments and discuss scientific topics among their members. Soon publishing scholarly texts became equally important. Later learned societies expanded their activities by promoting the public understanding of science and raising the status of scientific disciplines. Scientific societies are deeply rooted in Western culture. They have profound merits in establishing science and technology as a foundation of our way of life, view of the world and economic welfare. Scientific societies are part of civil society. They have contributed much, and continue to do so, to nation building. Most scientific organisations such as ESCMID maintain a portfolio of activities pertinent to professional training and education, scientific conferences, research and publication as well as professional practice and policy. If they do their job right they act as platform for the interaction of all professionals in their field, which involves academia and universities, hospitals, industry as well as funding and regulatory governmental agencies. There is no doubt that the medical profession greatly profits from this exchange, even to the extent that modern science and medical practice can hardly be conceived without scientific societies. Nowadays this scenario must be expanded by the inclusion of another stakeholder of science and medicine: the public. Until not too long ago science was the exclusive domain of scientists. Hiroshima and Chernobyl have definitively changed this. Since then non-scientists demand that science benefits society and contributes to solving all sorts of problems: social, environmental, economic and medical. The ongoing public debate on genetically modified organisms, therapeutic cloning, biodiversity, nanotechnology and global warming shows that science and technology are very much in the focus of media and politics. Lobbyists often seem to put the onus of problem resolution onto science, an approach that makes science more political rather than policy more scientific. Politicisation of science will always be part of political advocacy; its proponents simply disregard the fact that ‘science’ alone does not provide a sufficient basis for decision-making since decisions depend on values and interests alike. The challenge for scientists in providing advice is thus to distinguish between science and policy. It is in this context that modern scientific societies have a role to play in the public debate: to guard against the politicisation of science they must take responsibility for assessing the significance of scientific results for policy. In the infection fields a first step towards this goal is offering the public a place on the ‘platform’ by maintaining a dialogue with the media, politicians and patient groups. If ESCMID is to establish itself as a leading society in these disciplines it must pursue an agenda in the realms of educational, scientific and professional affairs as well as in public relations. The recent extension of the Executive Office must be seen in this context. ESCMID will meet its objectives if the fostered exchange between all parties shaping infection medicine will eventually improve medical practice and public health for the benefit of the patient. If we succeed, Europe and its citizens will benefit. Peter Schoch
European Funding OpportunitiesUpdate on Framework Programme 7. Ministers reached political agreement on the entire 7th FWP package. Update on Public Health Programme 2007-2013. On 24 May 2006, the European Commission adopted a revised programme proposal for the public health programme 2007-2013 with a budget of €365.6 million for the seven-year period. European Research Council: First Calls for Starting Independent Research Grant Scheme should be published in early 2007 or even at the end of 2006.
ECDC published a Call for Expression of Interest
for scientific experts.
ECDC Call for Tender for ‘Training courses for
communicable disease outbreak investigation’.
Asia-Link Programme 5th Call. The Asia-Link
Programme promotes regional and multilateral networking between
higher education institution in EU Member States and developing countries
in Asia.
European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).
This call for proposals is in support of studies for the Prevention of
Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in African countries, including
prevention of transmission during breast feeding.
ESF Research Networking Programmes – 2006 Call for Proposals.
The ESF Research Networking Programme promotes networking activities to address
a major scientific issue or a science-driven topic of research infrastructure,
at the European level. The research activity itself must be nationally funded.
European Young Investigators Awards (EURYI): 4th Call.
The aim of this Scheme is to attract outstanding young researchers from
all over the world to work in Europe and lead their own research team.
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