News
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FameLab 2020 goes online and dates for Semi Finals and International Finals now announced
FameLab, the international science communication competition, facilitated by the Cheltenham Science Festival and delivered by the British Council, has taken on a new interactive online format.On November 11th and 12th, the FameLab national finalists from 20 countries will take to the virtual stage to deliver their three-minute presentations on a range of topics through semi-finals in their quest to reach the international final (26th Nov) to battle for the title of global winner 2020.
The online events will be streamed live on the FameLab YouTube channel
Further details are available on the Cheltenham Science Festival website
Please also follow news and updates on FameLab International Facebook and Twitter
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International Day for Universal Access to Information: The Right to Information in Times of Crisis
To launch the 2020 International Day and its themes, UNESCO has organized a high-level online panel, “Access of Information – Saving lives, Building Trust, Bringing Hope!” set to take place online at 2:00 p.m. (CEST) on 28 September.Followed by a series of Webinars throughout the week (each requires individual registration):
- Access to Information and Openness, 28 September 2020, 4:00 p.m.
- Disinformation and Access to Information, 29 September 2020, 11:00 a.m.
- Measuring SGD 16.10.2, 29 September 2020, 3:00 p.m.
- Implementation of Laws, 29 September 2020, 4:30 p.m
- Infodemic and Youth, 30 September 2020, 3:00 p.m.
- Open Access, 30 September 2020, 4:30 p.m.
Issue Brief on Access To Information in Times of Crises
Read more: International Day for Universal Access to Information:
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Science Literacy Week 21- 27 September, 2020
Canada is once again showcasing the diversity of Canadian science and the culture in which it is embedded.Libraries, museums, science centres, schools and not-for-profits have come together to highlight books, movies, podcasts and events that convey the excitement and influence of science in their everyday lives. It’s about each and everyone’s unique relationship with science and how they live it.
The theme for 2020 is B for Biodiversity, in partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation.
- Download posters
- Follow events, including 84 Public and 209 online
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Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2020 (24-31 October): Resisting Disinfodemic: Media and Information Literacy for everyone and, by everyone
The fully online conference is approaching rapidly and the official website has now been launched, UNESCO invites you to spread the word, and mobilize your networks to plan, organize and register local events (online or offline) to celebrate Global MIL Week
The communication materials related to other exciting components of Global MIL Week 2020, include:
- all for videos: UNESCO MIL Alliance Voices and MILID Voices
- call for edutainment content
- call for national MIL related networks to join The MIL Alliance (GAPMIL) and submit highlights to be featured on UNESCO website etc.
- virtual exhibitions,
- Global MIL youth hackathon,
- GAPMIL Awards will be available in the coming weeks, and
- Special mobilization of libraries, schools, media, MIL Cities actors, etc.
You can also download and use visual materials under the Media Resources link
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Western Balkan Information and Media Literacy Conference (WBIMLC) merges with International Summit of the Book
Revised dates for WBIMLC have been announced as December 9th - 11th 2020. The conference will be online, and both the Summit and WBIMLC 2020 will be held virtually for the first time.Papers for both the International Summit of the Book and WBIMLC are invited. They should be prepared using the WBIMLC template .
Important Dates:
- Abstract Submission Deadline: 16th October 2020
- Notification of Acceptance/Rejection: 28th October 2020
- Full Paper Submission Deadline 11th November 2020
- Dissemination of Final Programme by 30th November 2020
- Conference dates: 9th-11th December 2020
- Abstracts and Papers are to be sent to: wbimlc2019@wbimlc.org
Follow details from WBIMLC
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European Conference of Science Journalism ECSJ2020, 1-2 September
The ECSJ2020 is a satellite meeting of Euroscience Open Forum ESOF2020 Trieste. This year the conference has moved online and will be available free of charge to viewers from all over the world.The programme focuses on science journalism in a broad sense including societal issues and science policy. Topics of relevance, including communicating uncertainties and evidence-based policymaking in times of pandemic, will be featured, as will the work of science journalists during this period not only did not interrupt but became even more intense and important than ever. In addition to lectures and panel discussions, organisers will offer various special opportunities for personal online networking via virtual Hyde Park Corners and networking chatbots.
Key Sessions include:
- Filters for Truth: Will AI replace reporters and fact-checkers?
- Cybersecurity: science journalist’s guide
- Communicating uncertainties: before Covid-19 and after it
- Evidence-based policymaking in science and medicine
- Digital science journalism between earning money and maintaining ethical standards
Provisional Programme (updated to 22 August)
Attendance is free of charge, but registration is mandatory.
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'Research and Proposal Writing in the Sciences': online course
AuthorAID, a global network of researchers, has opened enrolment to their latest online course ‘Research and Proposal Writing in the Sciences’.Dates: 8th September to 2nd November 2020
The course lasts 8 weeks and is designed for researchers and scientists in less-developed countries, particularly those working in a scientific field (life sciences / natural sciences / other related fields).
It is suitable for early career researchers, or those with limited experience in publishing papers in reputable peer-reviewed journals. (Researchers in the social sciences, please see below*)
Main topics include:
- Literature review
- Research and publication ethics
- Writing and publishing a research paper
- Writing a grant proposal
Led by members of INASP along with experienced guest facilitators from the AuthorAID network.
Complete information about the course along with enrolment instructions are available on the
INASP Moodle website. You will need to create an INASP Moodle account if you don’t already have one. Please follow the instructions carefully (you may need to click on the above link again after registering your account).
Please note that although this is an open course, enrolment may need to be limited in due course due to server capacity. Enrol in the course as soon as possible if you are interested.
*If you are a researcher in the social sciences or humanities you will still benefit from most of the content on the course, and are very welcome to join. AuthorAid also run another online courses on Research Writing in the Social Sciences.
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FameLab: Science Communication Finals 2020 Official Statement
The FameLab International Finals are going ahead in Autumn 2020 and will be held online to enable all countries to participate.In partnership with the British Council, the competition brings the brightest young science minds from across the world to culturally share their experiences of science and compete for the title of the world’s best science communicator.
For updates on FameLab activity around the world, please check the British Council's webpage or contact in-country teams directly from their links.
NIDA will continue to share information as it becomes available.
FameLab: Science Communication Finals 2020 Official Statement
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Citizen Science and Open Science
The Citizen Science & Open Science Community of Practice of the Citizen Science Global Partnership (CSGL) recently wrote a paper for UNESCO on ‘Global Citizen Science perspectives on Open Science’, where the views of 63 citizen science practitioners from 24 countries were synthesised responding to UNESCO’s key.The full-text paper is available online and complements the two other projects of the CSGL, Citizen Science for the SDGs and the Global Mosquito Alert Consortium
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Climate Education Toolkit: Summer Edition!
Launched July 2020, the toolkit includes 5 days’ worth of activities to learn about climate and environmental issues, the communities they impact and how to take civic action. Prepared by the Earth Day Network the kit is designed for educators, parents and enthusiastic students (8-18 years). It features:- activities to engage learners in the local impacts of climate change and what it means to be
- an active participant in community civic action.
- daily themes to investigate environmental justice, plastic pollution, biodiversity and more.
- a reading guide to build environmental decision-making skills.
Resources and activities are arranged under broad headings:
- Plastic Pollution
- Biodiversity
- Climate Equity and Environmental Justice
- Air Pollution
- Food Sustainability
Access the toolkit and download relevant material.
More resources available within the Education Resource Library