The magazine of the european research area European Commission Copenhagen, a missed chance?

---

the magazine of the european research area

European Commission

Copenhagen, 

a missed 

chance?

climate

© Shutt

erst

ock/Rober

t HM 

V

oors

No. 63  –  April 2010

 ISSN 

1830-7361

 Report

“My voice goes with you”

 Energy

 Laser and fusion, 

the perfect alliance?

---

edit

orial

 research*eu is the European Union’s research magazine, written by independent professional journalists, 

which aims to broaden the democratic debate between science and society. It presents and analyses projects, 

results and initiatives through which women and men are making a contribution towards reinforcing and 

uniting scientific and technological excellence in Europe. Published in English, French, German and Spanish 

with ten issues per year, research*eu is edited by the Communication Unit of the European Commission’s 

Directorate-General for Research.

The opinions expressed in this editorial and in the articles in this

issue do not necessarily represent the views of the European Commission.

Caricatures?

Many scientists need no reminding of the often uneasy relationship between science 

and the media. Over-simplification, exaggeration, mistakes: ‘media science’ does not have 

much to do with ‘real’ science. A caricature at best…  

However, by putting research into context, media science does help give science a more 

complete, living and human image, in particular by placing the news spotlight on current 

research and the experts engaged in it.    

This is particularly evident in the field of global warming, the central theme of this 

issue. Media science brings to the work of scientists that which they are most lacking 

today: public and political visibility. Without media coverage, without media science, the IPCC would no doubt not 

have grabbed the attention of the politicians. Current IPCC Chairman Rajendra Kumar Pachauri recognises this 

explicitly in an opinion piece published in June on the SciDev (Sciences and Development) website: “The media 

has played a central role in spreading awareness of climate change over the past two years. I find this particularly 

satisfying. It is therefore fair to say that the media has helped turn public opinion in favour of action on climate 

change”. For their work not to be a dead letter and to bring to society the best, while avoiding the worst, is the dream 

of all researchers. Media science offers the scientific community this chance.