#EUSEA25 Day 2

The second and final day of #EUSEA25 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was a dynamic exploration of science engagement’s role in society. The day commenced with a thought-provoking session on “Science and Democracy,” examining how public engagement professionals can foster trust in science and influence policy-making.

Attendees then participated in a series of parallel sessions:

• Horizon Talks delved into equipping researchers with skills for effective science communication, highlighting training programs and innovative outreach strategies.

• Innovative Engagement Approaches showcased creative methods like forest biodiversity education and performing arts collaborations to make science more accessible.

• Overcoming Language Barriers offered hands-on experiences to communicate science across linguistic divides, emphasising the importance of cultural diversity in research communication.

• Organising Public Engagement in Challenging Situations provided practical strategies and toolkits for effective science communication under difficult circumstances.

The afternoon featured a panel discussion on the future of public engagement in research and innovation, reflecting on insights from a 16-month Mutual Learning Exercise initiated by the European Commission. Featuring contributions from:

featuring:

• Cissi Askwall, Coordinator, Swedish Research Council and MLE Chair
• Jean-Paul Bertemes, Head of Science in Society, Luxembourg National Research Fund
• Joana Magalhães, Senior Researcher Science for Change and Co-Coordinator COALESCE, Spain
• Theo Anagnostopoulos, Director SciCo and Manager, Falling Walls Engage Hub Greece
• Kenneth Skeldon (Session Chair), University of Glasgow and President, European Science Engagement Association

The conference concluded with the EUSEA General Assembly, a session that brought both celebration and transition. We warmly welcomed Sara Verstraeten to the EUSEA Board and were thrilled to continue working with Andrea Brunello, re-elected as a board member. At the same time, we bid a heartfelt farewell to the remarkable Annette Klinkert, who stepped down as EUSEA’s Director. Annette, your leadership, passion, and vision have left an indelible mark, thank you. While you’re moving on, you’ll always remain a vital part of the EUSEA family, and we look forward to seeing what’s next with city2science and the COLOURS European University Alliance.

A huge thank you to LPRC – La Palma Research Centre, especially Ariadna Ortega Rodríguez, Helena Robert i Campos, and the entire on-site team, for their incredible hospitality and for making everything run so smoothly.

And finally, to everyone who joined us in Gran Canaria—thank you for the energy, ideas, and connections you brought to #EUSEA25. We’re already looking forward to continuing the journey at #EUSEA26 in Luxembourg!