#EUSEA26 Day 1 – Was there enough cows?

Mooove over EUSEA25! The opening of EUSEA26 was udderly memorable. Sorry, I’ll try to tone down the cow puns (but I can’t promise anything). The Luxembourg team had made a promise, and it was time to cash it in, and Jean-Paul Bertemes from the FNR rose to the challenge!

The conference was officially opened by EUSEA President Ken Skeldon and EUSEA Managing Director Jörg Weiss, who set the tone with this year’s theme:

“In Other Words and Other Worlds: Confronting Assumptions for Better Engagement”

Over the next two days, we were excited to explore how we share stories beyond the words we say, and how we can challenge the assumptions that may be limiting our practice in public engagement and science communication. A powerful message, though if we’re honest, the EUSEA team were somewhat upstaged by the welcome from Serge Haan of the University of Luxembourg and, of course, Jean-Paul.

Our first keynote speaker was Mirko Bischofberger, Founder of Science Studios and lecturer in Science Communication at EPFL and ETH Zurich. Mirko gave us plenty to chew on, sharing his experience of how public engagement is evolving in a rapidly shifting digital landscape, including the double-edged sword of AI in his talk: The AI Persuasion Paradox: Saving SciComm or Destroying Trust Forever?

Throughout the day, attendees took part in a range of sessions:

• Speed Meeting – The ultimate icebreaker: a rapid-fire meet-and-greet to get to know fellow attendees fast. Participants were also challenged to complete their EUSEA social networking bingo cards.
• Horizon Talks – Exploring the breadth and depth of public engagement and science communication, with sessions on citizen participation, inclusive methods and technologies, and integrating engagement into community building and urban planning.
• Interactive Workshops – Hands-on discussions covering how to build better citizen science projects, serve underserved communities through skill exchange, and connect with science communication practitioners from beyond Europe via good old-fashioned snail mail.

The official programme wrapped up at 17:30, but the day was far from over. In the shadow of the Belval campus’s iconic blast furnace, the Luxembourg team brought the energy at Café Saga with role-play and some surprisingly competitive low-tech, homemade “Roomba” racing. From there, it was just a short stroll across the courtyard for food, cake, and plenty more conversation at the EUSEA conference dinner.

And for those with a little extra energy? Not to worry, as a karaoke bar was on hand for anyone who wanted to sing their heart out, or at least lead another round of Happy Birthday for EUSEA (and Jean-Paul).

After a day like that, we were more than ready for a good night’s sleep and gearing up for Day 2.