Science in the media goes up the poll

"Television was the most popular (61%) and most trusted (47%) medium for information about science, though there was a preference for traditional (47%), rather than thematic (27%) TV channels." That is how the EU sums up the findings of the latest survey of "attitudes to science in the media".

Check out the Press Releases on Europa. The headline sums it up: "Big differences still exist between Member States in attitudes to science in the media".

The press release marks the European Forum on Science Journalism in Barcelona on 3-4 December. The page also has links to the full survey, along with "Two special surveys of European scientists and media professionals" which are supposed to "identify key issues impacting the coverage of scientific information, and the professional challenges of science journalism across Europe".

Check out the "survey of European media professionals on how European research is presented and covered in and by the media". There is also the European Guide to Science Journalism Training "giving, for the first time, a full picture of training opportunities for science journalists across Europe".

EuroWistdom coming to a screen near you?

EuroWistdom (European Women in Science TV Drama On Message) has handed out a bunch of grants to TV writers to help them to "develop ideas for new TV drama series or feature length TV films on a theme involving contemporary science and technology that also give prominence to women as scientists or engineers".

The announcement of this initiative on AlphaGalileo, Leading Writers Across Europe Take On Science Stories For Television Drama, has details of the projects. There is also a lot more on EuroWistdom at its own web site.

Descartes time again

"Nominations are now open for the next European Research Awards, which include the Descartes prizes for trans-national collaborative research, and the Descartes prizes for science communication. The total prize money on offer is EUR 1.7 million. Applications must be received by 17 July."

Check out the details over at the CORDIS: FP7 : News room.

Do Europeans enjoy science programmes?

The European Commission wants to analyse "public perception of science programmes on European TV and radio stations". It has put out a call for project proposals aimed at "gathering data and providing an analysis on how European citizens perceive the science and research programmes offered to them on TV and radio".

The results of the project could interest those who make these programmes. As the announcement puts it "This call will fund research investigating the ways the general public in Europe perceives, enjoys or dislikes current audiovisual science programmes. Findings will be broken down according to subjects' nationality and socio-economical background, as well as their expectations in this area."

You have until 23 May to put in your bid.