Lausanne to host biennial World Conference of Science Journalists

Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-30 03:58:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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GENEVA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss city of Lausanne has been chosen to host the 2019 World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ), the biggest global event on science journalism, according to an ongoing 2017 conference in San Francisco, the United States on Saturday.

About 1,000 to 1,200 science reporters and specialists from over 60 countries are expected to attend the 11th edition of the WCSJ in Lausanne between July 1 and 5, 2019, mainly on the campuses of the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of Lausanne.

It's the first time that the world's three major science writers' associations have joined forces to apply, namely the Swiss Association for Science Journalism, the French Association of Science Journalists in the news media (AJSPI), and Science Writers in Italy.

The Lausanne event will be built around original forms of presentation including creative workshops, mobile debates, brainstorming discussions and tutorials. It will offer participants the opportunity to "share good practice and reflect on the values of the profession of science journalism," and to "allow them to discover new tools and how to implement them," said AJSPI Vice President Yves Sciama.

Lausanne's candidacy has enjoyed the support of four major academic partners: EPFL, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the University of Lausanne and the University of Geneva. Besides visits to partner institutions, some 30 other study tours will be organized during the event, ranging from trips to alpine research stations to tours of many Swiss and European institutions.

Switzerland has been drawing its economic success largely from science and innovation, and has been at the top of the Global innovation index for several years. Lausanne and the entire Lemanic arc where the city is located have profited from a unique environment renowned for high quality schools of higher education, well known multinationals, as well as numerous start-up enterprises active principally in the area of life sciences.

"This conference is a unique opportunity for Switzerland to demonstrate to journalists from around the world that behind our famous mountains and chocolate lies a center of scientific excellence," said Nicolas Bideau, head of Presence Switzerland which is part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs to promote Swiss interests.

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