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Projektbeschreibung
auf deutsch (pdf file)
EuroWistdom - Project description and background
Scientific and technological innovation lie at the
heart of Europe’s prosperity, and determine the whole way
in which we live our lives. And yet despite their importance, they
still attract too little interest among the public as a whole and
young people in particular. In some countries like Germany, the
media regard science and technology more as a risk than an opportunity,
and they feature hardly at all in popular television formats other
than news programmes and documentaries.
Whilst the figure will vary across Europe, in Germany
only 1.9% of the characters in TV films, drama series and soaps
work in technical professions, and interest in technological education
and careers is declining among youngsters and young adults. In a
recent international ROSE (Relevance of Science Education) survey,
young people in the industrialised nations said that science and
technology were of little relevance or interest to them. This was
particularly true of young women.
Objectives and implementation
The EU-sponsored EuroWistdom (European Women in Science
TV Drama On Message) project seeks to build on the many years of
experience gained from a British initiative set up by BBC Producers.
It aims to find new ways of using science and technology as a source
of inspiration for themes and characters in popular TV formats,
and to develop positive role models for young women rather than
the usual clichéd stereotypes.
The project provides financial and other support
for European TV scriptwriters and producers seeking to make current
science and technology issues a central focus of their work, and
to view these from a female perspective. This is done by putting
them in contact with scientists who have interesting stories to
tell.
Although we hear about science in the news on a daily
basis, it is often difficult to understand the stories behind the
headlines. Science can seem very complex and inaccessible, so EuroWistdom
provides direct access to scientists who can provide more information.
The opening conference, to be held in Berlin on 19
February, is a forum for discussion and interaction with charismatic
scientists and young, ambitious engineering students (specific event
website www.femtecconference.org). Further events will be held in
Paris and Ljubljana in early March.
Financial support
Six grants of €7,000 are provided for the development of new
ideas for TV series, serials and feature-length TV dramas covering
current science and technology issues.
Contacts:
EuroPAWS:
pawsomni@btconnect.com
Tel.: 0044(0)20 7483 4545 (answerphone)
Please use English, French or German for communications.
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