Download European Particle Physics Communication network

CERN-Council-S/021
Original: English
3 September 2008
ORGANISATION EUROPÉENNE POUR LA RECHERCHE NUCLÉAIRE
CERN EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH
Action to be taken
For information
Voting Procedure
EUROPEAN STRATEGY
SESSION OF COUNCIL
RESTRICTED
4th Session
19 September 2008
-
REPORT FROM EUROPEAN PARTICLE PHYSICS COMMUNICATION NETWORK
2008/102/5/e
CERN-Council-S/021
1
1. Context
The European Particle Physics Communication Network, EPPCN, established as part of the
European Strategy for Particle Physics, has met three times since its inception in 2007, twice
at CERN and once in London, hosted by STFC. A first report was made to the 145 th session
of Council on 13 December 2007 (CERN/2765) The first meeting consisted largely of reports
from Member States on structures and activities on particle physics communication, and
served to establish working procedures, with the creation of an e-mail discussion list and webbased workspace for the network. The second and third meetings served to define terms of
reference for the network, based on §15 of the European strategy for particle physics
approved by Council in Lisbon on 14 July 2006, and to define and implement common
actions for the LHC start-up period. These are presented for information to the European
Strategy Session of Council in this paper.
2. Activity report
The network has strengthened the communication of particle physics in CERN’s Member
States, allowing European particle physics to make the most of the unique communication
opportunity presented by the start-up of the LHC.
Media work
Working with EPPCN, CERN organised media briefing days for journalists from the majority
of Member States through 2007. This has helped to generate an unprecedented level of media
interest in CERN and particle physics, which in turn brings a unique opportunity to boost
awareness and appreciation of the Organization and its activities on a global scale.
CERN has invited media to be present at the Laboratory for the first injection of beam into the
LHC on 10 September, and has a total of over 200 journalists and support staff accredited for
the day. Working closely with EPPCN has helped to ensure a good level of participation from
a large number of Member States, as well as awareness within Member States among
interested journalists who are not able to attend in person. EPPCN members are also
organizing a number of parallel events in-country for 10 September (DE, ES, FR, GB, IT, NL,
NO).
For routine press releases, EPPCN has adopted the protocol (Annex 2) established by the
InterAction collaboration of laboratory and funding agency communications officers. This
gives EPPCN members advance notice of all CERN press releases, and the possibility to
prepare local versions if they wish.
Documentation
The CERN Communication group has in the past produced print publications in English and
French, with German, Italian and Spanish following where resources have allowed. Through
EPPCN, the following procedure has been established and implemented for the production of
CERN print publications in other Member State languages:
1. CERN provides a regularly updated list of current publications along with the
languages in which they are available;
2. CERN provides adequate quantities of brochures to the Member States;
3. Distribution in Member States is coordinated through a central point, as for the CERN
Courier;
4. EPPCN members assist with translations for languages other than English and French.
2008/102/5/e
2
CERN-Council-S/021
LSAG report
CERN published the LHC safety assessment group (LSAG) report on the safety of LHC
collisions, along with a layman’s summary following the June meeting of Council. EPPCN
has allowed CERN to provide the layman’s summary in German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian,
Polish and Spanish, as well as the English and French provided by CERN. Japanese and
Russian versions are also available.
3. Future projects
Multi-lingual web portal
The provision of Web-based information in Member State languages other than English and
French is a priority for the network. Following EPPCN’s recommendation to CERN to
investigate the ESA model, which supports 17 national versions with variable content for
different countries, a proposal for a multi-lingual CERN portal will be made to the EPPCN’s
September meeting.
Country information sheets
Information sheets detailing each Member State’s involvement in CERN were prepared for a
majority of Member States in 2004 for the 50th anniversary of CERN and in 2005 to
accompany the European Strategy for Particle Physics brochure. These are being updated for
the LHC start-up. EPPCN will investigate the possibility of systematically maintaining these
documents up to date.
Links with EPPOG
At the last EPPCN meeting, the chair of the European Particle Physics Outreach Group
(EPPOG), a grass-roots network of physicists active in outreach, presented EPPOG’s activity
to EPPCN. EPPOG members have since expressed a wish for closer cooperation with
EPPCN, possibly to the extent of organizing one joint meeting per year. This topic is tabled
for discussion at the next EPPCN meeting.
In addition to the subjects mentioned above, the next meeting of the EPPCN, to be held at
CERN on 22-23 September, will serve to:
 Take stock of media coverage of the LHC start-up;
 Brief EPPCN members on preparations for the Official Inauguration of the LHC;
 Report on LHC communication in the Member States.
2008/102/5/e
CERN-Council-S/021
3
Annexes
1. EPPCN Terms of Reference
Mission Statement
The mission of the European Particle Physics Communication Network (EPPCN) is to
strengthen the communication of particle physics in the Member States of CERN, the
European Organization for Nuclear Research, through communication officers in the Member
States and at CERN working together. The EPPCN reports to the CERN Council.
Background
At a special session in Lisbon on 14 July 2006, the CERN Council unanimously approved a
European Strategy for Particle Physics. Communication is integral to this strategy, which
states:
"Council will establish a network of closely cooperating professional communication officers
from each Member State, which would incorporate existing activities, propose, implement
and monitor a European particle physics communication and education strategy, and report on
a regular basis to Council."
With the start-up of the LHC, public and media interest in the field is at an unprecedentedly
high level. This presents a unique opportunity in terms of public image for the field, and for
science in general. Public opinion surveys indicate that if this opportunity is to be fully
exploited, considerable effort needs to be invested in harmonizing messages, and adapting
them to their target audiences. The role of the network is to ensure that positive and coherent
messages are communicated in CERN's Member States, helping to convert current interest in
to sustained interest and support for science.
Specific issues
The EPPCN will:





Strengthen communication between communications officers in the Member States;
Review existing communications practices at CERN and in the Member States with a
view to sharing best practice and maximising benefit in the Member States;
Offer constructive advice on communication issues to Council based on consensus
decisions made by the network;
Prepare and implement communication activities based around the start-up and results
from the LHC;
Propose, implement and monitor strategies designed to foster long-term support for
sciences related to CERN’s mission, in support of the European strategy for particle
physics.
Target audiences
The EPPCN members’ activity will be focused on the following target audiences:




The general public – to foster engagement with scientific issues;
Science and technology opinion formers – to foster long-term support for sciences
related to CERN’s mission;
Industry – to encourage partnerships;
Schools – to stimulate good practice in science education, promote scientific literacy
and encourage the uptake of science at the university level.
2008/102/5/e
4
CERN-Council-S/021
These audiences will be reached through the following vectors:





Media
Exhibitions
Visits
Publications (print and electronic)
Multimedia products
2. Press release protocol (Adapted from InterAction collaboration)
1. CERN should advise EPPCN members of the intent to issue a press release two weeks
in advance of the proposed date whenever possible.
2. In agreeing the date of issue, consideration should be reached on the exact timing of
the release in order to align different time zones with the media deadlines of any
particular country, bearing in mind that CERN may also be informing non-European
partners. Embargoes can be employed in such situations.
3. CERN is responsible for producing the initial first draft of the press release.
4. CERN will make clear which parts, if any, of the initial first draft are considered to be
immutable.
5. Once the initial draft release has been prepared it should be circulated to EPPCN in
order for them to have the opportunity to produce a national version of the story.
6. EPPCN members can then craft a national variant of the release, to incorporate quotes
from their particular scientists and officials and emphasise the national contribution to
the project.
7. Where applicable, the national version should also include at least one quote from
CERN to add credence and bring out the international, collaborative nature of the
project. The national version must contain any passages marked as immutable by the
source laboratory/institute.
2008/102/5/e
CERN-Council-S/021
5
3. Network membership
Three Member States have yet to nominate a representative to the network.
Country
Representative
Austria
Marianne Baumgart, OAW
Belgium
Paul Devuyst
Bulgaria
Vacant
Czech republic
Dagmar Dvorakova, ASCR
Denmark
Vacant
Finland
Minna Merilainen, Helsinki University
France
Perrine Royole-Degieux, CNRS/IN2P3
Germany
Thomas Naumann, Katrin Voss, Thomas Zoufal, DESY
Greece
Nicholas Tracas, NTUA
Hungary
László Jéki, KFKI
Italy
Eleonora Cossi, INFN Rome
Netherlands
Gabby Zegers, Gerjan Bobbink, Nikhef
Norway
Ingvil Bjornaes, Forskningsrådet
Poland
Stanislaw Latek, National Atomic Energy Agency
Portugal
Pedro Abreu, LIP
Slovakia
Vacant
Spain
Maria Chamizo-Llatas, CIEMAT; Miguel Ángel Sanchis, IFIC
Sweden
Camilla Jakobsson, Vetenskapsrådet
Switzerland
Beat Gerber, ETHZ
United Kingdom
Peter Barratt, STFC
CERN
James Gillies, Communication group
2008/102/5/e