My name is Sören Auer and I’m heading the Adaptive Knowledge Engineering and Semantic Web research group at Universität Leipzig.

As a research project manager, reviewer, evaluator and project proposer I got quite some experiences with research funding from different perspectives and on different levels. I gained the impression that research is currently often not performed as efficient and beneficial as it could be. One reason for that from my point of view is the way research funding works today.

Together with colleagues we were working on a new model for research funding, which is based on creating an open prediction market for research ideas in order to identify the most promising approaches for funding. In such an open market stakeholders bet or vote about which research results benefit them most. The highest-ranked research ideas according to the stakeholder benefit should ultimately get funded. The market should be organised as a transparent Web platform incorporating semantic (for information integration) and social networking (for self-organising collaboration) techniques.

As a proof-of-concept we were developing with Cofundos.org a Web platform for open-source software R&D, which is already actively used and attracted wide attention. In order to advance this project towards the original aim of improving research funding we have set up a web site with further information about the envisioned Participative Research funding concept at:

http://wiki.cofundos.org

I would be very happy to receive your comments on the Participatory Research concept. I’m especially interested in views from different disciplines (e.g. Chemistry, Biology, Social Sciences etc.), since the Participatory Research concept is currently pretty much influenced by our Computer Science perspective.

Best,

Sören

Tejinder Virdee
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN),Switzerland

Saturday 19 July | 08:30 – 10:00

Key-note Lecture: The Universe and Reality

Cosmologists can now say with some confidence that our Universe consists of 5 percent of matter like that of which we are made, 25 percent some other, still unknown, form of transparent matter, and 70 percent of a still mysterious form of dark energy, which is controlling the fate of the Universe. Our importance in this list is the natural extension of the “Copernican principle”, which notes that any explanation for an observation or event which requires a special role for Man is inevitably wrong. Astrophysics has extended this Copernican concept so far that we know that almost everything that we see in the Universe, and the very type of matter of which we are made, is an almost insignificant perturbation on a deeper and very different reality. It may be that the reality we have discovered on the largest scales is the same as that now being approached from the smallest scales, in particle physics. Or it may not. Yet we are able to describe much of the past history of the Universe, from its origin as an imperfect fluctuation in nothing, to the present when gravity has lost control of the fate of the Universe, and to consider possible far futures.

Results from the forthcoming experiments on the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) accelerator at CERN have the potential to alter our perception of how Nature operates. These experiments, due to start collecting data in 2008, will be the most important ones in elementary particle physics for the foreseeable future. The aim is to tackle some of the most fundamental questions about the origin, evolution and composition of our universe. Potential discoveries include new forms of matter, new forces of nature, new dimensions of space and time. Particular questions to be addressed include: what is the origin of mass, what constitutes dark matter, why is the universe composed of matter, not antimatter, and more.
For these experiments, protons will be collided at unprecedented high energies to recreate and study states of matter believed to have been present a fraction of a nanosecond after the Big Bang.

The x-change is a perfect round-up of the day, giving you the highlights of the day’s events in a friendly, interactive and multi-disciplinary show-style. An ideal opportunity to get together, have a drink, and share your views on the day’s hottest topics with a panel of ESOF’s best speakers.

More information on the ESOF2008 website

For further information please check here

• China – deadline May 15, 2008
• India – deadline May 15, 2008
• Japan – deadline May 15, 2008

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The “From Lab to Market” programme is a series of engaging panel discussions, targeted at executives managing science & technology innovation within large corporations and medium businesses throughout Europe. This is your chance to discuss what it takes to grow your business by identifying, developing and securing innovative technologies. Join thousands of the best scientists and entrepreneurs and discuss your innovation agenda.

More information here

Click here for a list of the career programme sessions

- FECYT-CSIC-FCRI Travel grants for young researchers who are related to Spanish universities, institutions or research centres to attend ESOF2008

- Travel grants for ESOF2008 Eastern Europe attendees

- The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) is offering 20 travel grants to help young researchers who are related to French universities, institutions or research centres and who may wish to attend ESOF2008.

More information here

More information and reservation form

At the modern art CaixaForum museum and during a typical Spanish lunch, small groups of young scientists will be able to directly interact with Nobel Laureates, key politicians and decisions makers participating in ESOF 2008. At each table, a young moderator will guide the debates.

The eminent participants will gladly answer all questions concerning their career, their research, their personal views about science and innovation policy and their views on the latest “hot” scientific topics.

Do not miss it ! All scientists below the age of 35 registered at ESOF2008 will soon receive more information about how to register at “Tapas with the Prof”. Please note that there are limited places – register early so you don´t miss out!

Tapas with the Prof is one of the the ESOF2008 Career Programme activities that aims to publicise the opportunities open to young and mid-career researchers in Europe and around the world through practical sessions, panel discussions, debates, presentations and networking events.

5 good reasons to attend ESOF

1. 1. Participate to the career programme and discover new professional opportunities
2. 2. Have the unique opportunity to meet and exchange your views with Nobel Laureates and others key personalities during an informal lunch
3. 3. Boost your scientific career by meeting eminent scientists from all over the world
4. 4. Acquire a rich scientific and political culture participating to the sessions of the 10 ESOF scientific themes
5. 5. Enjoy Barcelona city life and special discounts and activities for ESOF young participants