NANO16: EU Angst At Communicating Achievements

The European Nanoelectronics Forum 2016 in Rome today raised an issue which applies to the entire workings of the EU government – how do we explain to the general public the usefulness of what we do?

“There is concern about what policy makers do without involving the general public,” said Ben Ruck, Chair of ECSEL, “we need to reach the general public in our activities. It is their tax money we invest and they expect something in return. Effective communication of our achievements is essential.”

Ruck’s thesis was backed up by Alun Foster, Head of Plans and Dissemination at ECSEL.”We do a good job of communicating among ourselves but a terrible job of communicating outside,” said Foster, “we have to tell other people and get them engaged. We’re trying to talk to an informed but non-specialist audience.”

Ironically, having been to many of these annual forums which review EU-backed R&D projects, it was the first which I’ve attended which didn’t hold a press conference.