openPR Logo
Press release

International Conference Will Highlight Societal and Economic Impact of Basic Research

03-29-2007 05:40 PM CET | Science & Education

Press release from: Austrian Science Fund FWF

International Conference Will Highlight Societal and Economic Impact of Basic Research

An international conference dealing with the impact of basic research will take place on 10 - 11 May 2007 at the Alte Aula, Vienna, Austria. The conference organised by the Austrian Science Fund in cooperation with the European Science Foundation will explore how and when basic research, society and the economy interact. International Experts will examine methods for evaluating and reinforcing the impact of basic research. The international conference Science Impact - Rethinking the Impact of Basic Research on Society and the Economy is aimed at stimulating public discussion and promoting awareness of basic research. Scientists, funding bodies and decision makers are invited to participate. A detailed programme as well as the conference brochure including the abstracts of all presentations is available via http://www.science-impact.ac.at.

Apart from three keynotes that will discuss aspects of Economy, Science Theory and Science the first part of the conference will deal with The Impact of Basic Research: Theory, History, Expectations. Theoretical and historical overviews will be discussed. It is generally agreed that basic research drives economic and societal progress, yet the processes through which science evolves into knowledge need further discussion. As an example, the accuracy of the linear and dynamic model needs careful examination. To understand the status quo, the conference will offer opportunities to address the expectations for the impact of basic research including specific questions such as: What part does chance play in scientific investigation? And can serendipity be systematically exploited? What influences can and should the expectations of industry and society exert on the search for knowledge?

Funding Models and their Influence on the Impact of Basic Research will be examined in the second part of the event. On the basis of a wide variety of established funding models cases of best practice will be presented that all aim to maximize the social and economic impact of basic research. New approaches to research funding are growing in importance, aimed at the productive use of basic research. As an example, researchers from different disciplines are forming new teams working at the interfaces between traditional structures. The funding schemes - both project-based and institutional - that make such developments possible will be illustrated by success stories and the possible principles, which can be derived from them, will be discussed. This second part of the conference will also investigate how to allocate the responsibility for research funding among local, regional and national government and the European Union (EU) for maximum impact.

A further section Scope, Limits and Role of Impact Evaluation of the conference will be devoted to methods and tools for evaluating the impact of basic research. The aim of this section is to develop indicators and methods of evaluation for use in assessing research funding models. Practical examples and cases will be presented.

Each session consists of a short introduction by the Chair, three lectures and a closing discussion. At the beginning of each discussion two Early Stage Researchers will hold short presentations. The conclusion of the conference will be a "round table“ with speakers from all sessions participating. The “round table” follows a lecture with a conference summary and suggestions for the future.

Prominent Speakers e.g. from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Institut nationale de la recherche scientific (INRS), Weizmann Institute of Science, Harvard University, University of Twente, University of Sussex, Northwestern University, Technology Foundation STW, UNU-MERIT, University of York, will contribute to the conference.

The conference will be concluded on the evening of the 11 May by Gerhard Widmer, University of Linz, Austria with a lecture on the topic of The Beauty of Basic Research. A part of the lecture is a piano concert by Erika Chun, a young rising pianist from Vienna. The title of the lecture and the music of Mozart as a part of the lecture will show that "beauty“ also can enforce the impact of basic research.

For details on registration and the conference programme please visit our website: http://www.science-impact.ac.at

The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is Austria's central body for the promotion of basic research. It is equally committed to all branches of science and in all its activities is guided solely by the standards of the international scientific community.

Contact:
Alexander Damianisch (Project Manager)
Der Wissenschaftsfonds FWF / Austrian Science Fund
Haus der Forschung
Sensengasse 1, 1090 Vienna
Austria
T: 0043 / 1 / 505 67 40 - 8112
alexander.damianisch@fwf.ac.at

science.impact@fwf.ac.at
http://www.fwf.ac.at


Distribution:
PR&D - Public Relations for Research & Development
Campus Vienna Biocenter 2
1030 Vienna
Austria
T +43 / 1 / 505 70 44
E contact@prd.at

This release was published on openPR.

Permanent link to this press release:

Copy
Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.

You can edit or delete your press release International Conference Will Highlight Societal and Economic Impact of Basic Research here

News-ID: 17670 • Views:

More Releases from Austrian Science Fund FWF

Human rights: Extrajudicial complaint mechanisms particularily suitable
Reconciling corporate interests with human rights is a difficult endeavour. A research project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF demonstrates that non-judicial complaint mechanisms may be an adequate avenue for conflict resolution. For a number of years, companies have been facing increased pressure when it comes to human rights violations. Numerous multinational corporations such as Shell Oil, Texaco or Unocal were accused of such violations, resulting in years of
Body language in the classroom
Body language plays a crucial role, particularly in communication between teachers and students. This is the outcome of a project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF which focused on the hidden elements of teaching. An encouraging smile, a sceptical frown, a negating shake of the head: body language is very diverse and effective. With the discovery of mirror neurons, brain researchers corroborated its impact by demonstrating how these nerve cells
Art history – In the eye of the beholder
What viewers of a work of art see and feel is informed by their socio-cultural background and by how familiar they are with the image. Art historians have now verified this theory with the help of methods that are usually used in psychology. This project is funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF. The influence culture has on an individual's experience and behaviour is a long-standing object of research
Targeting chronic pain
With the support of the Austrian Science Fund FWF, the neurophysiologist Ruth Drdla-Schutting is investigating the role astrocytes play in the genesis of chronic pain. With the help of innovative gene technology (DREADDs), scientists are tailoring treatment specifically to these cells that are the most numerous found in the central nervous system. Pain is an important protection system of the human body. But when it becomes chronic, as it frequently

All 4 Releases


More Releases for Austria

Austria Agriculture Market | Austria Agriculture Industry | Austria Agriculture …
The share of Austria agriculture within the Austrian economy declined steady afterward World War II, agriculture continues to represent a very important part of the economy attributable to its social and political significance. The Chamber of Agriculture rests on an equal level with the chambers of commerce and labour, though its members manufactures solely a fraction of the GDP that industrial and sale able labours produce. Though little, the agricultural sector is
Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband 2018-2023 Austria Market Survey Industry Key Play …
WiseGuyReports.com "Austria - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses" report has been added to its Research Database. Scope of the Report: Austria's telcos looking forward to major spectrum auctions for 5G. Austria's telecom market is dominated by the incumbent Telekom Austria and the cableco UPC Austria, though there has been greater competitive pressure in the fixed-line broadband and mobile sectors in recent years. In common with operators elsewhere in Europe,
Austria Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband Market Professional Survey with Industry …
WiseGuyReports.com “Austria - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses” report has been added to its Research Database. Scope of the Report: Austria’s telcos looking forward to major spectrum auctions for 5G. Austria’s telecom market is dominated by the incumbent Telekom Austria and the cableco UPC Austria, though there has been greater competitive pressure in the fixed-line broadband and mobile sectors in recent years. In common with operators elsewhere in Europe,
Agrochemicals Market in Austria
ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Austria: Agrochemicals: Market Intelligence (2016-2021) to its growing collection of premium market research reports. The report “Austria: Agrochemicals: Market Intelligence (2016-2021)” provides market intelligence on the different market segments, based on type, active ingredient, formulation, crop, and pest. Market size and forecast (2016-2021) has been provided in terms of both, value (000 USD) and volume (000 KG) in the report. A
Nazi psychology in Austria
The history of academic psychology after the "Anschluss", the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938, and its role as a discipline used in National Socialist policies is being examined systematically for the first time in a research project supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF. "It is a sad fact”, says psychologist Gerhard Benetka from the Sigmund Freud University Vienna "that applied psychology flourished during the National Socialist era
Creative Austria meets creative Russia
Euroforum: communicatin ready for the next lap Vienna. On 22nd of October 2009 the advertising association Vienna invites again to the annual Euroforum: communication event, platform for European communication, guaranteeing an interesting mix of “connecting businesses and communications”. The Event takes place in Studio 44, Vienna. Focus point Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sotschi) The main goal of the Euroforum is to promote and establish business relations and synergies between