ESAF Annual Meeting 2023

11.–12. September, 2023
West University of Timișoara, Romania

See the annual meeting photo gallery here.

PROGRAMME

DAY 1, 11 September

18	Welcome cocktail
19	Dinner. Speakers: – European University Alliances – a new bridge for European identity. Opportunities for science advice (presentation slides). Prof. Irina MACSINGA, Professor of psychology, Dean of the Faculty of Sociology and Psychology, West University of Timișoara – Franklin A. CARRERO-MARTÍNEZ, Senior Director, Global Sustainability and Development & Science and Technology for Sustainability, The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
	DAY 2, 12 September. ESAF Annual Meeting 2023
09:30	Opening and introductions
	Chair: Prof. Mădălin BUNOIU, West University of Timisoara • Message from Prof. Marilen Gabriel PIRTEA, Rector of West University of Timisoara • Prof. Tudor PRISECARU, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Research • Prof. Tarmo SOOMERE, ESAF Chair, President of Estonian Academy of Sciences • Jaques VERRAES, Deputy Head of Science Policy, Advice, and Ethics Unit, European Commission
10:30	SESSION 1. MESSAGES FROM ROMANIA AND EUROPEAN COMMISSION
	Chair: Prof. Tarmo SOOMERE, Estonian Academy of Sciences • Research and Science Advice Systems in Romania. Prof. Tudor PRISECARU, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Research • Research Environment in Timișoara (presentation slides). Prof. Florin Alin SAVA, vice-rector for research, West University of Timisoara • The European Science for Policy ecosystem (presentation slides). Alessandro ALLEGRA, Policy Assistant to the Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission • “Towards sustainable food consumption. Promoting healthy, affordable, and sustainable food consumption choices”. GCSA Scientific Opinion published in June 2023 (presentation slides). Jacques VERRAES, Deputy Head of Science Policy, Advice, and Ethics Unit, European Commission
11:30	Coffee break
11:45	SESSION 2. ERA OF TRASH INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CHALLENGES OF SCIENCE ADVICE
	Chair: Prof. Maria Chiara CARROZZA, President of the National Research Council of Italy • Key-note presentation: The emergence of the pseudo-scientific discourse: crisis of science or crisis of the public sphere? (presentation slides). Professor Alina BÂRGĂOANU, PhD. The Dean of the College of Communication and Public Relations, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest, ROMANIA. Member of the advisory board of the European Digital Media Observatory, affiliate member of the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, Helsinki. • Challenges to science advice in the context of AI ‘hallucinations’ (presentation slides). Franklin A. CARRERO-MARTÍNEZ, Senior Director, Global Sustainability and Development & Science and Technology for Sustainability, The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine • Undermining Trust: The Impact of Scientific Fraud on EU Financing and Research Integrity (presentation slides). Robert MISTRIK, Slovak Research and Development Agency • Ongoing SAM work on Artificial intelligence for research and innovation. European Commission (presentation slides). Jacques VERRAES, Deputy Head of Science Policy, Advice, and Ethics Unit, European Commission • DISCUSSION
13:20	Lunch
14:20	SESSION 3. HOW TO MAKE NATIONAL SCIENCE ADVICE TRANSFERABLE TO OTHER COUNTRIES?
	Chair: Robert MISTRIK, Slovak Research and Development Agency • Warsaw Communiqué on Climate Change in Europe (presentation slides). Prof. Gerald HAUG, President of the German Academy of Science Leopoldina (remotely, represented by Dr. Lucien Brujan) • EU perspectives on evidence-informed policymaking in governance and public administrations (presentation slides). Agnieszka GADZINA-KOLODZIEJSKA, deputy Head of Unit Science for Democracy and Evidence-Informed Policy Making, Joint Research Centre • Speaking truth to power: towards building resilient democratic citizenry in a challenged legally based world order. Prof. Silviu ROGOBETE, PhD. Former Consul General of Romania in South Africa, Director of the Doctoral School of Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science at West University of Timișoara • Interventions by ESAF members – recent changes in Science Advice Systems ESAF members • DISCUSSION
16:00	Convenience Break
16:10	SESSION 4. ESAF MEMBERS CLOSED MEETING. DISCUSSIONS ON THE FOUNDING DOCUMENTS AND FUTURE OF ESAF. ELECTION OF THE ESAF NEW CHAIR
	Chair: Prof. Tarmo SOOMERE • Overview of ESAF activities 2022–2023. Prof Tarmo SOOMERE, ESAF Chair • European Commission expectations on how to work together with ESAF. Alessandro ALLEGRA, Policy Assistant to the Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission • New statute of ESAF. Changes in Terms of Reference and membership agreement (presentation slides). Anne-Greet KEIZER and Members of the Working Group • Election of the new chair for the next 3 years.
19:00	Networking Dinner