Brussels, 05/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - 33 projects from 17 countries have been selected for the Descartes scientific communication prize. They illustrate diversity and the extraordinary depth and scale of European elaborated scientific communication initiatives. The projects selected cover a range of very diverse media: books, TV documentaries, films, youth magazines, press articl²es, interactive events, multimedia productions etc. and use different innovative methods and technologies from traditional publications, internet diffusion and pod casting, to organising major public events. An experts' group consisting of eminent scientists and top-notch media professionals, chaired by Suzanne de Cheveigné (part of the CNRS, Centre national de la recherche scientifique en France), selected this year's projects, including around 80 proposals from the whole of Europe - a 3% increase on last year's number.
Among the 33 projects selected, there will be 5 finalists and 5 prize-winners. They will share a prize that has risen to €275,000 this year. Prize-winners will be announced during the ceremony on 7 March 2007 in Brussels. At the same time as the Descartes awards for scientific excellence, the “Today is the Future” event will be held, organised to celebrate the launch of the 7th framework research programme and 50 years of European research. (oj)