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The 4th World
Conference of Science Journalists Has Come to an End
(October 8, 2004) -
The 4th World Conference of Science journalists has
come to an end, and is qualified by many as great success, largely
because it brought hundreds of science journalists from so many
different parts of the world under the same roof for the first
time. "These past four days have gone so quickly when you
think of the years of efforts it took to pull it together"
says Veronique Morin, president of the World Federation of science
journalists, and of the Canadian Science Writers associations.
"In the end, the sure sign of success is to receive so much
positive feedbacks from the delegates. I think we have successfully
created new bonds and connections between science journalists,
and we have brought science journalism a step further by strengthening
the World Federation of Science journalists".
Morin confirms a structure has been approved by
a newly elected Board, last night, which will insure the creation
of programs and solid financial base for the Federation. This
structure implies a triangle of partnership between IDRC, and
other aids agencies, SciDev, a science news agency about the developing
countries, and the World Federation of Science journalists. The
WFSJ would offer support, and the human resources for workshop
programs, awards, and mentorship through its solid base of members.
The ball keeps on rolling from here.
Already, new plans for the 5th Conference,
in Melbourne, Australia in 2006 are taking place. A tight competition
was on between Germany, Italy, Spain, China and Australia. After
hours of discussions, and analysis of the proposals, the Board
of the World Federation of Science journalists reached a unanimous
agreement that Australia was going to be the place to hold the
next conference.
Morin explains it was important to pass on the legacy
to a solid national association to insure that the Federation
would move on and get even stronger from here. "In fact,
I started worrying about this, way before our conference in Montreal.
I have very strong feelings about the fact that a measure of our
success was the way we were going to be able to pass on what we
had learn through this experience of organizing such a conference,
otherwise you just keep on repeating the same things."
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