Using TV to engage the public in science
Without a doubt, television is a leading means of information distribution in the 21st century. Broadcasters in Europe are looking to exploit this situation in order to improve dissemination of scientific research and thereby contribute to the goals of the European Commission's Science in Society programme. The 'Science in Europe 2020' (SC2020) project was led by the European Broadcasting Union, which is the largest association of broadcasters worldwide. To kick the project off, a two-day event was held to gather audiovisual professionals together to exchange expertise and enhance networking opportunities. In addition, a database was created with details for key players in the distribution of television programmes in the European and international markets. Part of the EU funding granted to SC2020 was used to support independent producers of scientific content. It not only helped facilitate new productions but also helped increase the geographical range of distribution. A total of 12 hours of programming were produced on a range of scientific topics including climate change, nanotechnology, evolutionary biology, particle physics and marine science. The documentaries were translated into several different languages and are available in multiple video formats, including Blu-ray disc and video on demand. In additional to traditional television broadcasts, the documentaries have also been shown at film festivals and public screenings. In fact, the results of SC2020 have been so positive that a follow-on project has been approved with the intent of reaching an even larger European audience.