Invitation to the study trip
Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) in Europe

29 to 31 October 2008,
Saarbrücken and Castle ("Schloss") Dagstuhl, Germany

Of the 32 billion euros of the FP7 Co-operation program of the
European Commission (EC), 9 billions alone are dedicated to
Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This is by far the
highest budget dedicated to a single research field in Europe: 30
percent above health, 2.5 time more than for nano-technology and 4.5
times more than for food and biotechnology together.

However, the coverage in the media and the journalistic monitoring,
even critical, seem to lack behind the financial efforts and the
scientific prominence Europe gives to ICT.

Thus Rüdiger Maier had the idea to bring together European science
journalists working on ICT topics using the EUSJA network. Maier is
member of the Austrian Club of Literacy and Science Journalists
(Österreichischer Klub der Bildungs- und Wissenschaftsjournalisten)
and editor-in-chief of the Austrian information technology magazine
"Monitor" (http://www.monitor.co.at/, German only),

To have a start, Maier organised a study trip for EUSJA members which
will provide an overview of Europe's latest ICT efforts.

Preliminary Program:

Wednesday 29 October:

from 13:00: Lunch somewhere in Saarbücken/Germany
until 14:00: Arrival of participants to the destination in Saarbrücken/
Germany
14:00 - 18:00: Lecture Program at the University Saarbrücken and the
German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
from 18:00: Dinner and overnight stay in a Saarbrücken hotel

Thursday 30 October:

09:00 - 16:00: Lectures and lab visits at the
- University Saarbrücken,
- Max-Planck-Institute for Informatics (http://www.mpi-inf.mpg.de/) and
- Max-Planck-Institute for Software Systems (http://www.mpi-sws.mpg.de/index_noflash.php
)
16:00 Departure for Castle Dagstuhl, the Leibniz Centre for
Informatics: http://www.dagstuhl.de/en/about-dagstuhl/
17:00-18:00 Press conference, question and answer session, get
together with scientists
18:00 Lunch
20:00 Sightseeing tour Castle Dagstuhl, informal get together, chats
and talks, exchanges of views on ICT with scientists during the
evening in the wine-cellar

Friday 31 October

09:00 - 10:00 Castle Dagstuhl
10:00 Departure for Völklinger Hut
11:00 - 12:30 Sightseeing of Völkinger Hut, the World Cultural
Heritage Site at the Völklingen Ironworks: http://www.voelklinger-huette.org/en/welcome/
. Opportunity for informal talks and chats with scientists and
exchanges of views on ICT.

End of program

EUSJA rules apply: Travel to and from the place at your own costs,
members from eastern European countries may apply for travel support
from EUSJA (rules see EUSJA web page). Accommodation and transport
during the event is free.

Deadline for applications: 15 September 2008.

Applications to be sent to your national delegate.
The national delegates propose max. 2 participants per country to the board.
Participations will be confirmed. 20 places available.

Closest international airports are (with connection to Saarbrücken):
Frankfurt (FRA) 200 km (ICE train)
Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN) 120 km (bus)
Luxembourg (LUX) 90 km (bus)

Train station Saarbrücken:
Frankfurt-Paris TGV/ICE line
ICE and regional connections from Frankfurt



Posted 14 August 2008