9th ELSI International Symposium

Science in Society

Mon. Jan 25 - Thu. Jan 28, 2021

Online. Organized from Tokyo, Japan

Thanks for attending! If you missed anything or weren't able to attend, the ELSI 2021 Symposium content is available on ELSI's YouTube Channel .

ELSI's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNN8x7BvS1VkoAMbs1ChIMA

This website won't be updated further, so please check ELSI's website (elsi.jp/en) or ELSI's twitter (@ELSI_origins) in order to stay up-to-date with ELSI events and news.

  • Follow @ELSI_origins for updates on twitter, and use #ELSI2021 to be a part of the discussion

Why Science in Society? Scientific research is an inseparable part of society. The resources needed to conduct scientific research are provided by society, and ultimately the achievements of science must benefit society--whether it be through new discoveries, improved methodologies, or sharing our expertise. The success and sustainability of our research depend crucially on building closer and more effective connections across different social groups. Modern scientists need to learn why society invests in our work, how we may deliver a return on this investment, and how we can best support society through both tranquil times and times of crisis. How do we ensure the sustainability of science in society? How do we improve science literacy? As a community, we need to learn how to communicate to the public and policymakers in a manner that is most effective, and adapt to changing demographic and economic pressures in order to successfully recruit and cultivate the next generation of scientists.

Why ELSI? As a research institution, funded generously by society, whose aim is to achieve progress in broadly inter-disciplinary scientific areas, ELSI is well positioned to widen the image of the role of researchers both within academia and beyond.

What is the scope of this symposium? This symposium urges us to consider what the role of science in society is and, by extension, how scientists should prioritize their time between research and societal engagement. This will be achieved by providing the cultural, historical and overall societal context of the meaning of science--including the roles of policy, advocacy, funding systems, and science communication--by expert scientists and non-scientists who work at the interface of science, government, the private sector and society at large. The symposium will include lectures and panel discussions as well as hands-on workshops to help kickstart activities that provide utility beyond the symposium itself.

Who is this symposium for? This symposium will be geared towards scientists of all fields, but welcomes participants from all branches of society.

About ELSI. The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) is one of Japan’s ambitious World Premiere International research centers, whose aim is to achieve progress in broadly inter-disciplinary scientific areas by inspiring the world’s greatest minds to come to Japan and collaborate on the most challenging scientific problems. ELSI’s primary aim is to address the origin and co-evolution of the Earth and life.

Acknowledgements. The 9th ELSI International Symposium consists of organizers across the globe. The Tokyo/ELSI-based lead organizers include Matthieu Laneuville, Hiroyuki Kurokawa, Harrison Smith, Hanako Ricciardi, Irena Mamajanov, Emily Wong, Thilina Heenatigala. Organizers supporting the Europe/Africa region include: Lotta Purkamo (Geological Survey of Finland), Marine Lasbleis (Université de Nantes/CNRS), Donato Giovanelli (University of Naples). Organizers supporting the Americas region include: Katherine Petrie (University of California, San Diego), Stuart Bartlett (California Institute of Technology), Nancy Merino (Lawrence Livermore National Lab).

Code of Conduct. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. All event attendees and staff have the right to a space that is free of all forms of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and/or retaliation. Participants who are requested to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately. If you wish to report harassment, suspect that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the organizing committee as soon as possible.