Internet-based, cross-generational and participatory.
The European Science Parliament (ESP), an ongoing discussion forum dealing with current socio-political topics related to science and research, is initiated by the City of Aachen and RWTH Aachen University.
The ESP brings dialogue between science and society forward and develops new methods of participation suitable for and accessible to anyone, regardless of age, nationality or profession.
Experts from across Europe are brought together with the interested public. In order to discuss questions of pan-European importance, the ESP combines internet discussion forums with the classical conference into a new manner of participation.
Online discussions are open to anyone, can procure the basic knowledge and prepare the participants for the conference. More complex questions can be discussed in detail. Additionally, the most committed disputants are invited to the ESP-Conference taking place in Aachen bi-yearly.
Here, the participants meet in person to formulate a collective statement, the 'Aachen Declaration', which is forwarded to EU-Institutions as recommendatory portrayal of opinions.
At the conference, no political fractions are formed,
each group isresponsible for one aspect of the topic, trying to compile objective findings guided by modern science, new media and European policy. Participants will find not only classic parliamentary work such as voting, plenum and committees but also innovative methods such as the knowledge-café, where groups and topics are mixed in order to allow for multidisciplinary approaches to questions.
- What happened during the ESP 2008?
- Read the Aachen Declaration online!
