European science journalists recently joined a special workshop at the Max Planck Institute for biophysical Chemistry in Goettingen, Germany. They worked hands on in the lab in order to experience the science about which they are usually reporting. Thirteen journalists from 12 European countries were invited to spend one week in the lab and to join ongoing projects. The workshop was organized by EICOS, the "European Initiative for Communicators of Science" who wants to bring journalists closer to the forefront of modern biochemical and genetic research.
They looked a little older than regular students, the people who filled pipettes and carefully listened to the explanations of their tutors at the Max Planck Institute for biophysical Chemistry in Goettingen. For one week, journalists (nine men and four women) localized proteins and manipulated genes - a rather unusual activity for people who usually write articles, interview scientists or narrate short movies on scientific problems. However, most of them were not complete strangers to research work. Back in their home countries, many of them have regularly reported on such work, in newspapers, TV, or radio. Now they had the opportunity to do these things by themselves and to experience the feeling of happiness which scientists may have when an experiment is successful.
Two departments at the Max Planck Institute, Reinhard Jahn's Department of Neurobiology and Herbert Jaeckle's Department of Molecular Developmental Biology hosted the workshop. In groups of three or four, journalists were introduced to the ongoing research at these departments. The practical work of the day was discussed in overview presentations in the evenings when background knowledge was given and the research of the departments was explained. Aspects of applied genetic research were raised: Participants visited the Kleinwanzlebener Saatzucht AG in Einbeck, a company which works on seed improvement by various biotechnical methods. They also listened to a presentation of Professor Peter Gruss who introduced transgenic mice and illustrated the potential of these techniques for future treatment of deseases. But beside these perhaps more theoretical activities the participants' work during the six days involved: pipetting, characterizing proteins, determining "bands" on gels, or screen in drosophila larvae for genetically induced mutations. There were also introductions to other modern techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology. Participants were shown how cell compartments can be visualized using electron microscopes, or how to visualize secretion of substances by specific cells. Those who wanted to extend their lab work could go ahead and spend another week in any lab in Europe. But many had to return to their regular work - with new experiences and the fresh impressions of modern biological research. Not only the journalists but the scientists too, who spent the week supervising their guests, said they had learned a lot about how science should be communicated, about the sort of information the media are interested in, and the time pressure under which many journalists have to work.
These kind of workshops are the most important activities of EICOS. The initiative was founded in 1992 to make science more transparent for the public. "Hands on" lab courses for journalists, like this one in Goettingen, are organized and financially supported for seven years. Previously hosted at the Max Planck Institutes in Martinsried (near Munich), the program has now moved to Goettingen to the Max Planck Institute for biophysical Chemistry where this year the first course was organized in collaboration with the "Forum für Wissenschaft und Technik". Communicators of science from all over Europe could apply and the number of interested people by far exceeded the available lab space. "We had to select 12 or 13 from about 50 applicants - a very difficult job", Ulrich Kuhnt says, who together with Reinhard Jahn from the MPI and Dorothee Wegener from FWT organized the program. "We tried to select representatives from as many as possible countries and from the different fields of science journalism. Not only the chance to exchange with scientists in the lab is important but also the contact to colleagues in other countries and other fields of science communication." The next such course will be held in spring 2000, again in Goettingen, Germany.