ESO Public Affairs Department

The Public Affairs Department conducts a coherent set of activities in support of ESO's institutional goals and policies. In particular it aims to:

• generate public support for ESO's ongoing and future projects;
• increase the awareness of ESO and its projects in the member states, potential candidate countries and other countries of importance to us;
• support ESO's links with key communities (scientific, industry, science policy makers, and education).

The activities of the department are structured along three main axes: Communication, Education, and Policy Support.

Communication

With respect to Communication, the activities comprise press releases, video newsreels and films, TV support, press conferences and press events (including press visits), supporting media requests, brochures and other printed matter, exhibitions, and the ESO web site.

Education

In the field of Education, they cover exercises and teaching kits, classroom activities, school visits, teachers' activities, e.g. Summer Schools, and contes ts for students, as well as participation in the major longer-term EIROforum educational activities (Science on Stage and Science in School, the European Journal for Science Education).

Policy Support

Finally, activities under Policy Support include the Messenger, the Annual Report, organisation of High Level Events in member-states and High Level Visits often involving government ministers, industrial delegations, members of parliaments, etc. Furthermore, overall EU and EIROforum relations fall under the remit of the department. The EU interaction, partly channelled through the EIRO-forum partnership, comprises a continuing awareness-building effort, interaction with science policy makers and participation in EU-funded programmes. In all areas, the primary goal for ESO is to secure the best possible conditions for European astronomers in the face of strong competition for support, both from other areas of science and from non-scientific spending needs.