The Science Journalism Forum 2025 (SJF25), the most diverse event in science journalism, is opening its doors to a broader audience, creating space for journalists, researchers, policymakers, and the public to come together.
With that in mind, EUSJA is pleased to be a Community partner in SJF25. See you from October 27 to 30 in the UAE or virtually!
This year’s theme is Science Journalism at a Crossroads – Rethinking Trust, Funding & Innovation.
EUSJA president Fintan Burke will be speaking at the session “Pan-European science journalism” on Thursday 30 October.
The forum will feature sessions in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese), making it more accessible and inclusive like always.
We also have ten tickets available that allow EUSJA members to register for half price. Interested? Send an email to president@eusja.org to claim one while they last!
In September, EUSJA was invited to attend the seminar of the Balkan network of Science Journalists (BNSJ) in Belgrade. The event was held at the Institute of Physics Belgrade, right at the bank of the Danube river.
EUSJA president Fintan Burke attended the event, and was encouraged to see so many positive examples of science journalism in action.
During the seminar, Brian Lin from EurekAlert! Discussed how science journalists are best placed to deal with the uncertainty that the news media increasingly finds itself covering. That said, science journalism that deals exclusively on mainstream media is now missing half of the young people in the US, and so Lin recommended that science journalists focus more on engaging online creators.
Eurekalert’s Brian Lin. Credit: Bojan Džodan
In a series of panel discussions, Balkan scientists and journalists discussed climate change and health communications, citizen science and journalism, and achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion in science reporting. In the latter session, it was interesting to hear a discussion on encouraging early-career scientists to include their heritage & backgrounds in interviews.
Attendees in discussion during a break. Credit: Bojan Džodan
The seminar ended with a roundtable discussion on new science journalism trends, where EUSJA president Fintan Burke spoke with Renata Dacinger (RTV Slovenija) and Maja Ratej (Radio Slovenija).
The session reflected topics discussed several times during the workshop; traditional media need to find new ways to engage younger audiences, a younger generation of scientists are more aware of the need to communicate, and new publication models are finding ways to engage hard-to-reach audiences.
The seminar roundtable. Credit: Bojan Džodan
After the roundtable, participants visited Belgrade’s new Palace of Science. The museum showcases Serbia’s past and present contributions to computing, robotics, and astronomy. The day then ended with dinner at Restaurant Carusso, a rooftop restaurant with great views of the city.
The BNSJ is currently finalising the paperwork to become full members of EUSJA in the next six months. We look forward to having them, and to the many exciting discussions to come.
Welcome to the EUSJA newsletter. I hope everyone has had an enjoyable summer!
As Europe continues its return to work, EUSJA has had a busy three months behind the scenes. Apart from our renewed website and LinkedIn page, we launched an EUSJA manifesto for your feedback and a survey on AI and science journalism.
Looking over our news, I saw a theme emerging; a meeting of science journalism associations from the past, present and (hopefully) future.
First, the present. EUSJA was contacted by a new science journalists association started in Kyrgyzstan. We invited their Board Chair & President, Ulan Eshmatov, to share a few words about the new association. You can read his introduction below.
Following on from that, we have news about our first inter-board meeting with the European Federation for Science Journalism (EFSJ), where we informally discussed our work as science journalists and ideas for future cooperation.
Then in a guest post, TELI board member and former EUSJA Hon Secretary Wolfgang Chr. Goede guides us through a century of TELI history.
Unfortunately, the summer also brought some sad news. Last month, the EUSJA community learned that former Vice-President Anna Nolan had passed away. Viola Egikova remembers her through her excellent essay.
The World Conference of Science Journalists 2025 (WCSJ2025) is accepting proposals for sessions, workshops, and presentations.
The WCSJ2025 promises to bring together science journalists, communicators, and experts from around the globe to share insights, develop skills, and foster a stronger, more informed science communication community.
This year’s theme is “Science Journalism and Social Justice – our role in promoting resilience”. Proposals may address a range of topics, including but not limited to:
State of the profession: science journalism and journalism Issues, challenges and solutions within our profession
Social justice: the role of science journalism Our role in making science meaningful at all levels of society
Misinformation, disinformation and fake news Working with and countering a problem that affects the sciences in critical ways
The art of communication New ideas for telling science stories powerfully
Wellbeing for People and Planet Health, climate change, and environmental sustainability stories are coming thicker and faster – we need to put our best foot forward
Out of the box and ex Africa An invitation to come at the theme from different angles and different parts of the world
Last month, the EUSJA community was saddened to learn that former Vice-President Anna Nolan had passed away. Viola Egikova remembers her.
This summer the EUSJA family suffered a big loss: our dear friend, Anna Nolan passed away on 30th June 2025 after a hard and long illness that she was fighting courageously and persistently.
For many of us her passing was unexpected news: Anna tried not to talk about her problems, only her closest knew that she was seriously ill. She tried to communicate and to stay active as long as she could. She continued to respond when her advice, her knowledge, her understanding of the situation were needed. So it was natural that almost all the sorrowful responses to the news of her death, which began to come from the people who knew her well, contained such wise and friendly words.
“She had always the sweetest heart and smartest head” (Isvan Palugiai)
“EUSJA would not be the success that it is without her hard work, warmth and generosity” (Fintan Burke)
“Anna has always been a strong personality in EUSJA. But more important is that she was a dear friend” (Kaianders Sempler)
“Unique person, great colleague & friend” (Wolfgang Goede)
“She will always be in my memories and I am happy that I had the privilege to be her friend” (Raili Leino), “I remember Anna as a wise and sympathetic lady. She had always something clever to say” (Vesa Niininkangas)
“So many good conversations with her that I will remember, as well as her EUSJA newsletters” (Hajo Neubert)
“Anna will remain in my heart forever” (Marina Huzvarova)
“Anna was a very nice, wise, helpful person…” (Merce Piqueras)
“She will be remembered as knowledgeable and insightful and those who worked together with her felt privileged to receive her advice” (Jens Degett)
“We will remember Anna in our heart” (Cinzia Boschiero)
“She was a strong person and a wonderful journalist and it was always a pleasure to talk to her” (Antonio Calvo Roy)
“She was such a lovely person, truly devoted to EUSJA, always enthusiastic, welcoming and ready to do her best for our profession. We will all miss her a lot” (Ricardo Garcia)…
And these are only a small part of the farewell words!
Anna was a long-standing member of the EUSJA, its former Vice-President, she was the editor of the EUSJA Newsletter for many years and the National delegate from the Irish Association of Science and Technology Journalists. Until the end of her strength she showed devotion to the profession to which she dedicated her life. After getting a primary degree in maths and physics and later a master’s degree in science and communication, Anna continued with different learning programmes improving her skills and expanding her knowledge.
No wonder she was one of the most respected science journalists in her country who contributed to many leading media. Suffice to say she was one of the very few Irish journalists to be accredited to attend a space launch by NASA and the European Space Agency. Anna worked for science and technology, but she also was fond of art, loved music, especially opera. She was always ready for traveling and was fascinated by the culture of different countries.
As it was already mentioned Anna was a good friend. And she was a beloved wife for her husband Richard and loving mother for her daughter Aisling. Both of them stayed aside with her until the end. And they firmly fulfilled her last request: Anna asked that there be no sad music, no sad words when saying goodbye. She loved Life, she loved good jokes.
Anna Nolan in 2008. Picture courtesy of Viola Egikova
So it will be natural to add in this article a photo of smiling Anna. The shot was done in 2008 in Strasbourg after the EUSJA General Assembly. We were having fun, laughing and enjoying the company of each other. Let us remember Anna’s smile, her kindness and wisdom. She will stay in our hearts forever.
And more. There was a great idea of the EUSJA Board to establish a grant named after Anna Nolan for young science journalists. It’s not easy, but let’s think about it.
