Twitter contest for science lovers this Valentine’s Day

13 Feb 2013

A social media contest specifically targeted at science enthusiasts is being launched to coincide with Valentine’s Day. People who tweet about their love for science will be in with a chance to fly to Brussels and present their ideas on the future of science policy and funding with European policy-makers.

The contest is being run by Atomium Culture, an organisation that promotes public engagement with science across Europe. It networks with European newspapers, universities and businesses. Atomium Culture also runs EISRI events on science and innovation.

Using the #lovescience hashtag, people can enter the contest by tweeting on the micro-blogging platform about why science means so much to them, as well as posting memes and photos. People can also enter on Facebook by liking the EISRI Facebook page and posting their entries on the page with the same #lovescience hashtag.

The most captivating entry will win a trip to Brussels this summer to help Atomium Culture present its recommendations to the European Commission for science funding within the Europe 2020 framework.

Runners-up in the social media contest will receive membership for one year to the Science Gallery in Dublin. They will also get tickets to the EISRI science summit taking place at Trinity College Dublin on 25-26 February.

The conference, which is taking place as part of Ireland’s presidency of the EU, will be exploring the influence of media on responsible research and innovation.

Speakers at the event will include German chancellor Angela Merkel and Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science.

As for the social media contest, Twitter users must first follow @AtomiumCulture and then tweet their entry with the #lovescience hashtag.

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com