Eurodoc conference MCFA contribution to Charter and Code

1. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Marie Curie Fellowship Association
(MCFA)
Examples of MCFA contributions
towards
Charter and Code
EURODOC General Assembly 2013
Lisbon, 5 April 2013

2. http://www.mcfa.eu/
What is the MCFA?
• alumni organisation
• international non-profit organisation
• highly interdisciplinary network including young
scientists

3. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Interdisciplinary Network
Environment and
Geosciences
3%
Agriculture and
Fisheries
2%
Other
4%
Economic, Social
and Human
Sciences
11%
Earth Sciences
5%
Chemistry
12%
Life Sciences
28%
Mathematics and
Information
Sciences
7%
Physics
18%
Engineering
Sciences
10%

4. http://www.mcfa.eu/
What is the MCFA?
• alumni organisation
• international non-profit organisation
• highly interdisciplinary network of young scientists
• created 1996 at the initiative of the EC
• more than 2700 members all over Europe

5. http://www.mcfa.eu/
• to help advance science in Europe
• to create a visible identity for Marie Curie fellows
• to be the voice of young scientists in Europe
• to encourage contacts/collaboration
• to foster a sense of European identity
Aims of the MCFA

6. http://www.mcfa.eu/
MCFA
Fellow
PhD
Post-doc
Industry?
Academia?
funding host institution
Welcome
packs Practical issues mobility
Influence policy-making
Career centre
Member database
Training
Job
excellence network
European Comission
Contacts
career development
Return?

7. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Structure
• MCFA Administrative Board
elected by annual assembly
• MCFA Advisory Board
elected by the administrative board
• National Groups with national coordinators
• Thematic Groups (Young Researchers, Women in
Science, Science Policy)

8. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Activities of the MCFA
• Feedback to the EC on science policy (e.g. European
Research Area, Marie Curie fellowship schemes, mobility among
young scientists).
• Publication of the Letter to Members (http://www.mcfa.eu/ )
including information on the association, science policy,
funding
• Organisation of soft skill workshops at European and
national level
• Special sessions at ESOF

9. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Welcome to the MCFA!

10. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Charter and Code aspects
• Non-discrimination
• Working conditions (ie dual careers)
• Gender balance
– Official Journal C 364, 18.12.2000 p. 0001-
0022. 9. See SEC (2005) 260, Women and
Science: Excellence and Innovation - Gender
Equality in Science.
• Value of mobility

11. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Mobile Women in Science,
Engineering and
Technology
Coordinators: Gianna Avellis and Maria Bostenaru Dan
Promote mobility among women scientists
Empower women scientists and discourage
discrimination and marginalisation
Foster gender equality and scientific
excellence in SET
Encourage the promotion of equality policies
at national and European level

12. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Our Booklet
Antonella Di Trapani
Eleni Chatzichristou
Gianna Avellis
Silvia Giordani
Corinne Martin
Reia Chmielowski
Maria Bostenaru
Natalia Balcazar
Svetlana Baca
Theodota Lagouri
Nusrat Sanghamitra
Elena Martines
Sylvie Blangy
http://mcfa.eu/newmcfasite/mcfa-
role-models-2012

13. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Membership in genderSTE

14. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Dual career and mobility
against the brain drain
Gianna Avellis
Senior researcher
Innovapuglia, SPA, Bari
(Italy)
Nationality Italian
Research field Computer science
Lived in Italy, UK

15. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Through mobility you can learn
more of the way of life
of people in other places
Nationality: Romanian, Hungarian
Research field: architecture engineering
Lived in: Germany, Italy (long)
Canada, Portugal (short)
Maria Bostenaru
Research assistant
« Ion Mincu » University of
Architecture and Urbanism,
Bucharest, Romania

16. http://www.mcfa.eu/
MCFA
– 2003: advisory board
member „Scientific
exchange“
– 2011, 2012:
administrative board
member: Letter to
Members, m-WiSeT
– Expert evaluator for
Marie Curie Grants
and Fellowships and
for Romanian cultural
projects

17. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Charter and Code criteria in MCA
• IMPLEMENTATION: Management:
Practical arrangements for the
implementation and management of the
research project
• IMPACT: Impact of the proposed outreach
activities

18. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Outreach activities in MCA
• An evaluation sub-criterion has been added under the Impact
section. "Impact of the proposed outreach activities (* to be
evaluated in the light of the principles of the 'European Charter for
Researchers' and the 'Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of
Researchers').
The relevant point in the European Charter for Researchers is:
• “Researchers should ensure that their research activities are made
known to society at large in such a way that they can be understood
by non-specialists, thereby improving the public's understanding of
science. Direct engagement with the public will help researchers to
better understand public interest in priorities for science and
technology and also the public's concerns".

19. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Example of outreach activities
• Maria Bostenaru - shortlisted for the Marie
Curie prize in Science Communication
2012 (best 10 out of 43)

20. http://www.mcfa.eu/
ERG
Reintegration Grant at
an NGO (ERGOROM
‚99 foundation)
„promissing result“
showcased by
CORDIS
Invited to present to
further Romanian
NGOs

21. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Conferences
• Oral (incl. invited)
speaker, travel
awardee, chair
• “Natural Hazards
Impact on Urban Areas
and Infrastructure”
series 2002-
organisation
• "Bam Earthquake of 26
Dec 2003, Iran – First
Results“ press room
session participation of

22. http://www.mcfa.eu/
European networking

23. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Outreach to schools
• Presentation of the
Faculty of Urbanism,
Romania
• Study in Germany
and Italy

24. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Radio interview
• First woman architect in the world
• Interviews about the MCA

25. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Exhibitions and
cultural projects
• Daniel Libeskind
research studio at the
University of Art and
Design, Karlsruhe
• Tzigara-Samurcas
archive – a collection of
glass slides of a
Romanian art historian
who studied in Germany
exhibited at ICR Italy

26. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Featured in Science
• Second runner-up on
conference place
description
• Marie Curie host stay
in Italy featured

27. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Reports in newsletters
EERI, Oakland, USA

28. http://www.mcfa.eu/
Books