Science Writers’ Association Conference in Ottawa, Canada

Just recently, more than 200 journalists from all over Canada came together to discuss the challenges of science journalism today – and we were among them!!! Along with Ines Kirchner, being sent to Ottawa for the Science Writers’ Conference really was a very special experience. As a young journalist from Germany, it gave me the unique opportunity to gain insight into professional science writing from across the Atlantic.

While exploring Canada’s science history (at the museums that hosted the conference), we had the choice between many interesting workshops and panel discussions: From science promotion to social media, I just learned a lot about journalism in the digital age, and heard many experts on climate change and its coverage across the world.

If there still had been doubts, a stunning field trip to St. Lawrence National Park, the highlight of the trip, eventually showed everybody not only how sensitive our ecosystem is. More than that, it exposed the alarming effects climate change already has in Canada.

With all this in mind, what made the trip especially valuable was meeting the other climate champions. With so many new friendships, a country that had always seemed to be just so far away, now isn’t anymore. Climate change concerns everybody, and really raises the question of what kind of world we wish to live in.

Getting a sense of Canada’s beauty, I now even stronger feel the need to get engaged. We owe it to our environment! I plan to stay in touch with my Canadian friends and I believe that together, we can make a difference. I would like to sincerely thank the British Council for sponsoring the trip and enabling us to experience this form of cultural exchange. It has been a fascinating week in Ottawa and hopefully, I will have a chance to come back many times.

Michael Hahn (Aalen)

More information about the Climate Generation project