Ecsite president Michiel Buchel has told the science network’s members to take a stand against fear and show all of Europe that inclusion can be far stronger a force than “looking for enemies that are often not really there.”

Speaking at last week’s annual Ecsite conference – a gathering of more than 1,000 people intended to spark interest in science among the general population – Buchel said that while Ecsite was taking great strides, there was still work that needed to be done.

“We represent Europe and progress, and we all know there is a cold, dark wind blowing through Europe right now,” said the Ecsite president.

“We need Europe and Europe needs us. We’re undergoing a rather difficult and sometimes uncertain phase. Immigration, refugees, terrorism, these things can make people scared and we are truly a European network and must represent its values. We can help, we can show that inclusion is so much better than looking for enemies that are often not really there.”

Using the conference itself as an example of cooperation – the theme of this year’s event – Buchel noted that nearly half of the participants at the conference had also been actively involved in some way in creating the show’s content. Buchel added that each member of Ecsite could use their sphere of influence to address some of the problems Europe is facing, using science as a catalyst to address those issues.

“We stand for solutions, for the belief that science and technology can help us and help people to tell the difference between fact and fiction,” he said. “I think science can be and is a really strong weapon against ignorance and stupidity.”