Early-stage researchers are increasingly at the forefront of Europe’s move towards open, shared and responsible research. Yet many universities still underestimate their value as communicators, culture carriers and trust builders. Representing the FORTHEM European University Alliance, the speaker shows how alliance-wide talent ecosystems can unlock this potential - especially, but not only - through FORTHEM’s flagship Researchers Grand Prix, which helps ESRs explain complex research with clarity, confidence and real societal relevance.

This talk has three clear goals:

1. show what universities gain when ESRs act as ambassadors (more outreach capacity, higher credibility, stronger links to society and policymakers);

2. share practical ways to train and support ESRs so they become multipliers for transparency, open science and shared knowledge;

3. offer “ready-to-adapt” ideas for participants who want to build similar activities.

The session will also highlight FORTHEM’s newly created PhD Network, the role of ESRs in science diplomacy, and how they can help carry and protect European values in times of uncertainty. In line with FORTHEM’s vision to shape the next generation of creative minds and responsible citizens, the focus will be mainly on alliance-level action, with a few concrete examples from individual member universities, including the speaker’s home institution. There will be time for exchange and for generating ideas for joint activities.