Who We Are

EFSJ is a non-profit organisation that aims to promote independent, high-quality science journalism across Europe

What we do

We aim to support and stimulate journalists to critically examine, challenge and assess scientific information in a social, cultural, political, ethical and economic context; to develop and support new business models for independent science journalism; and to stimulate debate about the role of science journalism and science communication.

We will do this through a variety of activities, such as organising meetings and conferences, setting-up cross-border investigative reporting grants, and running awards.

EFSJ was founded in 2019 by national science journalism associations from France, the UK, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, and the Netherlands.

Our Board Members

Agnès VernetPRESIDENT

For the past 18 years, Agnès Vernet has been working as a journalist for various French media outlets, including scientific magazines, professional publications, and general press titles such as Sciences et Avenir, Medscape France, 60 Millions de Consommateurs, and Sciences Humaines. Since April 2025, she has been serving as President of the European Federation for Science Journalism. She has also been a board member of the French Association of Science Journalists (AJSPI) since 2019, and served as its President from 2021 to 2024.

Astrid VicianoVICE PRESIDENT

Astrid Viciano (Spanish/German) is a medical doctor, works as the senior editor of the German Health News Review and as a medical reporter, specialized in cross-border investigations. She has worked as a staff reporter at Die Zeit, STERN, and Süddeutsche Zeitung. In 2022, she was the first journalist-in-residence at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia in Barcelona.

Gianluca DottiSECRETARY

Freelance science journalist based in the Po Valley and mainly covering innovation, health and technology for media in Italy (Wired.it, Il Sole 24 Ore, TIG, Famiglia Cristiana, TuttoITS) and abroad (Youris, Wired.es), as well as event moderator on the same topics. Condensed matter physicist, he wrote “I mega eroi della scienza” (Salani, 2019) and contributed to “Esperienze di giornalismo scientifico” (Scienza Express, 2022).

Erica VillaBOARD MEMBER

Biologist, science writer and communicator since 2003, her main focus is currently on glacial, freshwater, lagoon and marine ecosystems impacted by climate change, and on artscience collaborations. She is a member of SWIM (Science Writers in Italy) and co-founder of ECHO – Science Communication Hub at Fondazione Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

Senne StarckxTREASURER

Senne Starckx is a freelance science journalist & writer based in Mol (Belgium/Flanders). Senne covers topics in various scientific disciplines, and adjacent domains like energy, environment and climate.

Eva AmsenBOARD MEMBER

Eva Amsen is a freelance science writer based in London, and originally from The Netherlands. She writes about biology, chemistry, health and environment for a range of different publications including Undark, Forbes and others. Eva is also European Representative on the board of the Association of British Science Writers.

Andrei MihaiBOARD MEMBER

Andrei Mihai is the co-founder of ZME Science, where he works as a science journalist and editor. He holds two doctorates in geoscience and occasionally collaborates with various media outlets. Passionate about storytelling and science

Member Associations

Association des Journalistes Scientifiques de la Presse d’Information.

Visit AJSPI

Association of British Science Writers.

Visit ABSW

Science Writers in Italy.

Visit SWIM

Swiss Association of Science Journalism

Visit the association

WPK is Germany’s major science journalists’ association.

Visit WPK

Association for Science Journalism and Communication Netherlands

Visit VWN

Danish Science Journalists Association

Visit Danvid

Spanish Association of Science Communication

Visit AEC2

Financial affiliations

For now, the EFSJ is funded by all member associations: 2 euro per member, which means: when an association has 200 members, they pay 400 euro per year.

The EFSJ is founded as an international non-profit organisation (an ‘INPO’) according to Belgian NPO law.

The registered address is: Duboisstraat 50, 2060 Antwerp.