The 'Multimedia Repository on European Food Science' (MREFS) and the 'European Multimedia Repository of Science' (EMRS) are EU Framework Programmme-6 projects, funded through the Specific Support Actions programme. The projects run from 2004 - 2008. The 'Risk Network' is the third funded project and runs from 2005 - 2007. Focus meetings, case studies, publications, films as well as this website are deliverables from these activities.

Life sciences and in particular genomics for health and better and safer food production hold the promise to improve the quality of life in our society. Constructive dialogue is one of the keys to minimise unfounded concerns and maximise understanding of the scientific process.

The European Science Education Media (EUSEM) initiative is a multimedia repository on European Life Sciences to narrow the gap between science and scientists on the one hand and key stakeholders such as educators and media on the other. The chosen stakeholders will be reached by using effective communication platforms that offer high impact value: television, video, multimedia, internet. An important deliverable of the projects is the production of high quality short films on issues and developments in European research . Full films and film clips are disseminated through the EUSEM multimedia library, broadcasting media, as well as by direct distribution on VHS, CD-ROM or DVD.

The Rapid Response Network (RRN), case studies and focus meetings are additional, ambitious deliverables to complement film content. The RRN provides response to questions and problems raised by the EUSEM user groups and operates interactively but similar in function as a list of 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQ). The meetings and case studies concentrate on genomics, food related issues, risks and social aspects of EU Life Science research. The documents and publications produced during the lifetime of the projects are available from a separate page. These include minutes of focus meetings, project descriptions, powerpoint presentations, public reporting.