The general objective of the Coordination Action  'Training and Mentoring of Science Shops' (TRAMS) is to:

1.     encourage the development of emergent science shops through the provision of training and mentoring support

2.      support the ongoing professional development of existing science shops and similar organisations through the sharing of training materials and the experiences from daily practices to update professional development.

The objectives of TRAMS include coordinating activities for: 

• supporting the development of new science shop initiatives;
• sharing of expertise on science shop procedures, strategies and impact and processes; 
• use and dissemination of and provision of access to existing training materials; · development of new targeted training materials; 
• networking among science shops at national, regional and international level.

These activities will contribute to the overarching aims of improving

• competencies of today's scientists' and future university graduates for co-operation with civil society as part of the development of science and technology.
• scientific community's involvement with civil society knowledge and expertise in education and research; 
• civil society's knowledge and understanding of and influence on science and technology research.

TRAMS has developed specific structural services for the International Science Shop Network Living Knowledge. In this way the co-ordination actions in TRAMS contributed to the goals of the network. It will be an important step for the future funding of the network. The EC project ISSNET showed there is a growing request for tools and support to get started with new science shop activities in many regions of Europe. Therefore it is foreseen that the training and mentoring activities that were developed in TRAMS will fulfill an expressed need, and provide a benefit for civil society. After the pilot activities and development of materials in TRAMS these tools for support now are made available for the members of the open network Living Knowledge. This will assure the future use of the deliverables of TRAMS. The preliminary results of ISSNET make clear within the network there is a demand for these activities. TRAMS is an indispensable milestone in the networking of science shops.

The development of innovative practice in science shops will be encouraged, through a customised training programme toolbox and appropriate partnering and exchange (mentoring) among members of Living Knowledge. TRAMS will focus on both sides (users and suppliers) in training and mentoring, because both groups are important stakeholders in the project. This will allow the project to have a direct input on the needs for training and mentoring and on the available tools and expertise. The users in TRAMS are the pilot group of the mentoring and training activities. All members of Living Knowledge can participate in activities of TRAMS (e.g. workshops) and make use of the results ands materials of TRAMS.

TRAMS will co-ordinate co-operation with the members of the International Science Shop Network. It will build on the results and recommendations of previous EC projects.

TRAMS is a 36 month Coordination Action funded within the 6the Framework Programme of the European Commission in the theme 'Governance, scientific advice, outreach and communication' of the Directorate Science and Society. TRAMS is a consortium of 18 organisations from 14 countries.

For more information you can contact the coordinator of the project, 
Caspar de Bok,(tel. ++31.30.2534274), Utrecht University, the Netherlands or Norbert Steinhaus of the International Science Shop Contact Point