Most Nature readers will be aware of the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It gives researchers the chance to describe their science to a diverse, non-specialized audience, offers forums for debates about issues relating to science, and provides an annual circus for hundreds of journalists from all over the globe.

In Europe, science-related issues are often more politically sensitive than in the United States, the public is fascinated by or critical of research, and there is an array of scientifically engaged media. Europe deserves such a meeting too, even if no one would expect it, in its early days, to achieve the scale and global media impact of its US equivalent.

This is why Nature is supporting the first Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF2004), to be held in Stockholm on 25–28 August next year (see http://www.esof2004.org). Stockholm's conference facilities are fully worthy of such a meeting, and sponsorship by several bodies has allowed an organizational framework to be established.

Despite the enthusiasm of its originators, the forum was not set up to pursue some European ideal. What matters is that the various themes of the meeting that are currently planned — ageing, the mind and behaviour, evolution, global change and more — are full of interesting content, and that scientists, stakeholders in science and the broader public can come together to discuss important issues, or simply to hear about hot science. Nature expects to support at least one such gathering at ESOF2004, and several significant European organizations are committed, or are about to commit, to partnership with the event as a whole.

Such an embryonic organization, as determined and self-motivated as it is, can benefit greatly from the support of the European Commission but must remain independent. It seems to be achieving this balance. Many laboratories and agencies are still considering their possible contributions to the event. Now is the right time for them to commit to this new conjunction of science and citizens.