On 7 and 8 February 2019, Radboud University’s Communication Scientists hosted the Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap 2019. During these two days, over three hundred fifty scholars from a variety of Dutch and Flemish universities and university colleges gathered to present their latest work, engage in vivid discussions and interact socially. The conference welcomed over 250 papers that were presented in 50 sessions, all highlighting different aspects of the field of communication sciences and media studies as well as its intersection with the field of Artificial Intelligence in the Low Countries.

The theme of Etmaal 2019 conference was Communication Science and Artificial Intelligence: The best of both worlds, and focused on fostering the growing field at the intersection of Communication Science and Artificial Intelligence in the Netherlands and Flanders. Our theme was exemplified by the two keynotes on Thursday the 7th of February, by Prof. Tibor Bosse (RU) and Jelle Brandt Corstius, and a panel on social robots on Friday the 8th of February. Additionally, both of the newest Temporary Working Group of Intercultural Communication and Diversity and Science Communication held pre-conferences on Thursday morning, these drew about 75 participants from various NefCa divisions!

The conference location – at Van der valk hotel in Lent – was transformed into a site for the vegan walking dinner and party that closed out the evening on Thursday. The evening program was kicked off with the awards ceremony, presided over by NeFCA’s president Jeroen Jansz. We congratulate Claes de Vreese (University of Amsterdam) who received the NeFCA Senior Career Award 2019 and Rena Zendedel (University of Amsterdam) for winning the NeFCA Dissertation Award 2017.

The pictures of the conference can be found here.

We look back on a very successful edition of the Etmaal and wish to thank all the speakers, the audience, NeFCA and especially all colleagues of the Radboud University Communication Science who helped to make it all happen!

The Etmaal 2019 organizers