Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EXPERIM (RESEARCHER\'S NIGHT IN FRANCE)

Teaser

\"The 2015 project involved as usual numerous cities, amongst which a high level of consistency was ensured through the setting-up of several common activities, while each location also developed its own specific programme based on its own specificities and strengths.Beyond the...

Summary

\"The 2015 project involved as usual numerous cities, amongst which a high level of consistency was ensured through the setting-up of several common activities, while each location also developed its own specific programme based on its own specificities and strengths.
Beyond the general objective of enhancing the public recognition of researchers and promoting scientific careers towards young people, the purpose also consisted of creating original meetings as well as long and enriching dialogues between citizens and researchers in 11 cities.
A strong joint awareness campaign was organised at national level, around the theme “experience”, which actually has a double meaning in French, namely: \"\"experience\"\" and \"\"experiment\"\".

All the activities were articulated relying on the same overall plan:

o Face to face with researchers’ activities: meeting places, welcome foreign researchers;
o European scope of the Researchers’ Nights: information and improved understanding of European programmes, animated by “Campus France”;
o Interactive research experiments, guided and explained by specialised researchers;

A long list of activities were offered in such context, such as interactive presentations, meetings, speed searching, chats with researchers, artistic performances, hands-on experiments, guided visits to labs, concerts, true lab experiments, “science whisperers\"\" on public transport, flash mob, walks, presentation of research results, exhibitions (pictures, drawing, videos), workshops, Pecha Kucha, astronomy shows, EU corners…\"

Work performed

\"I.1.1. AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Tasks undertaken

Target audiences
o Public at large regardless of age and scientific background;
o Special attention to be paid to kids and young people, especially those facing a career choices;

Messages conveyed
o Researchers are amongst us;
o Researchers are approachable, and their research is linked to societal interests;
o Experiment is sued in every and each topic for reaching results;
o Come along to spend some time with user-friendly and pleasant researchers, discovering their world an share their experiments;
o Something is going to happen (Experiment !)

Main communication tools to rely on

Off line
o Promotion amongst researchers’ networks (European researchers coming to French labs);
o Setting up of a media pre-arranged network (as in 2012 & 2013, with a new press attachée): press, radio, audio-visual media for targeting the messages;
o Press partnerships, including purchase of advertising space;
o Broadcasting of the TEASER in cinemas of the 11 cities;
o Conduction of local press campaigns by the various partners;
o Specific campaign addressing schools (specific programmes and leaflets at local levels)

On line
o Revamping, constant updating and maintenance of project website (programme, details, portraits of researchers, films, videos on on-going lab work…);
o Realisation of a teaser based on off the wall sense of humour;
o Targeted mailing to research communities and teaching world (from primary schools to high education);
o Revamping, updating and maintenance of the social networks profiles (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram…);

Promotional material
o Posters (A3 to 120 X 180 size), programmes;
o Communication material to be realised at local level by local partners;
o Teasers, banners, ads, websites, link to relevant EU and popular websites and social networks;
o Mention of \"\"This European Researchers\' Night project is funded by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions\"\" on all promotional material displayed;
o Promotional gadgets (displayed through the European corner notably), complying with the general guidelines available at
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/communication/services/visual_identity/index.en.htm

Overview of the results
o Conception, production and display of promotional material: posters of various formats, leaflets, postcards, flyers, promotional teaser displayed in public places and participants\' premises, researchers\' communities, libraries, schools, social clubs, theatres…;
o Realisation of a press kit (researchers\' interviews, pictures, programme, radio broadcasts);
o Publication of advertising in local and national press;
o Updating of visual identity , including “The Great Experiment” and the 10th anniversary;
o Airing of promotional spots on regional and national TV and radio stations;
o Revamping, constant updating and maintenance of project website http://www.nuitdeschercheurs-france.eu/PagePrincipale;
o 28.000 sessions of which 15.000 during September;
o Links with over 100 popular and institutional websites;
o Posting of banners, agendas and newsletters;
o Revamping, constant updating and maintenance of social network profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram);
o 1.500 likes on Facebook (display of promotional teaser), 1950 followers on Twitter, over 1.000 tweets, posting of 100 pictures on Instagram);
o About 5 million people made aware of the Researchers\' Night and its objectives;

I.1.2 ACTIVITIES DURING THE NIGHT
Tasks undertaken

Locations and venues
o Angers
o Besancon
o Bordeaux
o Brest
o Dijon
o Le Mans
o Limoges
o Lyon
o Metz
o Paris
o Toulouse.

Venues: public spaces, theatre, library, castle, university campus, museum, historic centre, scientific platform, art museum, cultural centre, archaeology museum
Main types of activities planned
Participative experiments, interactive presentations, meetings, speed searching, chats with researchers, artistic performances, hand son experiments, guided visits to labs, concerts, true lab\"

Final results

Quantitative data
o About 44.869 visitors during the 2 events;
o About 10 million people having been made aware of the Researchers\'night and its objectives;
o Over 400 various activities offered druing thre two events in all the cities involved;
o 1.811 researchers actively involved in the activities: 1.811 of which: o 80 having benefitted from Marie Curie scheme,
o 320 having benefitted from support under FP 7/HORIZON 2020; o 24 European corners organised, having been visited by approximately 30.000 people;
o Average visit time: 2.30 hours; o Average number of intercatons between scientists and member of general public: Qualitative data
o General impact of the action, relying on the results of the two impact surveys undertaken after both of the events:
o Regarding the events themselves:
o Global “note” of the event : 8,2/10;
o 86% of visitors would recommend the event to others (only 1% would not);
o Word most frequently used by visitors to qualify the event : “Enjoyable” (best score);
o On public image of researchers and their job / of science and its potential impact on citizens\'daily lives:
o In France, almost 90% of the population reports to have confidence in their scientists;
o Despite this very high score, studies show that, although they like researchers, French people think that scientists are not “open” enough (not “close” to the society);
o The opportunities offered to directly exchange with researchers, discover their very personality, shareconerns, hopes and problems with them consequently proves very important in France;
o On interest expressed by young people for science careers:
o The audience was composed of 65 % aged under 30, while the average public age was 30;
o A relevant part of the public present consequently consisted of people facing or about to face a career choice;
o Since they stated that they felt closer to scientists after having taken part in the events, one can expect that more of themmight be considering to opt for a scientific oritentation in their career;
o Other potential impact: on policies, on cooperation between research-related entities having cooperated for the action, on researchers themselves (communication skills, way of perceiving interaction with the public at large, …:
o The ERN has now really has become a traditional fall dtae, which is expected by the potential attendees as a science momentum each year;
o As often witnessed by several researchers, public engagement activities appear particularly rewarding for them; this is an elmenet specifically taken into cosndieration when designing the vent, whichhave to be positive not only towards the audience but also for the scientists actively involved;
o As an example, the “Great participative Experiment” was specially deisgned and organised in such a way to allow the general public to better understand the researchers and their daily work.

Overview of the results (from impact assessment)
o Collection, analysis and processing of 950 feedbacks based on filled in questionnaires;
o Main conclusions:
o Typology of visitors: 57 % female, 43 % male, average age 30, 79% high school level, 27% is family public, 16% often visit museum and 8% never visit;
o Average visit duration: 2 hours and 34 minutes;
o Motivation : 39% by curiosity, 36% by interest of research and 31 % because like cultural events;
o Average researcher meeting : 3,32
o Overall positive feedback regarding the events themselves (activities, interest, contacts with researchers, venues and locations, concrete organisation, scheduling…) (overall rating of the event by respondents: 8/10);
o Improved public opinion about researchers and their work, illustrated by the choice of qualifying words, such as rewarding, playful, pleasant, friendly, enlightening…;
o Most successful activities: speed searching, great experiment...

Socio-economic impact of the action :
Clearly the Researchers\'Nights will not, as such, have a measurable socio-economic impact.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.nuitdeschercheurs-france.eu/.