Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ERN14-15SVK (Festival of Science European Researchers\' Night 2014 - 2015 in Slovakia)

Teaser

The European Researchers’ Night in Slovakia, ERN 14 -15 SVK, relied on a strongawareness campaign, based on the concepts that “science is adventure” and “sicencie is the future of Slovakia”; such campaign addressed the large public with a specific focus on...

Summary

The European Researchers’ Night in Slovakia, ERN 14 -15 SVK, relied on a strong
awareness campaign, based on the concepts that “science is adventure” and “sicencie is the future of Slovakia”;
such campaign addressed the large public with a specific focus on students,
aiming at attracting them towards scientific studies and careers.
Top Slovak researchers explained the way science influences citizens’ daily life, how
research outcomes help to solve emerging problems and increase quality of life.

The second strog pillar of the project consisted of a close cooperation with the research
community: a wide range of activities, including large science shows, presentations, lectures
and discussions in shopping malls, museums, cafes and observatories, were organized,
covering all country´s territory (Banska Bystrica, Kosice, Zilina, Tatranska Lomnica).

The main event was held in Bratislava in the Old Market Hall, V-club in the City House of
Art; various science installations and stands were spread through the close City centre, and
the various venues were linked through live streaming.
As for the activities offered, they ranged from presentations and lectures, to test scientific
applications, latest research outcomes, debates with researchers. The direct exchanges with
researchers allowed the attendees to better remember inspiring stories and successes of
Slovak researchers, which enhanced their public recognition and increased the public
awareness about the positive impact of their work.

The third strength of the project consisted in a flexible management structure, also based
on the experience accumulated during the past years of successful Slovak Researchers’
Night events, ruled by a consortium agreement concluded amongst the partners and
cooperating bodies before the real launch of the activities.
In 2015 we launched the pilot version of Scientific board which was in charge of selection process for the planned scientific discussions, specification of the themes as well as appointment of discussants - top Slovak scientists, experts for each theme. Scientific board also processed post event survey and feedback from scientists

The event certainly contributed tackling the remaining stereotypes about researchers
and science and increasing the awareness of research and innovation activities, through an
improved understanding of the impact of researchers\' work on our daily life, while it also
encouraged young people to embark on scientific careers.
Personal visit of Mr. Prezident Andrej Kiska, at the event in Poprad in 2015, was also great message for young people. Mr. President highly esteems the science and expressed the strong belief that the future of our country is in the hands of skilled and well-educated people among whom the scientists belong to.

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 young people, especially those facing a career choice and to women;
Messages conveyed
o Common to years 2014 and 2015:
o Researchers are amongst us;
o Researchers are ordinary people with an extraordinary job;
o Science is a girl thing (too);
o Europe invests in education and science, why won’t you?
o Let’s talk about science , let’s talk about scientists;
o For the year 2014:
o Science is adventure, discover the adventure of science;
o Have the courage of facing science, make your life more adventurous;
o For the year 2015:
o Science is the future of Slovakia
o Experience and celebrate science;
o Meet science, make your life exciting;
o Fee your mind, science is the future;

Main communication tools to rely on
Off line
o Publication of articles, interviews, announcements, advertisements in written press;
o Direct invitations and visits towards local and regional governments, universities, schools;
o Public advertising (city lights, posters, billboards, large banners, display of promotional material notably in the shopping malls and the different venues of the event;
o Airing of promotional spots, announcements, interviews, discussions, programmes (guest in the morning show) on radio and TV stations (FUN radio, SRO Slovak national radio, TA3, first TV news in Slovakia, TV Markiza, spots in TV JOJ…);
o Launch of several competitions, such as: Researchers S.O.S., you can’t run away from science, why is it so?, vox Populi…;
o Screening of media faces, portraits of Slovak Scientists during commercials and trailers prior to display of movies in cinema City
o Exhibitions of the works and outputs from the festival completion in shopping malls;
o Organisation of a press conference, attended by the Lord Mayor of Bratislava;

On line
o Revamping, constant updating and maintenance of project website;
o Revamping, updating and maintenance of social networks profiles (Facebook, Twitter);
o Links with other EU, institutional and popular websites;
o On-line banner campaign (special focus on students’ websites);
o Direct mailing to contacts networks of partners;
o On-line video archive (containing notably lectures and discussions at the festival venues);
o Short films of the event available on-line;

Promotional material
o City lights, posters, flyers, programmes, brochures, billboards;
o Ads and banners, websites;
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 (such as T-shirts, badges and adhesive labels) (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, realisation of promotional material: posters of various formats (A0, A1, A2, A3) distributed in cooperation with the municipalities, uninversities, regional self governances and shopping malls, programme leaflets distributed in city centre, primary schools and secondary schools, roll ups, infopanels and LCD spots in the shopping malls, give away namely namely T-shirts, badges, flexible colourful pencils, bubble blowers (I love Researchers\' Night);
o Public advertising: citylights, billboards, large banners on the facades of the buildings and partner\'s premises, LCD promotional spots in streets in the various cities involved, in public transport (trams, busses), display of promotional spots TV See and GO ( public transport of Bratislava, trams, buses, adhesive films, labels on the buses, display of programmes in city centre (Bratislava), 3D mapping laser show on the the Old Market Hall façade;
o Airing of annoucements,advertising,/programmes,interviews on national and regional radio and TV stations:
o Sending of i\"

Final results

Overview of the results:
o Colletcion, analysis dn processing of feebdacks from about 15 % of attendees, 60 % of researchers involved, 10 % of volunteers and frutehr 10 % of vistors based on feedback questionnaires, survey through website, face to face interviews to researcehrs and interviews conducted by volunteers;
o Main conclusions:
o Typlogy of visitors: rather equal male and female participation, complete rage of age represented, from mothers with babies, school kids, studens, treachers, adults and seniorsacademis, businesses representatives, politicians, ..
o Knwoledge about the event: school and teachers 35%, TV spots 19 %, promotional campaign (posters, leaflets) 12%, Facebook 10%, radio 7%, word of mouth ( friends and family) 6%, by accident 5%, campaign in shopping centres 3%, advertisements in the newspapers and magazines 3%;
o Overall positive feedback about the event itself (activities, interest, contacts with researchers, venues and locations, programme), expectations filled for 90 % of respondents and understandable for 95 % of them;
o Overall appreciation from scientists involved (communication with organisers, venus, project website and social networks, techcnial support);
o Most successful activities: presentations in Bratislava, Košice, Žilina and Banská Bystrica, scientific discussions on hot topics with renowened scientists (main stage Bratislava), personal visit of Mr. President of Slovak republic, Andrej Kiska at the local event in Poprad, theatre performances for schools (from Brno, Czech Republic), competition with electromobile, exhibition of the biggest fraction of the meteorite fallen in Slovakia, science in roma settelments;
o Less successful activities: outdoors activities due to bad weather conditions, star gazing, actities in Slovak national museum due to current works, lectures in Bratislava;
o Improvement of public awareness about researchers their work and it potential societal impact for 95 % of respondents;
o Increased interest in science and science careers amongst young people and kids, based on their reaction and interest observed by the researchers involved;
o Increased public awareness about the Slovak scientists\' conribution to science progresses and results;

Website & more info

More info: http://www.nocvyskumnikov.sk.