Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - IRENE (Invitation to Researchers’ Night 2016-2017 HEllas)

Teaser

The Researchers’ Night events of the “IRENE” project took place in 6 different major Greek cities, spread almost nation-wide.An intensive awareness campaign was undertaken, including TV, radio spots and interviews of highly-profiled researchers at national level...

Summary

The Researchers’ Night events of the “IRENE” project took place in 6 different major Greek cities, spread almost nation-wide.
An intensive awareness campaign was undertaken, including TV, radio spots and interviews of highly-profiled researchers at national level, spreading the messages throughout the country while; at local level, traditional communication ways of promotion were blend with innovative ones to provoke the curiosity of local communities.
The project addressed the public at large in all its components, with a strong focus on young people and kids.
In such a context, the benefits and interests of the researcher’s profession were described and illustrated thanks to the numerous researchers directly and actively involved in the activities in direct contact with the audience.
The broad range of activities offered included hands-on experiments, shows, simulations, presentations, interactive lectures, workshops, games, competitions, demos and guided visits.
The events were mainly located in central places of the cities, consequently offering the possibility of interaction between the public and the researchers.

Work performed

Awareness campaign
Overview of the results
o Conception, realisation of promotional material: posters, leaflets, programmes, banners, give aways;
o Advertising in public places and public transport through posters or electronic displays;
o Articles, announcements and advertisements published in newspapers and magazines;
o Press releases sent multiple times sent to all media, networks and collaborators;
o Partnership established with media sponsors: Athens: Macedonian News Agency, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (public radio and television), Kathimerini newspaper and Athens Radio 9,84 which promoted the spots;
o Airing of promotional radio and TV spots for all cities of both consortia (Ren Athens and IRENE), sent as a social message for free airing according to the legislation suggestion 3/19.12.2011) in 7 central TV Stations and in local stations at Thessaloniki, Larissa, Patras and Crete, as well as in 15 radio stations;
o Sending of invitation and announcement to all secondary and high schools of Athens;
o Sending of invitation to the educators’ broader community;
o Visits to schools (Speeches related to research topics and the events);
o Sending of electronic invitations to over 15.000 recipients;
o Organisation of pre-events:
o “Opera” act;
o “Scientific dance”;
o Revamping, constant updating and maintenance of project website: www.researchersnight.gr; 11.088 (9.719 in 2015) unique visitors from all participating cities (September-Mid October 2016); Over 47.140 (compared to 42.217 in 2015) page views;
o Social network profiles;
o About 2.000.000 people made aware of the Researchers\' Night and its objectives


Activities during the Night
Tasks undertaken

Locations
Athens (“Averof” building);
Heraklion (premises of FORTH);
Larissa (Milos Papa building);
Patras (Chamber of Achaia Perfecture and Riga Feraiou pedestrian zone);
Rethymno (premises of Institute for Mediterranean Studies);
Thessaloniki (“Mediterrenean Cosmos” Shopping Mall);

EU-corners
o Located in a frequented area;
o Offering : the European flag, connections to all relevant EU websites (list to be provided by REA), demonstration about at least one research project EU-supported in the area considered, interactive activities;
o Permanent presence of personnel likely to answer public questions about EU policies and programmes, and promoting the European dimension and gender balance in research and innovation (women in science);
o Testimonials/activities conducted by researchers funded by Horizon 2020, including Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (having been abroad or being on site), who will also take part in the activities organised outside the EU corner.

Overview of the results
o Offer of the activities globally as planned and described in the Grant Agreement Annex I Part B, namely:
o Dozens of hands-on experiments;
o Cutting edge exhibitions;
o Interactive Games and guided lab tours;
o Speeches of prominent researchers;

o Active involvement of over 600 researchers, of whom:
o 42 having benefitted from a Marie Curie scheme;
o 105 having benefitted from other EU support, under FP7 and/or HORIZON 2020;

o Over 22.000 visitors having taken part in the various activities offered, distributed as follows:
o Thessaloniki: 9.000;
o Athens: 6.000;
o Patras: 4000;
o Heraklion: 2500;
o Larissa: 600;
o Rethymnon: 100


Impact Assessment
Overview of the results
o Collection, analysis and processing of 1.324 (compared to 855 in 2015) feedbacks through filled in e-questionnaires;
Main conclusions:
o Typology of visitors: about 54% female, 46% male, aged 40-54 for 50 % responders, half of responders having a university degree and 81% newcomers;
o Knowledge of the event: E-mail (25%), social media (23, 2%) followed by articles on the Internet (19,64%) and “Banners/posters in the city” (8,93%);
o Overall positive feedback regarding the event itself (activities, interest, contacts with researchers, concrete organ

Final results

Collection, analysis and processing of 1.324 (compared to 855 in 2015) feedbacks through filled in e-questionnaires;
o Main conclusions:
o Typology of visitors: about 54% female, 46% male, aged 40-54 for 50 % responders, half of responders having a university degree and 81% newcomers;
o Knowledge of the event: E-mail (25%), social media (23, 2%) followed by articles on the Internet (19,64%) and “Banners/posters in the city” (8,93%);
o Overall positive feedback regarding the event itself (activities, interest, contacts with researchers, concrete organisation, scheduling, venues and locations, entertainment, volunteers);
o Most successful activities: interactive experiments and robots ;
o Less successful activities: speeches;
o Impact on public image of researchers and their work: Increased awareness about the societal impact of the researchers\' work, in particular towards citizens\' daily lives;
o Increased awareness about the importance of research activities for the progress of society;
o Impact on interest for scientific careers, in particular amongst young people: Increased interest for science and science careers expressed by visitors in particular young people, after having taken part in the Night\'s activities.
o 68,12% of the participants were aware that the EC was the main funding body of the Nights;
o Possible improvements: a longer lasting event, starting early in the afternoon and lasting until late at night.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.researchersnight.gr.