Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SCILIFE (Science in everyday life)

Teaser

The 2016/2017 ERN “SCILIFE consortium” is coordinated by the University of Lisbon through the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC). This consortium includes major universities in Portugal, such as the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL), Nova...

Summary

The 2016/2017 ERN “SCILIFE consortium” is coordinated by the University of Lisbon through the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC). This consortium includes major universities in Portugal, such as the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL), Nova University of Lisbon, University of Porto, University of Minho -, the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira, and the municipality of Lisbon. It is devoted to “Science In Everyday Life – SCILIFE” main theme and in 2016 had as a sub-theme of RRI the \'open access\'.
The main aim of bringing together researchers and general public by offering the public at large the opportunity to discover research in an informal context and by bringing researchers closer to general audiences and giving them the opportunity to understand the public’s perception of their work, including society’s concerns and expectations, it is an important way of involving societal actors in the research and innovation process.
Thus, specific objectives of this consortium are: (i) raise awareness of citizens towards the role research plays in finding answers to major issues of European contemporary society, namely sustainable growth, social cohesion and social development; (ii) raise awareness and commitment of researchers and universities to RRI and the European society main needs and values; (iii) showing the importance of science in the quality of our daily life in a simple and straightforward way; (iv) stimulate and develop active and responsible dialogues between social actors and researchers, by inviting citizens to become more actively involved in everyday life issues they care about; (v) stimulate the participation of citizens in research and science policies development through the promotion of collaborative pathways between society and the scientific community; (vi) show the faces and the personal dimension of research, contributing to dissipate existing mutual stereotypes about researchers and citizens; (vii) improve lifelong learning and attract young audiences to scientific careers; (viii) narrow the gap between the Portuguese scientific community and society and reposition science and research in the national agenda of policy makers, the industry and other stakeholders, in order to increase collaborations and enhance innovation in a safe and sustainable way.

Work performed

\"Conception, production and display of promotional material: posters, roll ups, passports, bookmarkers, programmes, e-invitation, flying banners for backpacks, flyers, T-shirts, displayed in public places (restaurants, libraries, universities) and/or to use in the venues and give away during the Night;
Public advertising material: mupis for large open spaces;
Conception, production and display through city giant screens all over Lisbon, of a promotional video spot;
Publication of articles, advertising and inserts in written and online press such as the Time Out magazine, the Expresso, the Destak, the Correio da Manhã newspaper and the Correio do Minho regional newspaper, as well as in city guides and Lisbon cultural agenda; Wilder, Observador and Visão;
Airing of interviews and event\'s live transmission through national TV and radio stations (TVI, SIC and SIC Notícias, national public radio (TSF) , national public TV (RTP1);
55 broadcasting news;
Mailing through participants\' mailing list (over 10.000 addresses);
Revamping, constant updating and maintenance of project website, namely http://www.noitedosinvestigadores.org/ (Information on the aims of the European Researcher’s Night, the main theme, Science in Everyday Life SCILIFE and other Portuguese projects, build-up activities, programmes in the four cities, researchers in Portugal having benefited from Marie Curie grants…);
27.307 unique visitors and 1,633.255 hits;
Revamping and constant updating of social networks profiles (Facebook);
2.601 likes on Facebook;
Organisation of pre-events, namely the \"\"build up activities in Lisbon, Braga and Porto;
Over 500.000 people made aware if the European Researchers\' night and its objectives.

Offer of the activities as planned in the Annex I Part B to the Grant Agreement:
Over 68 activities in Braga, over 155 in Lisbon, about 35 in Porto and 20 in Funchal;
Hands-on experiments, science shows, demos, simulations, workshops, science cafés, debates, quizzes and games, competitions…;

Active involvement of 627 researchers, of whom 86 in Braga, 450 in Lisbon, 56 in Porto and 35 in Funchal:
9 having benefited from MSC schemes;
46 having benefitted from another EU support (FP 7, HORIZON 2020);

6.100 visitors having taken part in the activities offered.
\"

Final results

\"BUILD-UP ACTIVITIES
Collection, analysis and processing of 103 filled in questionnaires (53 in Lisbon, 31 in Braga and 19 in Porto);
Main conclusions:
Typology of visitors: major female participation, major representation of aged 35-44 in BioBlitz and Lisbon workshops, while major participation of aged 15-24 in Braga and Porto workshops, most participants having a bachelor degree, and a master degree for the next category, most having studied/studying science and technology followed by social sciences and economics,
Overall positive feedback regarding the build-up activities (organization, logistics, themes, contents presented in an accessible way, possibility of commenting, making questions, and doing practical experiences);
Most successful activities: fingerprinting and individual identification workshop and origin and flavour of tea workshop;
Increased awareness regarding the scientists’ work and the impact of science in everyday life.

NIGHT 2016
Collection and processing of 431 filled in questionnaires (314 in Lisbon, 33 in Braga, 37 Porto and 47 in Funchal);
Main conclusions:
Overall positive feedback regarding the event itself (activities, interest, contacts with researchers, concrete organisation, scheduling, locations and venues);
Typology of visitors: major female participation except in Funchal (46,8 %), over 30% visitors aged 15-24 in all locations, followed by visitors aged 35-44 (over 21 % in all locations) with the exception of Porto where major participation of people aged 45-54, over 27 % in all locations with a bachelor degree, followed by master degree while in Braga over 35 % lower secondary school, mostly studying/working in science and technology (over 56 % in all locations) followed by social sciences/economics (22,6 %);
Increased association of the event with learning new things and fun;
Increased attractiveness of the events towards young people;
Increased awareness about the Importance of science: 92% responders considering that science is extremely important for the development of Portugal;
Public image of scientists (notably through \"\"draw a scientist\"\" activity): still considered a nerd, at work and with an enquiring mind, although increasing trend (10%) for considering the scientist as “one of us”;
Most popular topics in science: physics, biology, chemistry, technology;
Most represented science perception: inquiry-based perception regarding science through concepts such as curiosity, experimentation, observation, and challenging;
Results very much similar to those collected during previous similar events.

\"

Website & more info

More info: http://www.noitedosinvestigadores.org/.