Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - FRESH (FRESH - Find Researchers Everywhere and SHare)

Teaser

The FRESH (Find Research Everywhere and SHare) project aims to increase the awareness of science among the general public; to help a better understanding of the key benefits that research brings to society; to increase, in the long term, the number of people taking up...

Summary

The FRESH (Find Research Everywhere and SHare) project aims to increase the awareness of science among the general public; to help a better understanding of the key benefits that research brings to society; to increase, in the long term, the number of people taking up research and encourage young people to consider science and engineering careers; to increase the number of researchers with experience in communicating to the public and last but not least to bring favourable general attitude towards funding of science.

The project reached its objectives and proved to be successful.

Work performed

WP1. Promotional campaign
o Conception, production and display of promotional materials, namely programs, posters, roll-up banners, vinyl banners, T-shirts and bags at centralized project level displayed in schools and universities prior to the event, as well as to media representatives, social networks, schools by all partners.
o Outdoors advertising: display of promotional material in public places such as bookshops, libraries, university and central pedestrian areas, research institutes, schools, kinder gardens Sofia metro stations;
o Direct mailing to teachers and school principals and visits to schools, local active organizations and institutions in the education field (Ruse), support center for personal development (Varna), to representatives of art, culture and local authorities by Institute of Oceanology (Varna), sports and dancing organizations( Pleven), education NGOs, (Pleven, Plovdiv, Varna);
o Publication of articles and announcements in national written press (about 100 publications);
o Airing of interviews and promotional spots on local and national radio and TV ;
o Pre-events:
o Flash mob;
o Visits to schools and other educational institutions, vocational schools, primary schools and kindergartens as well as schools for children with special needs;
o Meetings with teachers, directors, educators;
o Meetings with opinion leaders and influencers;
o Organization of several competitions „FRESH VIDEO”, „FRESH VOICES”, „FRESH GIRLS”, „FRESH TOUCH”.

o Promotion during other public events – at Sofia Science Festival in May 2017;
o Organization of press conferences (press club of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency in Pleven with local and national media);
o Specific media partnerships based on existing partnerships(BBC Knowledge, Mining and Geology Journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences…;
o Constant updating and maintenance of project website http://nauka.bg/night/ and on http://www.britishcouncil.bg/programmes/education/researchers-night;
o Over 1,5 million sessions from July to October 2017;
o 3.200 unique visitors (through British Council);
o Links with partners\', popular and institutional websites;
o Constant updating of social network profiles:
o Facebook: reach 535.508, total impressions 1.574.193;
o Promotion of the event on partners\' Facebook profile;
o Google ads campaign;
o Announcement in several on line magazines and newspapers;
o Production of a special video clip posted on social media (Ruse);
o About 3. 600.000 people made aware of the European Researchers\' night and its objectives.


WP2 Activities during the NIGHT

Offer of the activities as planned in the Annex I Part B to the Grant agreement and additional ones:
o 11 locations, 32 venues;
o 25 associated partners;
o Common themes for all activities: Science and sports incl. Varna European Youth Capital 2017, health and biodiversity, technologies and innovation;
o Types of activities: hands-on activities, workshops, exhibitions, science shows, demonstrations, competitions, quizzes, informal talks with researchers, games, guided tours, poetry, puzzles, tasting… of vegetables, European corners (each venue);
o Live streaming with links to other Night events throughout Europe (London, Bucharest, CERN…);

o Cooperation with some EU funded projects London, Science Uncovered live stream); CERN (virtual tour), ERN Romania (live stream), ERN Estonia (participation of Bomb Squad), EU Space Awareness, Basefood (Portugal, UK, Italy, Serbia, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia); DELPHI “Modernization of Aquarium”, Romania - Bulgaria Cross-Border Cooperation …;

o Organization of some follow-up events such as a seminar “Healthy Eating for Better and Happier Life” , a visit to the University of Food Technologies, visit to science laboratories of the University of Food Technologies Plovdiv, workshop at the laboratory kitchen of the Department of Catering and Tourism ;
o Active involvement of

Final results

Collection, analysis and processing of 1.953 feedbacks, including 1.179 validated based on both the on-line survey and 774 questionnaires filled in on site;
o Conduction of focus groups composed of pupils from secondary schools, based on 4 categories for evaluation defined according to scientific fields, asked to assess each of the video presentations based on the interest of the topic, the content and its accessibility and the presenters\' performance;
o Main conclusions:
o Typology of visitors: 68 % newcomers, 32 % having visited the event during the last 3 years, 77 % female respondents and 60 % female participants, average age 32, most from the capital city (38 %) and district centres (45 %), 36 % students, 40 % employed, 50 % interested in science;
o Knowledge about the events: Facebook 40,39%, web pages 21% and recommendation from friends, relatives and colleagues 42,34%, work/school: 23,25%;
o Overall positive feedback about the events (activities, contacts with researchers, venues and locations, concrete organisation, scheduling…);
o Perception of scientists as ordinary people with a specific job, positive image of science and scientists;
o General intention (95 %) to attend future similar events;
o Increased interest for science after having participated in the events (42 %);
o Suggestions for improvements:
o Improved information about the activities and accessibility of the sites;
o Broader diversity of topics;
o Wish for a higher interactivity and improved communication skills of presenters (not read slides, presentation, short sentences, relevant content to the topic announced, shorter presentations)

Website & more info

More info: http://nauka.bg/night/.