Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HUMAN_ERA Night (European Researchers\' Night in Cyprus: The Human Era)
Teaser
The overall objective of the ‘HUMAN_ERA Night’ project is to reach out to the wider public and raise awareness about the research and innovation activities undertaken at national and EU level while boosting knowledge about the benefits of science to society in order to...
Summary
The overall objective of the ‘HUMAN_ERA Night’ project is to reach out to the wider public and raise awareness about the research and innovation activities undertaken at national and EU level while boosting knowledge about the benefits of science to society in order to stimulate the interest in research careers, especially among young people. With the motto ‘science for all’ as a flagship, the ‘HUMAN_ERA Night’ will organise two fun, interactive events,one in 2018 in Limassol and one in 2019 in Nicosia, targeting various audiences during European Researchers’ Nights in Cyprus. The events will offer a unique opportunity for the public to meet and interact with the researchers through different activities.
• Bring together researchers and the public at large (of different ages, gender and background, but especially young people) and allow them to interact through a balanced mix of “edutainment†- educational and entertaining - activities, so as to remove stereotypes about researchers, and make research careers more appealing by proving that researchers are in fact “ordinary people with fascinating jobsâ€, thus increasing the number of young people choosing to get involved in research while at the same time nurturing a research culture.
• Raise the public’s awareness regarding the latest R&I achievements in Cyprus and beyond, that have positively affected many aspects of our everyday lives, including economic growth and better quality of life, emphasising projects funded by the EU, in order to understand the benefits for society, as well as the international dimension of research and increase the public’s recognition of the importance of the researchers’ work.
• Engage relevant actors to encourage formal and informal science education with the aim to improve the scientific knowledge base in Cyprus.
• Give a clear message to policy makers that investment in research will help boost the economy and increase Europe’s competitiveness.
• Promote gender balance and inclusion in research by ensuring equal participation of males and females and extensive promotion.
• Promote the idea of the human (the researcher) as the driving force in the science evolution.
Work performed
Awareness campaign Work Package 1
Tasks undertaken
Main targets of the campaign:
o Public at large in all its components whichever age and scientific background;
o Specific attention to be paid to children and young people, especially those about facing a career choice;
Communication means:
Off line
On line
Pre- events
Promotional material
Messages to be conveyed
o Science for all as a flagship;
o Acknowledgment of the contribution of science and technology in facing the big challenges in Europe and beyond;
o Promotion of the characteristics and qualities of people working in R&I;
o Human Evolution (2018) – Human Revolution (2019);
Overview of the results:
The main conclusion to be drawn from the awareness campaign performed during the event is that the main goal was achieved that was to bring the researchers closer to the general public and to raise awareness about the research and innovation developments undertaken at national and EU level while boosting knowledge about the benefits of science to society in order to stimulate the interest in research careers, especially among young people.
• Estimate number of people made aware of the European Researchers\' Night and its objectives: around 1.000.000 (full cover of the country’s population);
• Overall number of attendees (5.000);
Activities during the Night Work Package 2
Tasks undertaken
Location 2018: Limassol, historic building complex of the Lanitis Foundation (Carob Mill);
Main idea: raise awareness on the human impact on the evolution of our civilisation - the Human Era;
Theme: 2018: cultural heritage
Methodology
1. Spring Event (pre-event);
2. Side Events
3. Main Event
A balanced mix of more than 70 public-oriented, “edutainment†activities.
Hands on Experiments, Simulations, demos, videos, audio, movies, scientific games, artefacts, display of entrepreneurship, story-telling, quizzes, games, puzzles, use of scientific equipment, software and mobile applications, artistic activities (painting, pottery);
- Art and science activities
- Games
-Interactive talks
- Τhe Science-Factor
- Hall of Famelab 2018
-Science Theatre
- Competitions
- Award Ceremonies
- Music Entertainment
- Paramythies
- “Scientific Cocktail Reception†and “Meet and Greet†-
EU-Corner
Overview of the results:
- Central theme: cultural heritage research with other sectors also represented to ensure multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity;
- Balanced mix of more than 70 activities combining entertainment and science (edutainment), and addressing the public at large in all its components;
- Active involvement of all major stakeholders in the Cypriot Research and Innovation System with a strengthened participation from SMEs and civil society organisations (such as museums, youth organisation board etc);
- Active involvement of over 35 institutions participating;
- Active involvement of more than 400 researchers from all the main research organisations of Cyprus, all scientific disciplines and all stages of the career path, of whom: 22 having benefited from MSCA schemes;
- Additional involvement of at least 60 more volunteers from the Research Promotion Foundation and other partner organisations;
- Estimated 5.000 visitors having taken part in the activities offered.
Impact Assessment Work Package 3
Tasks undertaken
Quantitative data:
- Number of attendees;
- Personal information;
- Information on the event (rating of the event, which activities they participated in, most attractive activities).
- Number of hits on the relevant website;
- Number of friends and followers on social networks;
- Number of promotional items displayed;
- Media coverage;
Qualitative data:
- Opinion of participants on researchers and their job;
- Interest of participants in science, research and science careers;
- Intention of participants to attend similar events in the future;
- involvement of researchers funded by Horizon 2020, including Marie Skłodo
Final results
- Increase in the awareness of the importance of research and innovation
- More favourable general attitude towards its funding
- Better understanding of the key benefits that research brings to society
-Reduction in the stereotypes about researchers and increase of people taking up research careers
Website & more info
More info: http://www.research.org.cy/el/news/researchers-night-2018.