Researchers Night in Montenegro 2014/2015

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MONTENIGHT2014-15 (Researchers Night in Montenegro 2014/2015)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2015-01-01 al 2015-12-31

The project Researchers’ Night in Montenegro 2014-15 consisted of the continuation of its previous editions as from 2009; it was led by the same consortium composed of the Natural History Museum, the Montenegrin Science Promotion Foundation PRONA and the Ministry of Science.

The main objective pursued consisted of strengthening the efforts in bridging the gaps between researchers and public at large in all its components, although a strong focus was put on young people and kids.

The main events took place from the early afternoon on 25 September 2015 until the early hours of 26 September, in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, as well as in six smaller towns across Montenegro, namely Kotor, Nikšić, Kolašin, Bijelo Polje, Tivat and Cetinje.

As for Podgorica, the main activities took place in Art Pavilion, Karver, Plaza Capital, Natural History Museum and Contemporary Art Centre (Royal's Residence Kruševac). At the Art Pavilion and Karver, 28 groups presented more than 200 hands-on experiments, robots performances, astronomical workshop, Science kindergarten, engineering students competition, science movies, inter-disciplinary discussion, science show, concert…

Guided lab visits (5) were organised at University of Montenegro (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Faculty for Civil Engeneering), Natural History Museum of Montenegro, Hydro-meteorological and Seismological Service of Montenegro and Centre for Eco-Toxicological Research, also in Podgorica.

As to the smaller towns referred to above, they offered hands-on experiments and interactive presentations within various research entities (Institute for Marine Biology, Kotor, Water plant “Rada”, Bijelo Polje, Historical museum, Cetinje, Botanical Garden, Kolašin, Nautical Museum, Tivat).

The European Researchers’ Night proved once more to be a fun, educational and unique event gathering researchers, general population, the business sector, schools, young-talent programmes, various NGOs, governmental institutions, international agencies and academic institutions.

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 high school; students, university students, young people in general especially when facing a career choice, pre-school kids, elementary schools’ pupils, parents, researchers’ schools authorities and teachers;
o Also focus on researchers themselves and media;

Messages conveyed
o Researchers are amongst us;
o Researchers are ordinary people with an extraordinary job;
o Science is interdisciplinary and researchers need cooperating nowadays for reaching better and faster results;
o Science is fun and enjoyable;
o Learning and practicing science is in fact appealing;
o Being researchers is challenging but exciting;
o Researchers work on important jobs for social and economic well-being of local communities and mankind as a whole;
o Europe offers attractive career opportunities to researchers;
o Women in science;
o Scientific knowledge for sustainable development;

Main communication tools to rely on

Off line
o Organisation of media event with journalists as a kick off of the project;
o Direct meetings with various stakeholders (companies, researchers, science networks, universities, institutes, science services, school authorities and teachers, university students’ organisations, organisations of and for young people..);
o Publication of articles , announcements, advertisements in written press;
o Airing of promotional jingles, spots, interviews, programmes, announcements and talk shows on several radio and TV stations;
o Direct invitations to heads of science talents activities in all schools (HSS, school directors, faculty deans, other research stakeholders);
o Direct visits to primary and secondary schools;
o Meetings aimed at describing the inter-disciplinarity concept to be presented during the science cafés;
o Organisation of pre-events:
o Series of the festive events, Science in Motion, with the open experiments contests for schools (Šavnik, Žabljak, Pljevlja, Plužine, Bar, Berane, Andrijevica, Plav, Rožaje, Ulcinj );
o Promotional hands-on experiments stand in the main shopping malls in Podgorica (Delta and Gintas).

On line
o Revamping, constant updating and maintenance of the project website (programme, research in Montenegro, researchers’ profession, interactive functions allowing suggestions/improvements to the programme, suggestions of topics of interest…);
o Revamping, updating and maintenance of social networks profiles;
o E mailing;
o Posting of articles, announcements, promotional items on on,-line journals, for a, social networks groups (Facebook, Twitter)

Promotional material
o Programmes, leaflets, posters in various formats, bill boards, city lights, video clips, radio jingles, pictures;
o On line banners, ads website and links to several EU, institutional and popular 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 (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 Refreshing of visual identity based on the mascot figure imagined by Aleksandra Aleksić for the European poster competition;
o Conception, production and display of promotional material: billboards in most frequented locations in the capital city, tarpaulins at the venues and in front of the main City squares, posters (schools, public places), roll ups for each exhibiting group, leaflets displayed in the city centre and brochures/programmes displayed during the events themselves;
o Sending of personal invitations, notably to heads of Science Talents’ programmes in all the schools, principals, deans, scientific institutions and other research stakeholders;
o Organisation of pre-events: teasing hands-on experiments conducted by young researchers
o in 10 cities namely Šavnik, Žabljak, Pljevlja, Plužine, Bar, Berane, Andrijevica, Plav, Rožaje, Ulcinj;
o In 3 science schools at Ivanova Korita, mountain Lovćen;
o Visits to schools, faculties and other research stakeholders by the corodinating team;
o Organisation of a press conference (September 21) during the Open Science Days and European Researchers'Night, and announcement of detailed programme (several channels and newspapers);
o Revamping, maintenance and constant updating of the project website www.festivalnauke.me , linked with several popular and institutional ones, such as Natural Museum www.pmcg.co.me , PRONA www.prona.org , Ministry of Science http://www.mpin.gov.me and Open Science Days www.daninauke.me;
o Revamping, maintenance and constant updating of Facebook and Twitter accounts (PRONA, Open Science Days);
o Publication of articles in main newspapers of the country such as Vijesti, Dan, Pobjeda, Dnevne novine;
o Airing of interviews (coordinator) and announcements on national and commercial TV stations such as TVCG (National Main Channels), TV Vijesti and TV Prva; daily news Vijesti, Dnevne novine, Pobjeda and Dan;
o About 350.000 people made aware of the European Researchers'Night and its objectives.

I.1.2 ACTIVITIES DURING THE NIGHT

Tasks undertaken

List of locations and venues involved
o Podgorica: Art Pavilion, Karver, Plaza Capital, Natural History Museum, Contemporary Art Centre (Royal's Residence Kruševac), University of Montenegro, Institute of Hydrometerology and Seismology of Montenegro, and Center for Eco-toxicological Research;
o Kotor: Institute of Marine Biology;
o Cetinje: Cetinje Gymnasium and Historical Museum;
o Bar: Primary school “Jugoslavija”;
o Kolašin: Botanical Garden;
o Bijelo Polje: mineral water plant ”Rada”;
o Nikšić: ENING electronics;
o Tivat: Porto Montenegro.

Main types of activities planned
Hands-on experiments, science and art installations, thematic quizzes, display of movies, workshops, science café, open science show, astronomical workshops, science kindergarten, competitions, concert happening, European corners….

Detailed programme of activities

PODGORICA

Art Pavilion
o Twenty eight different stands at Art Pavilion offered at least 200 all day hands-on experiments and touch-and-try exhibits prepared by researchers from the academic and business sectors, NGO and young-talents program, schools, agencies ..
o Official opening of the event and opening science show with Mr Andre Lys, Head of Cooperation Sector of The EU Delegation to Montenegro; Mrs Sanja Vlahović, Minister of Science and Mr Jovan Mirkovic, programme coordinator;
o Open Science Show by Milan Popović group;
o Astronomical workshop The story of the stars;
o Science kindergarten;
o Robots stage;
o Scientific movies;
o Meetings with scientists.

Karver
o Scientific tribunes – lectures and meeting with successful researchers: MSc Ranko Tošković (Delft University of Tehno, Nederland, Magnetism); Dr Radenka Krsmanović Whiffen (Vinča Insitute of Nuclear Sciences, Physics); MSc Martin Đukanović (Leiden University, Nederland, Mathematics); MSc Miljan Bigović (Faculty of Natural Sciences and mathematics, UCG, Chemistry); Dr Olivera Komar (Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Montenegro, Political Behaviour); MSc Nataša Lalović (Physics, Lund University, Sweden, Nuclear physics);
o Science café – engineering students competition (BEST);
o Panel discussion Mathematics and me, guided by Mr Rinus Roelofs and Mr Martin Đukanović;
o Discussions with various generations of researchers focus on need for inter-disciplinarity in science of 21st century Concert, guitar duo Bultović-Nikčević.

Atlas Capital Plaza
o Exhibition – CERN in Montenegro

Natural History Museum
o Exhibition Nature Connects Us!
o Thematic quiz about flora and fauna; medicinal plants and herbs;

Contemporary Art Centre, King's Nikola Palace
o Exhibition – Montenegro in Mesozoik Era

Open Laboratories
Interactive guided tours and workshops (organised with the cooperating institutions) were available to public after 2 PM. The visitors of open laboratories were mostly high school students, while the guides were the heads of the departments of the host institutions.
o Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Montenegro;
o Faculty for Civil Engineering, University of Montenegro;
o Natural History Museum of Montenegro;
o Hydro-meteorological and Seismological Service of Montenegro;
o Centre for Eco-Toxicological Research.

Science cafés, meetings with scientists

Other venues, open labs guided tours

OTHER LOCATIONS

Guided tours and interactive workshops, including hands-on experiments on the following topics:

KOTOR
Science of sea (Kotor, Institute for Marine Biology)
Do you now something about biodiversity richness of the Adriatic sea? Microscopy, part of laboratory work; marine biodiversity; Guided interactive tours and workshop

BIJELO POLJE
Mineral water plant ”Rada”, Bijelo Polje Guided interactive tours and workshop Water as live resource:
technological processes in the processing and production of water.

NIKŠIĆ
Energy efficiency tour (ENING Electronics, Nikšić)
Guided interactive tours and workshop: What is engineering? And project planning, work performance, thermo-energetical and thermo-technical product?

TIVAT
Porto Montenegro. Nautical Museum, nautical science.

KOLAŠIN
What are the endemic plants? How flora of Montenegro has endemic plants? How many have medicinal plants? Are they endangered? What are the NATURA 2000 sites? The answers to these and many other issues related to flora and biodiversity of Montenegro visitors to the Botanical garden of mountain flora in Kolasin received from Mr. Daniel Vincek, the owner of Basta. In the Garden, which is a unique facility in Montenegro, legally protected as a natural monument, grows more than 400 endemic, rare, endangered and protected species of plants in Montenegro.

CETINJE
Why the Earth heats up more than before? How science explains this process? Whether and how threatened life on Earth? Energy around us and energy efficiency? Experiment "greenhouse effect" was implemented by teachers and students of Gymnasium in Cetinje, who subsequently visited the National Archives of Montenegro and to be introduced with the selected old records that are kept in this institution.

European corners
Number: 2
Location: university of Montenegro (hall of technical faculties) and central location at Art Pavilion;
Activities planned:
o Display of informative and promotional material;
o Witnesses from researchers having benefited from EU support (MSCA schemes or others);
o Presentation of research results of EU-funded projects and of Montenegrin projects;
o Permanent presence of personnel likely answering on the public questions regarding EU policies and programmes;
o European Researchers' Night MSCA roll-up (entrance of the event) complying with the following content and format requirements: 200 X 85 cm, and the mentions: "European Researchers' Night", "Marie Skłodowska-Curie: an inspiration to follow";
o An image provided by the European Commission;

Overview of the results
o Offer of the activities as planned in the Grant Agreement Annex I B:
o Opening ceremony , attended notably by .E. André Lys, Head of Cooperation Sector of EU Delegation to Montenegro, as a speaker at the opening ceremony (18h);
o Over 200 hands-on experiments and touch and try exhibitions (academic circles, businesses, NGOs, young talents);
o Display of over 28 stands at Art Pavilion;
o Science trips organised by cooperating partners;
o Organisation of EU Corners at University of Montenegro and at the Art Pavilion of ULUCG (MSCA programmes and procedures, info about the leading scientific projects funded by the EU, and programmes including Horizon 20202, EUREKA, COST…);
o Active involvement of 250 researchers;
o Attendance of over 10 000 visitors.

I.1.3 IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Tasks undertaken

Description of the current situation
o Eurobarometer survey “young people and science” (part of Researchers night 2009);
o Results of impact assessment exercise in 2013;

Tools
o Ex-ante and ex-post short survey in participating schools;
o Feedback from web based communication (comments on Internet, social networks pages, related to quality of the events, suggestions for improvements, opinion about science research and researchers, opportunities for research work in the country, interest for research amongst young people…;
o Media coverage: media archive of the articles published in both off and on line media;

Indicators and parameters to be applied
o Quantitative: number of attendees, typography of attendees (age, gender, occupation, background), rating of the event, participation in various activities, hits on website, friends and followers on social networks, promotional items displayed, media coverage…
o Qualitative: public opinion about researchers and their corks (association with the word “researcher, characteristics of actual and ideal researchers, interest expressed for science and research, motivations for attending the event, intention to attend future similar events, involvement of researchers funded under HORIZON 2020 …

Selection of the sample
o Method: survey amongst schools: designed based on statistical information collected by Ministry of Education, others, random selection;
o Absolute figures: at least 800 responses to school survey, and 1.000 feedbacks on other basis.

Main conclusions:
o Overall positive feedback about the event (activities, interest, contacts with researchers, concrete organisation, schedule, locations and venues);
o Typology of visitors: for a large part scholars from elementary and high schools, as well as students and young people;
o Activities most successful: hands-on experiments (students and scholars), tribunes and science café (older attendees);
o Excellent media coverage of the event (TV broadcast; web portals, newspapers…);
o Very positive opinion expressed by responders towards researchers and their potential contribution to society and he country's development;
o General will expressed by responders to take part in similar future events.

Socio-economic Impact

The European Researchers' Night in Montenegro has steadily and provably expanded in scope, audience, participation, public consciousness penetration, and quantifiable results in each and every year of its operations since 2009. The core team of the European Researchers' Night in Montenegro 2009 initiated under the coordination of the Ministry of Science, which was accepted just one year later (2010), for the first time in history in Montenegro.

While adding broader media involvement and greater school integration, the European Researchers'Night attracted direct personal attendance participation by up to three percent of the entire population of the country, and over 60% nationwide specific awareness via mass media.

The Survey conducted by the Montenegrin Academy for Science and Arts in 2014 and 2015 show that the elementary and high school students are not really fully aware of the importance of science and research for their everyday life. Furthermore, classes as Math or Chemistry are considered boring among 70% of scholars. Only 2% of student population like mathematics, physics and biology courses. Researchers and science news are widely absent from medias, and it could be said that only during the European Researchers'Night or similar events researchers are in focus of media and public attention. On the other side, surveys of the European Researchers'Night impact continuously show that 90% of visitors (mostly youth) understand the benefits of science towards society and the positive impact of research on the mankind.

The main socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the action is the increased interest for science careers as shown among young people, interviewed during the event. The European Researchers’ Night will certainly influence the relationships between research institutions, universities etc. operating in the area and, having cooperated in the project, likely to go on after it and generate further synergies and positive impact. The European Researchers' night, when involving (whether directly within the partnership or through external cooperation) companies, including small and medium ones operating in the area, can also ease the setting up of bridges between research and industry and, as such, lead to employment and innovation.

Robots

Gala opening, European Commission representative, HE Andre Lys

Hands-on-experiments - biology

Lectures, nuclear physics (Natasa Lalovic)

Gala opening, minister of science, dr Sanja Vlahovic

Main Venue, Art Pavilion Entrance

CERN exhibition

Hands-on-experiments

Panel discussion (Martin Djukanovic)

Hands-on-experiments - chemistry

Science Show, Milan Popovic group

Art Pavilion

Concert, guitar duo Bulatovic - Nikcevic

Hands-on-experiments - gases

Math and Art, panel and exhibition

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MONTENIGHT2014-15 (Researchers Night in Montenegro 2014/2015)

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