Pan-European public outreach: exhibitions and science cafés engaging citizens in science

Specific challenge:

This topic will organise public outreach exhibitions and participatory events throughout the whole of Europe to engage citizens in science, drawing on the experience and capacity of science museums, Higher Education Institutions, science shops, scientific centres of excellence and innovation hubs, cities of scientific culture (e.g. building on the Seventh Framework programme PLACES initiative), but also grass root Do It Yourself (DiY) creative re-use communities (like movements, etc.), secondary schools, higher education centres, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society organizations, local public authorities and other relevant stakeholders[1]. The topic will take-up and further develop the information and training material produced by the RRI Toolkit developed by the Seventh Framework Programme project RRI Toolkit.

Scope:

Exhibitions and participatory events shall be interactive and adapted to local/regional conditions (i.e.: use of relevant case-studies) and shall take place in the local languages. Exhibits shall provide material for dissemination and make use of existing multimedia and other relevant technology (e.g.: social media, virtual reality, scenarios, gaming, etc.) and shall employ inclusive participatory techniques to engage with multiple publics (children, youth, women, adults, and other relevant stakeholders). Alongside the exhibitions, the proposals shall also establish regular 'science cafés' in informal settings, during which emerging science and technology issues and their Responsible Research and Innovation dimension (e.g. debating the pros and cons of shale gas extraction, personalised medicine, energy mix, disaster risk managementetc.) can be debated, engaging citizens and other relevant experts and local actors. Public feedback of exhibits and the outcomes of deliberations shall be collected and analysed in a structured way, to guide an internal learning process and provide policy support.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 3 and 3.5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

This action allows for the provision of financial support to third parties in line with the conditions set out in Part K of the General Annexes.

Expected impact:

In the short term, this action will increase public awareness of science and of Responsible Research and Innovation. In the medium term, it will build capacity of local science actors and public authorities to engage with citizens on science and innovation, leading to more public engagement activities after the end of the project. Equally, it will directly encourage more citizens, including women, to participate in science. It will encourage user-led and frugal innovation, and mobilise social resources in the knowledge transfer of ideas - from social imagination to practical implementation. In the long term, it will channel to policy makers at different levels external advice and societal inputs regarding appropriate R&I policies (as per Art. 12 and 14 of the H2020 Regulation).

Type of action: Coordination and Support Actions.

[1] See the European Researchers' Night (NIGHT) implemented under the Part III-3 of Horizon 2020: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions.