Opening Up Science

Project Information

OpeningUpScience

Grant agreement ID: 101036006

DOI

10.3030/101036006

Project closed

EC signature date 22 April 2021

Start date 1 May 2021

End date 31 December 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 60 000,00

EU contribution

€ 60 000,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITATEA ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA DIN IASI
Romania

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OpeningUpScience (Opening Up Science)

Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2021-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

While the word "lockdown" can be used to describe 2020, we used the words "opening up" to describe 2021. If the world is set to return to normalcy, research will play a critical role in this process. As a result, the European Researchers' Night in 2021 honored research as the hero who allowed the globe to open up.

Our event, which was themed "Opening Up Science," focused on the role of science and researchers in the process of re-opening the world. Science's impact on our lives has never been clearer or faster in the history of humanity. The concept was expanded to emphasize the importance of research in a post-Covid green recovery, a process that will enable society to progress toward a cleaner, more sustainable, carbon-neutral, and resilient future.

The event was organized by a national consortium of 6 universities centered in major Romanian university cities (Iași, Timișoara, Craiova, Constanța, and Sibiu), in partnership with their traditional partners and local authorities, as well as collaborating with local science festivals or associations.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

On a mixed format of the Night event, six universities from five major city university centers were involved: Iasi, Sibiu, Timișoara, Craiova, and Constanta (20 percent onsite, 80 percent online).
Web and social media channels were primarily used to coordinate awareness-raising actions about the need of encouraging research. Interactions with the public were created with the goal of attracting and encouraging young people to enjoy science and, more importantly, to consider a career in research.

The audience focused on two age categories: 20-23 years and 35-45 years, respectively. Certainly, parents have a direct interest in protecting the future of society by ensuring that their children receive a sufficient education.

Overall number of persons reached, in the context of all dissemination and communication activities: total 300 000 persons reached
Overall number of attendees: more than 9 000 (onsite participants and online views & likes)

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Anything bad leads to something good: the internet version has made its way into remote areas where the general public has limited access to scientific and cultural information. Furthermore, the European Researchers' Night network, which includes comparable events staged in cross-border European nations, was linked to the OpeningUpScience event.

The economy has been in a deep slump these years, and many businesses have scaled back their operations and revenues. This connection will motivate the business community to explore solutions for a sustainable economy that benefits both people and the environment, based on green technology in industry, agriculture, and transportation, resulting in a climate neutral EU. Clearly, the only way to achieve this goal is for the corporate sector to collaborate with academic and research communities, as well as for strategic policies to be implemented at the European level.

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