Due to the ongoing COVID-19 worldwide crisis, we were reluctant to organise mass events that had the potential to involve large crowds. However, we believed that the G9NIGHT NIGHT was an excellent opportunity to show the positive impact of scientific research on society. Despite most of the events adopting an online format, the implementation of our carefully designed contingency plan allowed us to still hold some in-situ.
Under the motto “Ambassadors for the Climate”, the consortium organised a Green Week from the 5th to the 12th of June, coinciding with World Environment Day (5th June) and World Ocean Day (8th June). The main objective of this pre-event was to show society the commitment of the member universities towards achieving a more sustainable economy, and how science and researchers are helping to create a more sustainable future. Thus, all proposed activities had planet Earth as major protagonist.
The main event represented an opportunity to encourage citizens to explore measure and experiment with the world around them. We are currently facing new challenges to involve the public in decision-making regarding social issues. In this sense, science education is essential to create a responsible citizenship, as it promotes critical thinking, creativity and innovation and citizens play a major role in addressing the challenges to a sustainable future. The project initiatives was organised around the motto: GREEN NIGHT NINE. Also, events were celebrated across Spain with a common aim: to bring researchers closer to the general public and increase awareness of research and innovation activities, with a view to supporting the public recognition of researchers, creating an understanding of the impact of researchers' work on citizens´ daily life, and encouraging young people to embark on research careers.
The main aim of G9NIGHT was to promote public awareness and understanding of research in science and technology. In order to achieve this, we will encourage researchers to share their work with the public at large, especially those who have benefited from EU support. A critical framework will be established as a forum for discussion with experts from partner’s institutions, about solutions that are being proposed in relation to specific problems of general interest. We do hope to demystify and humanise research, reveal what researchers do, and stimulate young people to embark on research careers.
