Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SCIENCzEch 2021 (SCIENCzEch 2021: Time for Change)
Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2022-02-28
The common main objective of the European Researchers' Night (ERN) is to give public and local communities the opportunity to meet with researchers, learn about their passion for science, the motivation that inspires them, the methods they use, and the results they achieve. It opens doors to the places where scientists work and also brings research to unusual places. At this event children, young people and adults can get insights into research work, careers and what kind of cutting-edge technology is used in modern research.
The specific objective of the of the SCIENCzEch 2021 event was to show research careers as interesting, enriching and useful job that might entail a career path for everyone and to motivate and inspire the youth to enjoy, understand and pursue science and technology.
"The TIME" with subtitle “TIME for Change” was the main topic for the 2021 edition of the ERN in the CR. The topic refers to the to time in many ways. We are in a time of change, the situation with COVID-19 has shown us how vulnerable a global society is. At the same time, we are facing problems linked to climate change and environmental crises. We question how much time is left for our planet and how to deal with this time responsibly. We perceive that right now is the time for change and science is an important ally and condition for sustainable development.
The specific objective of the of the SCIENCzEch 2021 event was to show research careers as interesting, enriching and useful job that might entail a career path for everyone and to motivate and inspire the youth to enjoy, understand and pursue science and technology.
"The TIME" with subtitle “TIME for Change” was the main topic for the 2021 edition of the ERN in the CR. The topic refers to the to time in many ways. We are in a time of change, the situation with COVID-19 has shown us how vulnerable a global society is. At the same time, we are facing problems linked to climate change and environmental crises. We question how much time is left for our planet and how to deal with this time responsibly. We perceive that right now is the time for change and science is an important ally and condition for sustainable development.
The SCIENCzEch 2021 project covered the European Researchers´ Night event in 2021. The project was be implemented by the coordinator - VSB and 61 local organisers (LOs)- cooperating organisations was employed by the VSB.
The work plan was broken down into 4 Work Packages - Awareness campaign, Activities during the NIGHT, Impact assessment and Management.
Work performed in WP1: Awareness campaign
Dissemination and communication strategy of the ERN was made up of online promotion and offline promotion tools. The Awareness campaign was conducted at two levels. The coordinator (VSB) ensured the campaign nationwide and the local organizers ensured the local propagation. To ensure the unified look of the Awareness campaign a common logotype have been used.
Work performed in WP2: Activities during the NIGHT
The ERN event took place in 48 cities covering all regions in the Czech Republic. The event was implemented by 62 local organisers, gathering ca. 900 researchers and more than 1000 other staff – students, employees, volunteers, managers etc.
The program was prepared in both variants – on-line and on-site. At the nocvedcu.cz website, participants could see the program from different venues. The selected program items were placed on the website in the form of videos, podcasts, reports and the like. Schools can use the online programme of Researchers' Nights in teaching year-round. Online program was available at https://www.nocvedcu.cz/ in Czech and some items were also available in English.
The program focused also on science education items, focusing on the development of scientific literacy of not only pupils and students, but also the general public. The program included activities aimed at promotion of the EU, highlighting the benefits of international cooperation. The activities combined education and entertainment. They included science shows, theatres, online lessons and workshops, experiments, games, quizzes, virtual tours in laboratories, discussions, EU corners, web streaming of some presentations, and much more.
A total of almost 700 program items were prepared by the involved institutions
Work performed in WP3: Impact assessment
Quantitative assessment - Survey
The main goal of the survey was to gather basic socio-demographic data, information about how the participants had heard about the event, information about their experience, opinion on whether the goal had been accomplished. The data was gathered in two ways: by means of a web form, available under http://nocvedcu.cz/dotaznik which was available to participants in the online events, but also participants attending the venues of ERN.
Qualitative assessment – Focus groups
Focus groups concentrated on three thematic branches:1. Event format and the web;2. Event content;3. Opinion on science/researchers before and after the event.
Work performed in WP4: Management
The project was implemented by VSB – Technical university of Ostrava (single beneficiary) in the cooperation with local organisers from all regions of the CR. Local organisers were involved on non-profit basis. The staff responsible for the implementation of the European Researchers´ Night was hired and paid by VSB. Local organisers–representatives of the cooperating organisations were responsible for the delivery of activities for the SCIENCzEch project in the desired quality, quantity, time and budget and also in the unified approach, integrity and compatibility of the activities at their locations and institutions. They coordinated all activities of their institutions according to agreed patterns set by the ERN team. They regularly reported on progress of the project to the national project leader.
3 meetings of the whole ERN team (VSB+local organisers) were hold - before the beginning of the project (19th March, online), 24th and 25th June 2021, face-to-face meeting/conference in Ostrava and after the evaluation of the RN2021 4th and 5th November in Ústí nad Labem.
Moreover, seven internal meetings of the national coordinator team at VSB were held.
Risk management - project manager prepared and regularly updated the risk management plan. All the potential risks and mitigation measures were discussed with LOs-ERN team. Finally, no serious risks occurred.
The work plan was broken down into 4 Work Packages - Awareness campaign, Activities during the NIGHT, Impact assessment and Management.
Work performed in WP1: Awareness campaign
Dissemination and communication strategy of the ERN was made up of online promotion and offline promotion tools. The Awareness campaign was conducted at two levels. The coordinator (VSB) ensured the campaign nationwide and the local organizers ensured the local propagation. To ensure the unified look of the Awareness campaign a common logotype have been used.
Work performed in WP2: Activities during the NIGHT
The ERN event took place in 48 cities covering all regions in the Czech Republic. The event was implemented by 62 local organisers, gathering ca. 900 researchers and more than 1000 other staff – students, employees, volunteers, managers etc.
The program was prepared in both variants – on-line and on-site. At the nocvedcu.cz website, participants could see the program from different venues. The selected program items were placed on the website in the form of videos, podcasts, reports and the like. Schools can use the online programme of Researchers' Nights in teaching year-round. Online program was available at https://www.nocvedcu.cz/ in Czech and some items were also available in English.
The program focused also on science education items, focusing on the development of scientific literacy of not only pupils and students, but also the general public. The program included activities aimed at promotion of the EU, highlighting the benefits of international cooperation. The activities combined education and entertainment. They included science shows, theatres, online lessons and workshops, experiments, games, quizzes, virtual tours in laboratories, discussions, EU corners, web streaming of some presentations, and much more.
A total of almost 700 program items were prepared by the involved institutions
Work performed in WP3: Impact assessment
Quantitative assessment - Survey
The main goal of the survey was to gather basic socio-demographic data, information about how the participants had heard about the event, information about their experience, opinion on whether the goal had been accomplished. The data was gathered in two ways: by means of a web form, available under http://nocvedcu.cz/dotaznik which was available to participants in the online events, but also participants attending the venues of ERN.
Qualitative assessment – Focus groups
Focus groups concentrated on three thematic branches:1. Event format and the web;2. Event content;3. Opinion on science/researchers before and after the event.
Work performed in WP4: Management
The project was implemented by VSB – Technical university of Ostrava (single beneficiary) in the cooperation with local organisers from all regions of the CR. Local organisers were involved on non-profit basis. The staff responsible for the implementation of the European Researchers´ Night was hired and paid by VSB. Local organisers–representatives of the cooperating organisations were responsible for the delivery of activities for the SCIENCzEch project in the desired quality, quantity, time and budget and also in the unified approach, integrity and compatibility of the activities at their locations and institutions. They coordinated all activities of their institutions according to agreed patterns set by the ERN team. They regularly reported on progress of the project to the national project leader.
3 meetings of the whole ERN team (VSB+local organisers) were hold - before the beginning of the project (19th March, online), 24th and 25th June 2021, face-to-face meeting/conference in Ostrava and after the evaluation of the RN2021 4th and 5th November in Ústí nad Labem.
Moreover, seven internal meetings of the national coordinator team at VSB were held.
Risk management - project manager prepared and regularly updated the risk management plan. All the potential risks and mitigation measures were discussed with LOs-ERN team. Finally, no serious risks occurred.
The activities carried out during the event challenged the existing stereotypes about researchers. The event introduced them as "Ordinary people with not ordinary work" to the general public, in particular to the young audience. Seeing the researchers in their workplace, having a chat and playing with them contributed to better public understanding of the researchers’ work. The visitors could also see that science and technology are an integral part of everyday experience.
Equally, the aim was to present to the public the opportunities that scientists can contribute to meeting The European Green Deal to make the EU's economy sustainable and turn climate and environmental challenges into opportunities.
According to the impact assessment of the project, the ERN 2021 event contributed significantly to meeting the objectives:
- Increased awareness among the general public of the importance of research and innovation and more favourable general attitude towards its public funding
- Better understanding of the key benefits that research brings to the society
-Reduction in the stereotypes about researchers and their profession
-Increase, in the long term, of people taking up research careers
- Better understanding of the European Union among the general public
-Fostering change in understanding of need to move to a clean, circular economy, restore biodiversity and cut pollution.
Equally, the aim was to present to the public the opportunities that scientists can contribute to meeting The European Green Deal to make the EU's economy sustainable and turn climate and environmental challenges into opportunities.
According to the impact assessment of the project, the ERN 2021 event contributed significantly to meeting the objectives:
- Increased awareness among the general public of the importance of research and innovation and more favourable general attitude towards its public funding
- Better understanding of the key benefits that research brings to the society
-Reduction in the stereotypes about researchers and their profession
-Increase, in the long term, of people taking up research careers
- Better understanding of the European Union among the general public
-Fostering change in understanding of need to move to a clean, circular economy, restore biodiversity and cut pollution.