Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ENGAGE (European researchers' Night in Cyprus: the diGitAl and Green Age)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2021-04-26 do 2022-02-25
The ENGAGE project aimed at organising a European Researchers' Night (ERN) in Nicosia, Cyprus on the 24th of September 2021. The theme of the event, the green and digital age, focused on the transition towards a green world led by the European Union (EU) through the European Green Deal, in a new decade where the digital transition is well under way and more prominent than ever before as addressed in the European Digital Strategy. Having coordinated the organisation of the ERN events in Cyprus since 2006,the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), built on the experience accumulated over the years and established collaboration with local Research and Innovation (R&I) stakeholders from the academia, the public sector, industry as well as other actors in civil society to make the event a success. The project's main objective was to mobilise and actively engage researchers in a quest to increase awareness of research and innovation activities by bringing them closer to the wider public. ENGAGE additionally sought to raise the public's awareness regarding the latest R&I achievements in Cyprus and the EU, creating an understanding of the benefits and impact of researchers' work on citizens' daily life, whilst at the same time reducing stereotypes about researchers and encouraging young people to embark on research careers. The target audience for the event was the public at large, attracting people regardless of their age, gender or scientific background, with a special focus on families, pupils and students. Activities brought together the public and researchers from all sectors and disciplines, and included side events such as a European Corner Roadshow in the main cities of Cyprus and a main hybrid event with an online exhibition area, virtual tours of labs, a live science communication competition for students as well as a digital concert to conclude festivities.
The main conclusion to be drawn from the activities performed during the event is that the main goal was achieved that was to bring the researchers closer to the general public and to raise awareness about the research and innovation developments undertaken at national and EU level while boosting knowledge about the benefits of science to society in order to stimulate the interest in research careers, especially among young people.
The main conclusion to be drawn from the activities performed during the event is that the main goal was achieved that was to bring the researchers closer to the general public and to raise awareness about the research and innovation developments undertaken at national and EU level while boosting knowledge about the benefits of science to society in order to stimulate the interest in research careers, especially among young people.
Implemented activities included:
o Virtual tours of Labs
o Online Scavenger Hunt Game
o MSCA Fellows motivational video
o European Corner Roadshow in two cities (Larnaca and Limassol)
o E-Book competition
o Training webinars for research teams
o S-Factor competition
Overview of results achieved:
o Balanced mix of 72 activities combining entertainment and science (edutainment), and addressing the public in all its components;
o Active involvement of all major stakeholders in the Cypriot Research and Innovation System with participation from SMEs and civil society organisations (such as NGOs, youth organisation board etc). Twenty-nine (29) institutions participated at
the main event;
o Active involvement of 373 researchers registered from all the main research organisations of Cyprus, all scientific disciplines and all stages of the career path;
o Active involvement of the MSCA fellows.
o 37 H2020 funded projects participated in the Night by presenting their results to the general public and the EU Funding was advertised through the documents/videos of the activities.
o Policy makers were invited and participated at the main event (e.g Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Chief Scientist for Research and Innovation of the Republic of Cyprus) to highlight the importance of funded research for the economy and the society in general.
o Collaboration with the Ministry of Education to bring as many young people as possible to the main event. Overall, 297 students visited the online platform and 39 students took part in the S-Factor Competition.
o Additional involvement of at least 23 volunteers from the Research and Innovation Foundation (excluding organizing team);
o 449 unique visitors having taken part in the activities offered.
o Auditorium attendees 181.
o Virtual tours of Labs
o Online Scavenger Hunt Game
o MSCA Fellows motivational video
o European Corner Roadshow in two cities (Larnaca and Limassol)
o E-Book competition
o Training webinars for research teams
o S-Factor competition
Overview of results achieved:
o Balanced mix of 72 activities combining entertainment and science (edutainment), and addressing the public in all its components;
o Active involvement of all major stakeholders in the Cypriot Research and Innovation System with participation from SMEs and civil society organisations (such as NGOs, youth organisation board etc). Twenty-nine (29) institutions participated at
the main event;
o Active involvement of 373 researchers registered from all the main research organisations of Cyprus, all scientific disciplines and all stages of the career path;
o Active involvement of the MSCA fellows.
o 37 H2020 funded projects participated in the Night by presenting their results to the general public and the EU Funding was advertised through the documents/videos of the activities.
o Policy makers were invited and participated at the main event (e.g Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Chief Scientist for Research and Innovation of the Republic of Cyprus) to highlight the importance of funded research for the economy and the society in general.
o Collaboration with the Ministry of Education to bring as many young people as possible to the main event. Overall, 297 students visited the online platform and 39 students took part in the S-Factor Competition.
o Additional involvement of at least 23 volunteers from the Research and Innovation Foundation (excluding organizing team);
o 449 unique visitors having taken part in the activities offered.
o Auditorium attendees 181.
The main conclusion to be drawn from the impact assessment performed during the event is that despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic forcing the project team to adopt a hybrid format for this year’s event, the momentum of previous years was well upheld and the event remains well established in Cyprus, welcomed by the wider public and highly appreciated by the participants.
The overall PR value* for the above activities reached the amount of €136,784 as follows:
• TV and Radio Coverage (3 TV Shows -2 digital-, 1 Radio Shows, 2 News Broadcasts)
€36,560
• Online and Print Media (78 publications) - €100,224
Great emphasis was given to the promotion of the event through the social media and online media since more and more people are using the social media as a source of information and especially since the event was organised mainly in digital form.
Regarding the metrics from the beginning to the end of our campaigns, we have the following cumulative results:
Reach: 248,891
Impressions: 818,898
The main goals of the awareness campaign, aiming to create impact through an active community of members of the public interested in the event, thus increasing participation and make as many people as possible aware of the European Researchers' Night and its objectives, while attract as large as possible a number of organisations to the events organised, have been achieved, as proven by the final numbers of people engaging with the activities and information disseminated before, during and after the event. Direct communications to schools via the Ministry of Education, customized newsletters to the RIF’s databases, use of online and offline tools and press were all essential in reaching the desired number of people engaging with the event. The knowledge gained and lessons learned from promoting and raising awareness about the European Researchers’ Night as a digital event can be used for organising future events (either physical, virtual or hybrid form) with even more success.
The overall PR value* for the above activities reached the amount of €136,784 as follows:
• TV and Radio Coverage (3 TV Shows -2 digital-, 1 Radio Shows, 2 News Broadcasts)
€36,560
• Online and Print Media (78 publications) - €100,224
Great emphasis was given to the promotion of the event through the social media and online media since more and more people are using the social media as a source of information and especially since the event was organised mainly in digital form.
Regarding the metrics from the beginning to the end of our campaigns, we have the following cumulative results:
Reach: 248,891
Impressions: 818,898
The main goals of the awareness campaign, aiming to create impact through an active community of members of the public interested in the event, thus increasing participation and make as many people as possible aware of the European Researchers' Night and its objectives, while attract as large as possible a number of organisations to the events organised, have been achieved, as proven by the final numbers of people engaging with the activities and information disseminated before, during and after the event. Direct communications to schools via the Ministry of Education, customized newsletters to the RIF’s databases, use of online and offline tools and press were all essential in reaching the desired number of people engaging with the event. The knowledge gained and lessons learned from promoting and raising awareness about the European Researchers’ Night as a digital event can be used for organising future events (either physical, virtual or hybrid form) with even more success.