Periodic Reporting for period 1 - REGGAE (Researchers for European Green Growth And Education)
Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2021-11-30
The world is changing at an unprecedented pace and society is being reshaped every day. Innovations are quickly disseminated across society, but so are risk and uncertainty. Citizens increasingly want to be engaged in this process, participating through social networks and active communities; but while part of the population participates, a large sector of it still lags behind. Science and technology should bringing new developments that enable society to use fewer resources by creating more efficient industrial processes, making a better management of food and water and developing renewable energies.
REGGAE will show case the role of scientists in the achievement of a greener, more resilient and innovative European society, by involving researchers and public side by side in lively activities. By engaging adult citizens and showing how innovation and knowledge can lead to growth and to a more sustainable future, the project will also contribute to reinforce trust in science and its methods. Young researchers, as role models for students, will be involved in activities specifically designed for youngsters and schools, in order to promote STEM careers. The project provides opportunities for direct contact between scientists and the public where the future challenges of science and technology in society will be considered. It rests on the assumption that communication about research careers and their impacts is more effective when it corresponds to the concerns and expectations of the public, thus promoting a wide participatory discussion to identify new trends, barriers and expectations for societal development.
REGGAE promotes and disseminates science and innovation being done in Portugal, with one major aim: enhancing researchers' public recognition by offering the public at large the opportunity of discovering the "human face" of research as well as understanding the impact of research on their daily lives and on the future of human society.
REGGAE will show case the role of scientists in the achievement of a greener, more resilient and innovative European society, by involving researchers and public side by side in lively activities. By engaging adult citizens and showing how innovation and knowledge can lead to growth and to a more sustainable future, the project will also contribute to reinforce trust in science and its methods. Young researchers, as role models for students, will be involved in activities specifically designed for youngsters and schools, in order to promote STEM careers. The project provides opportunities for direct contact between scientists and the public where the future challenges of science and technology in society will be considered. It rests on the assumption that communication about research careers and their impacts is more effective when it corresponds to the concerns and expectations of the public, thus promoting a wide participatory discussion to identify new trends, barriers and expectations for societal development.
REGGAE promotes and disseminates science and innovation being done in Portugal, with one major aim: enhancing researchers' public recognition by offering the public at large the opportunity of discovering the "human face" of research as well as understanding the impact of research on their daily lives and on the future of human society.
The work performed since the beginning of the project can be considered in the overall very successful. Considering the pandemic context and judging by the participation of public at large in the several venues receiving the event across the country, it can only be assumed that ERN is now a more widely recognised event, to which greatly contributes the sense of continuity infused in the brand image. Covering most of the Portuguese territory, 17 cities and villages participated in ERN with scientific activities. Hundreds of researchers had participated in buil-up activities and main event.
The objectives of WP1 - Awareness campaign - were making as many people as possible aware of the European Researchers Night as well as attract public at large regardless of age and scientific background.
Overview of the results
Printed promotional materials: Posters; Muppis and Detailed programme | Online impact with a strong presence on Facebook and Youtube
Press publication impact: News articles in sites, blogs and press 73; Mailings from all partners (teachers, journalists, university students and public in general) ~ 100 000; Ad campaign impressions 130 206; Facebook reach (June – October) 9 807
In terms of WP2 the programme of activities was designed to stimulate discussion and debate on topics related to scientists’ work. There were 3 European Corners in Porto and Lisbon.
Overview of the results
Organization of 357 activities of which 45 were build-up and the remaining 312 happened on the researchers’ night – 24th September 2021
Over 12 489 visitors in all locations from which 5 984 were attendees during the build-up activities and the remaining 6 505 participated in the main.
The Impact Assessment Work Package objectives let to designing of three different questionnaires.This assessment tools allowed us to characterize the public participating in the main event, and to identify best practices for the implementation of the event and to increase the rate of response of visitors to the evaluation survey.
The objectives of WP1 - Awareness campaign - were making as many people as possible aware of the European Researchers Night as well as attract public at large regardless of age and scientific background.
Overview of the results
Printed promotional materials: Posters; Muppis and Detailed programme | Online impact with a strong presence on Facebook and Youtube
Press publication impact: News articles in sites, blogs and press 73; Mailings from all partners (teachers, journalists, university students and public in general) ~ 100 000; Ad campaign impressions 130 206; Facebook reach (June – October) 9 807
In terms of WP2 the programme of activities was designed to stimulate discussion and debate on topics related to scientists’ work. There were 3 European Corners in Porto and Lisbon.
Overview of the results
Organization of 357 activities of which 45 were build-up and the remaining 312 happened on the researchers’ night – 24th September 2021
Over 12 489 visitors in all locations from which 5 984 were attendees during the build-up activities and the remaining 6 505 participated in the main.
The Impact Assessment Work Package objectives let to designing of three different questionnaires.This assessment tools allowed us to characterize the public participating in the main event, and to identify best practices for the implementation of the event and to increase the rate of response of visitors to the evaluation survey.
The project is engaging stakeholders from different age groups, educational levels and professional backgrounds throughout the entire REGGAE timeline, and not just in the weeks previous to the event. Importantly the consortium is involving sectors of the population that are currently excluded from science and technology debates – for instance, schools and young people have been invited for several Meet a scientist events. In total, the consortium promoted 88 build-up events and 21 events on September 24, involving 21 organizing institutions, 12,500 participants, and 800 researchers.
The participants’ assessment of ERN events is very high (average rating of 8.8 out of 10) and most are willing to repeat the experience. The events attracted participants of all ages, with a strong representation of young adults (compared with the national population profile). Many participants have a higher education degree (68% of respondents) and less than half (48% of respondents) have some type of professional connection to science. In line with the ERN goal of reaching the younger generations, a quarter of the over 16 participants are under 24 and ERN participants included over 4,300 children (under 16), who were not surveyed.
The consortium successfully attracted new participants and new researchers to the European Researchers Night and secured the participation from visitors and researchers from previous years, demonstrating the longer-term impact of this initiative (and demonstrating that intent to repeat participation translates into reality). Since many participants refer hearing about ERN through family and friends, those ERN veterans are probably key to attract new visitors (namely children), further attesting the success of previous editions.
Participants seem to be familiar with Green Deal related topics and positive, albeit cautious, about the Green Deal objectives. The majority of participants have a very positive view about science and scientists and state a high interest in science (which is a major motivation for attending ERN). Over four fifths of the participants say they felt even more interested in science after participating in ERN and agree they learned something new at the event, while also having a good time. Data shows that most participants (83% of respondents) value the close contact with the researchers. Conversely, researchers value the contact with the public. The latter also make a very positive assessment of the ERN events (average 8.6 out of 10) and 97% declare their willingness to participate in the future.
The vast majority of researchers (91%) had previous experience in science communication events, which suggests science communication is in the agenda of researchers and research institutions. Researchers’ motives for participation suggest a desire for the public acceptance of science and technology in general and their scientific field in particular. Even if researchers view science communication through a deficit model perspective, about half agree they benefit from the interaction with the public (also confirmed though the interviews). Comparisons with previous years demonstrate that, in Portugal, ERN is an extremely valuable contact opportunity between researchers and the wider public and has contributed to place the science’s interaction with society within the research agendas.
The participants’ assessment of ERN events is very high (average rating of 8.8 out of 10) and most are willing to repeat the experience. The events attracted participants of all ages, with a strong representation of young adults (compared with the national population profile). Many participants have a higher education degree (68% of respondents) and less than half (48% of respondents) have some type of professional connection to science. In line with the ERN goal of reaching the younger generations, a quarter of the over 16 participants are under 24 and ERN participants included over 4,300 children (under 16), who were not surveyed.
The consortium successfully attracted new participants and new researchers to the European Researchers Night and secured the participation from visitors and researchers from previous years, demonstrating the longer-term impact of this initiative (and demonstrating that intent to repeat participation translates into reality). Since many participants refer hearing about ERN through family and friends, those ERN veterans are probably key to attract new visitors (namely children), further attesting the success of previous editions.
Participants seem to be familiar with Green Deal related topics and positive, albeit cautious, about the Green Deal objectives. The majority of participants have a very positive view about science and scientists and state a high interest in science (which is a major motivation for attending ERN). Over four fifths of the participants say they felt even more interested in science after participating in ERN and agree they learned something new at the event, while also having a good time. Data shows that most participants (83% of respondents) value the close contact with the researchers. Conversely, researchers value the contact with the public. The latter also make a very positive assessment of the ERN events (average 8.6 out of 10) and 97% declare their willingness to participate in the future.
The vast majority of researchers (91%) had previous experience in science communication events, which suggests science communication is in the agenda of researchers and research institutions. Researchers’ motives for participation suggest a desire for the public acceptance of science and technology in general and their scientific field in particular. Even if researchers view science communication through a deficit model perspective, about half agree they benefit from the interaction with the public (also confirmed though the interviews). Comparisons with previous years demonstrate that, in Portugal, ERN is an extremely valuable contact opportunity between researchers and the wider public and has contributed to place the science’s interaction with society within the research agendas.