In the project FoodIQ we developed the following:
An awareness campaign – promoting the events of the European Researchers’ Night. Because of Covid-19 there were crowd restrictions during the Night, so we did not focus our campaign on attracting many visitors. But we did raise awareness on the European Researchers’ Night, its goals and the content of our program through messages online, but also offline, in community centres, on the cover of our regional newspaper (over 100.000 readers), on our local television, in the classrooms and in many more places.
An education program – In our education program academics went to 19 primary schools for 38 interactive lessons, teaching approximately 570 children between the age of 7 and 12 years old about food and also about the science of it. There were four different workshops. By bringing researchers closer to the children we increased their awareness of research, creating an understanding of the impact of researchers’ work on their daily life and to encourage the pupils to embark on research careersThe impact analysis of
the education program indicated positive views in terms of the design of the activities as well as in terms of the impact on children’s engagement and interest.
Two shows: 'Aletta’s Kitchen - The Greatest Groninger Food Quiz' and 'Aletta’s Kitchen - The Greatest Groninger Food Quiz junior edition' – Both shows involved a fun quiz, built together with researchers, food professionals, nutritionists, target group, and artists which allowed participating teams and the audience to discover striking scientific findings about healthy food and the role of science in our daily lives.
The morning show (10:00 - 11:00) was a very lively quiz for an audience of 100 children from 7-12 and was also live streamed in about 40 classes. School teams from Reitdiep, Paddepoel, and Zuidhorn had the opportunity to get involved in science on food and interact with the scientists. The teams' classmates in the audience were supporting and advising the teams present on the stage.
The evening show (20:00 - 21:00) for adults was built as a TV show, filmed by local Groningen OOG TV. Three very diverse neighbourhood teams of de Wijert, Paddepoel, and Vinkhuizen competed against each other in this fun quiz where knowledge or education background did not play a role. There was a lot of interaction between the contestants and the scientists, also after the show. The show was broadcasted on OOG TV on several occassions during the following weekend.
Interactive exhibit – An interactive installation was developed by scientists, students, an exhibit designer and the target group. The exhibit existed of a title panel, a fast super market game, a video, an interactive map of food habits in the region, a set table with food from past, present and future and a snack wall with views on sugar tax. It was in a very public spot in the Forum Groningen for two weeks, where many people of different ages and background interacted with it. By observing 337 of those visitors, it was seen that visitors spent 5 to 15 minutes interacting with the exhibit, all in their own way, and they found the exhibit innovative, interesting and fun. The exhibit is designed to travel to all corners of the region and beyond, to reach as many people as we can, especially those who do not usually interact with science. After the project FoodIQ the exhibit has been in five schools, a health centre and a library and is still travelling to some big national festivals, small local festivals, schools, libraries, community centres and more.
