Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SUPERSCIENCEME (SuperScienceMe - REsearch is your RE-Generation)
Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2022-04-30
SuperScienceMe involves the entire Calabrian and Lucania territory: 4 universities, 12 local Institutions of the National Research Council, Calabria Region and Basilicata Region. The activities are based on the successful format of the Unical Researchers' Nights previous editions extended to the regional and extra-regional territory, involving Calabrian and Lucania research/innovation system.
The claim – REsearch is your RE-Generation conveys the message that " the power of research and the enthusiasm of researchers can open people's eyes and minds, to make them believe in science again, to defeat the darkness and restore the earth to its original color...the Green”.
Since 2014, the format has been based on the high involvement of local stakeholders and the general public (family, pupils, high school and universities students, researchers, policymakers) to bring research in several environments (schools, hospitals, social associations for migrants’ inclusion).
The overall objectives are:
✔ to better understand the key role of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) in helping to mitigate climate damages and to restore the climate neutrality for securing a sustainable future;
✔ to build a constructive dialogue and a climate of trust between researchers and the community;
✔ to promote the understanding that, careless of territorial or physical boundaries, research reaches disadvantaged people;
✔ to show how research is the “fuel” of the circular economy and to increase public awareness on research solutions to the threats of environmental crime;
✔ to encourage young people, especially girls, to embark on research careers;
✔ to spread a better understanding of the European Union among the general public.
Main conclusions:
“Science greatly influences people's lives, and it is important to encourage researchers to produce an "inspiration effect" for younger people” and “MSCA-NIGHT is an important action to communicate science results” (opinion of general public).
The claim – REsearch is your RE-Generation conveys the message that " the power of research and the enthusiasm of researchers can open people's eyes and minds, to make them believe in science again, to defeat the darkness and restore the earth to its original color...the Green”.
Since 2014, the format has been based on the high involvement of local stakeholders and the general public (family, pupils, high school and universities students, researchers, policymakers) to bring research in several environments (schools, hospitals, social associations for migrants’ inclusion).
The overall objectives are:
✔ to better understand the key role of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) in helping to mitigate climate damages and to restore the climate neutrality for securing a sustainable future;
✔ to build a constructive dialogue and a climate of trust between researchers and the community;
✔ to promote the understanding that, careless of territorial or physical boundaries, research reaches disadvantaged people;
✔ to show how research is the “fuel” of the circular economy and to increase public awareness on research solutions to the threats of environmental crime;
✔ to encourage young people, especially girls, to embark on research careers;
✔ to spread a better understanding of the European Union among the general public.
Main conclusions:
“Science greatly influences people's lives, and it is important to encourage researchers to produce an "inspiration effect" for younger people” and “MSCA-NIGHT is an important action to communicate science results” (opinion of general public).
"Awareness campaign” main results:
Promotional materials
• online (banners, advertisements, websites, posters and playbills, links to relevant EU websites and social networks)
• offline (roll-ups, programs, posters, t-shirts and sweatshirts, green pen, masks, green gadgets, gadget kits for Afghan children).
Promotional activities during and after the NIGHT
o Pre-event “Basilicata Calabria coast to coast by train": the journey with stops at strategic points in the two regions to inform the general public about the Researchers' Night event.
o Other activities:
• Green research tree: planting of trees - Hibaku Jumoku) - Japanese trees of peace that survived the Hiroshima bomb;
• The Green in my daily Life (questionnaire to students on the best practices for protecting the environment);
• In my backyard (documentaries on the biodiversity in the ecosystem of participants’ garden);
• Crime Investigation (collection of newspaper articles, photos, videos, etc. reporting the environmental damage found in the places frequented by participants);
• SuperScienceMe for the little Afghans (welcoming to the Afghan children hosted in Calabria and supported by the Italian Red Cross of Cosenza);
• Experiment in Hospital: planting of two trees of peace and rebirth (Cosenza’s hospital, 22 September 2021)
o Press office;
o Virtual point info through telephone contacts and email addresses;
o "SuperScienceMe Live" promotion on social networks;
o SuperScienceMe promotion through a video message from Felix Finkbeiner (Plant for the Planet);
o Realization of videos, photos and interviews with researchers and visitors, during "Live SuperScienceMe";
o Promotion of the artistic-environmental activity "Electricitas", artistic installation by Luciano Maciotta Rolandin;
o Promotion during the "SuperScienceMe Live" of the evening program (Science show, shows, concerts);
o Promotion of the “Ark of Research” section of the SuperScienceMe digital platform;
o Thanksgiving ceremony of the SuperScienceMe 2021 Researchers' Night held on April 28, 2022.
"Activity during the Night" main results:
• Researchers involved in NIGHT’s activities: 291
• Experiencing research: n. 90 laboratory’s experiences and demonstrations;
• Thematic Corners: n. 6 thematic corners: EU Corner, Gender Corner, Green Corner, Innovation Corner, PON Corner, POR Corner;
• Social inclusion: n. 3 sub-activity dedicated to hospitalized children, to immigrants, and prisoners. n.180 scientific kits were distributed to participants;
• Imagine the research: n. 1 thematic contest;
• Research without barriers: NIGHT becomes more inclusive by entering the homes of deaf people. All activities were translated into Italian Sign Language (LIS) by a team of professional interpreters.
• Recreational cultural program: n. 1 cultural programme organized, with the participation of several science communicators and artists
"Impact assessment" main results:
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe, the event has been entirely digital. A platform (www.superscienceme.eu) was set up as a large research showcase, activities were divided by age (family, youth and children), and a live broadcast and recorded workshops/experiments were organized. To increase the number of people informed of initiatives, we used also a YouTube channel and social network page (Facebook, twitter, Instagram).
Main results of the project:
• 4.788 users, 73.833 hits (Google analytics, 20 October 2021)
• 291 researchers involved in NIGHT’s activities, of whom 26.4% expressed their opinion in online anonymous questionnaires;
• 97 interviews to acquire opinion on Researchers’ NIGHT (0,015% of online registration)
• 17 Independent Observer gave their opinions on the activities of the NIGHT (more than 65% more than 60% agreed on the quality of the event);
• 6.686 followers (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram);
• The Gender Balance showed that the main trend was of female posts (i.e. academic: 35% men, 65% women; students: 37% men, 63% women; general public: 50% men, 41,7% women, 8,3% not declared).
Promotional materials
• online (banners, advertisements, websites, posters and playbills, links to relevant EU websites and social networks)
• offline (roll-ups, programs, posters, t-shirts and sweatshirts, green pen, masks, green gadgets, gadget kits for Afghan children).
Promotional activities during and after the NIGHT
o Pre-event “Basilicata Calabria coast to coast by train": the journey with stops at strategic points in the two regions to inform the general public about the Researchers' Night event.
o Other activities:
• Green research tree: planting of trees - Hibaku Jumoku) - Japanese trees of peace that survived the Hiroshima bomb;
• The Green in my daily Life (questionnaire to students on the best practices for protecting the environment);
• In my backyard (documentaries on the biodiversity in the ecosystem of participants’ garden);
• Crime Investigation (collection of newspaper articles, photos, videos, etc. reporting the environmental damage found in the places frequented by participants);
• SuperScienceMe for the little Afghans (welcoming to the Afghan children hosted in Calabria and supported by the Italian Red Cross of Cosenza);
• Experiment in Hospital: planting of two trees of peace and rebirth (Cosenza’s hospital, 22 September 2021)
o Press office;
o Virtual point info through telephone contacts and email addresses;
o "SuperScienceMe Live" promotion on social networks;
o SuperScienceMe promotion through a video message from Felix Finkbeiner (Plant for the Planet);
o Realization of videos, photos and interviews with researchers and visitors, during "Live SuperScienceMe";
o Promotion of the artistic-environmental activity "Electricitas", artistic installation by Luciano Maciotta Rolandin;
o Promotion during the "SuperScienceMe Live" of the evening program (Science show, shows, concerts);
o Promotion of the “Ark of Research” section of the SuperScienceMe digital platform;
o Thanksgiving ceremony of the SuperScienceMe 2021 Researchers' Night held on April 28, 2022.
"Activity during the Night" main results:
• Researchers involved in NIGHT’s activities: 291
• Experiencing research: n. 90 laboratory’s experiences and demonstrations;
• Thematic Corners: n. 6 thematic corners: EU Corner, Gender Corner, Green Corner, Innovation Corner, PON Corner, POR Corner;
• Social inclusion: n. 3 sub-activity dedicated to hospitalized children, to immigrants, and prisoners. n.180 scientific kits were distributed to participants;
• Imagine the research: n. 1 thematic contest;
• Research without barriers: NIGHT becomes more inclusive by entering the homes of deaf people. All activities were translated into Italian Sign Language (LIS) by a team of professional interpreters.
• Recreational cultural program: n. 1 cultural programme organized, with the participation of several science communicators and artists
"Impact assessment" main results:
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe, the event has been entirely digital. A platform (www.superscienceme.eu) was set up as a large research showcase, activities were divided by age (family, youth and children), and a live broadcast and recorded workshops/experiments were organized. To increase the number of people informed of initiatives, we used also a YouTube channel and social network page (Facebook, twitter, Instagram).
Main results of the project:
• 4.788 users, 73.833 hits (Google analytics, 20 October 2021)
• 291 researchers involved in NIGHT’s activities, of whom 26.4% expressed their opinion in online anonymous questionnaires;
• 97 interviews to acquire opinion on Researchers’ NIGHT (0,015% of online registration)
• 17 Independent Observer gave their opinions on the activities of the NIGHT (more than 65% more than 60% agreed on the quality of the event);
• 6.686 followers (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram);
• The Gender Balance showed that the main trend was of female posts (i.e. academic: 35% men, 65% women; students: 37% men, 63% women; general public: 50% men, 41,7% women, 8,3% not declared).
The 2021 edition, as well as the 2020 edition, certainly paid the price for online activities that reduced relationships with schools and families. Compared to the 2020 edition, the 2021 edition placed more emphasis on the role of children as fuel to inspire researchers and vice versa. In compliance with Covid-19 standards, a small group of students (from primary and secondary schools) were invited to visit laboratories and participate in live activities. In addition, about 10 students were involved as “Quality Jury” of the Science Show aimed at identifying the "best science communicator."