The expected impacts was obtained by facilitating direct interaction between researchers and public, this time through decentralised events participation, science cafés and science communication event, in order to generate a positive experience for the guests at ERN as well as the researchers that have increasingly achieved skills in communicating with the public and adopted other methods than their traditional posters that usually address different audience, i.e. the scientific community. In the long term, this will be conducive towards scientific careers, motivating young people to embark on career in research.
As for the main challenge to reach enough impact, the Covid situation was an unprecedented challenge. It resulted in many ad-hoc decisions but as events were linked to public health research, working with what was the pandemic situation at each time, it also presented an opportunity for linking research to actual situation unfolding in our societies. This impact cannot be overlooked and created instant reaction as people were living research material, especially in health and societal studies. The Researchers’ Night always attracts attention in Iceland, and the concept functions fantastically in our small society and is a vital component in the lives of many families at the end of September.