Periodic Reporting for period 2 - GreenSCI (GREEN SCIENCE AT THE SERVICE OF HEALTHY SOCIETY)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-02-01 do 2023-11-30
The research, development and innovation (RDI) system in the Republic of Moldova is experiencing serious challenges due to internal social and economic situation. In the last 2 decades, the national RDI system was marked by the implementation of reforms, which conditioned quite radical changes. According to data of the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova, the number of young researchers under the age of 35 decreased from 26,4% to 20,9% during the last 10 years in Moldova.
This alarming situation is confirmed by the results of the pre-event survey conducted among Moldovan researchers within European Researchers’ Night (ERN) project carried out in 2020. Almost ¾ of the surveyed researchers believe that young researchers’ situation after the reform in the RDI system did not change (35%) or worsened (40%), while only 14% consider that it has improved.
At the same time, in terms of the interest for RDI activities conducted in the country, more than half of Moldovan public (51,4%) believe that the society is interested in national science.
Aiming to counteract these challenges, the main idea of GreenSCI project is to bring together researchers, innovators, children, young people, adults from different regions of Moldova who have and who do not have a background in research, in order to show the impact of RDI and STEAM disciplines on everyday life. The 2022 and 2023 editions of the Night were organised, in premiere, in 2 locations – the capital city of Chisinau and the north region - city of Balti. It allowed the project to reach a wider audience and boost citizen engagement with researchers.
The 2022 edition of the Night event organized in the Republic of Moldova, with the topic “Green STEM” focused primarily on ecology, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, renewable energy technologies. The topic of the 2023 edition was “Green HEALTH”, focusing mainly on health sciences, food technologies, ecological agriculture and food security.
This alarming situation is confirmed by the results of the pre-event survey conducted among Moldovan researchers within European Researchers’ Night (ERN) project carried out in 2020. Almost ¾ of the surveyed researchers believe that young researchers’ situation after the reform in the RDI system did not change (35%) or worsened (40%), while only 14% consider that it has improved.
At the same time, in terms of the interest for RDI activities conducted in the country, more than half of Moldovan public (51,4%) believe that the society is interested in national science.
Aiming to counteract these challenges, the main idea of GreenSCI project is to bring together researchers, innovators, children, young people, adults from different regions of Moldova who have and who do not have a background in research, in order to show the impact of RDI and STEAM disciplines on everyday life. The 2022 and 2023 editions of the Night were organised, in premiere, in 2 locations – the capital city of Chisinau and the north region - city of Balti. It allowed the project to reach a wider audience and boost citizen engagement with researchers.
The 2022 edition of the Night event organized in the Republic of Moldova, with the topic “Green STEM” focused primarily on ecology, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, renewable energy technologies. The topic of the 2023 edition was “Green HEALTH”, focusing mainly on health sciences, food technologies, ecological agriculture and food security.
In order to achieve the objectives of the GreenSCI and to engage the widest audience, the activities performed during 2022-2023 were divided into pre-event activities, post-event activities, and the key event - European Researchers’ Night, organized on 30 September 2022 and on 29 September 2023.
Pre-event activities:
- 17 Lectures of young researchers in schools from different regions of the Republic of Moldova, including rural areas;
- 9 visits of school students to research centres/laboratories;
- 3 thematic webinars for teachers, researchers, business.
- 2 Workshops on research opportunities, Horizon Europe Programme, including MSCA;
- 5 Contests for pupils, students and the general public;
- Collection of paper, plastic, used batteries/old electronic gadgets organized for students and large public, promoting eco-responsible education;
- 2 Start-up Weekends, focused on young entrepreneurs;
- 5 Public lectures delivered by distinguished scientists for students, teaching staff, researchers;
- ‘Meet the Researcher’ action;
- Virtual EU Corner, providing information on EU programs, policies and opportunities;
- Summer School for pupils "The Path to Scientific Discoveries".
Activities performed during the key event – European Researchers’ Night (September 30, 2022, September 29, 2023) were organized simultaneously in two localities – Chisinau and Balti:
- Eco Fashion Show;
- Sketch ‘The travel of the plastic bottle’ presented by kindergarten children;
- Projection of a science related movie;
- Open Door Night in research laboratories;
- Announcing the winners of Biodiversity contest (2022) & "Myself as a Researcher" drawing contest (2023);
- 16 Workshops, 8 master classes, experiments and edutainment activities for children;
- 4 Quizzes;
- Exhibition of students' & young researchers' works ‘Creation Opens the Universe’;
- Short presentation videos about technology transfer projects;
- Open Science Café;
- Exhibition of outputs and outcomes of research institutions;
- EU Corner;
- Open Door Night at the Planetarium (Chisinau);
Post-event activities:
- 13 Lectures of young researchers in schools;
- 11 visits of school students to research centres/laboratories;
- 3 thematic webinars for school teachers, young researchers;
- Green Laboratory in open space, in both country locations;
- Innovative auction.
Pre-event activities:
- 17 Lectures of young researchers in schools from different regions of the Republic of Moldova, including rural areas;
- 9 visits of school students to research centres/laboratories;
- 3 thematic webinars for teachers, researchers, business.
- 2 Workshops on research opportunities, Horizon Europe Programme, including MSCA;
- 5 Contests for pupils, students and the general public;
- Collection of paper, plastic, used batteries/old electronic gadgets organized for students and large public, promoting eco-responsible education;
- 2 Start-up Weekends, focused on young entrepreneurs;
- 5 Public lectures delivered by distinguished scientists for students, teaching staff, researchers;
- ‘Meet the Researcher’ action;
- Virtual EU Corner, providing information on EU programs, policies and opportunities;
- Summer School for pupils "The Path to Scientific Discoveries".
Activities performed during the key event – European Researchers’ Night (September 30, 2022, September 29, 2023) were organized simultaneously in two localities – Chisinau and Balti:
- Eco Fashion Show;
- Sketch ‘The travel of the plastic bottle’ presented by kindergarten children;
- Projection of a science related movie;
- Open Door Night in research laboratories;
- Announcing the winners of Biodiversity contest (2022) & "Myself as a Researcher" drawing contest (2023);
- 16 Workshops, 8 master classes, experiments and edutainment activities for children;
- 4 Quizzes;
- Exhibition of students' & young researchers' works ‘Creation Opens the Universe’;
- Short presentation videos about technology transfer projects;
- Open Science Café;
- Exhibition of outputs and outcomes of research institutions;
- EU Corner;
- Open Door Night at the Planetarium (Chisinau);
Post-event activities:
- 13 Lectures of young researchers in schools;
- 11 visits of school students to research centres/laboratories;
- 3 thematic webinars for school teachers, young researchers;
- Green Laboratory in open space, in both country locations;
- Innovative auction.
The overall attendance of the key event organized on September 30, 2022 was over 4.500 attendees, in both locations – Chisinau and Balti. Plus, over 500 participants attended WP2 activities organized before and after the key event.
„Researchers at Schools 2022” activities and visits to research laboratories covered 15 schools and more than 600 pupils and their teachers.
Overall 6 MSCA beneficiaries and 12 EU funded/co-funded projects participated in the project activities organized in 2022.
The overall attendance of the key event organized on September 29, 2023 was over 5.000 attendees, in both locations – Chisinau and Balti. Plus, over 500 participants attended WP7 activities organized before and after the key event.
„Researchers at Schools 2023” activities and visits to research laboratories covered 14 schools and more than 800 pupils and their teachers.
Five MSCA beneficiaries and 11 EU funded/co-funded projects participated in project activities organized in 2023.
Based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the 2022 and 2023 GreenSCI European Researchers’ Nights and its impact, the activities were successful. The results of the event evaluation show the high satisfaction of the participants and the openness towards events that bring research closer to the general public.
The impacts expected from the GreenSCI project refer to increased awareness of the general public about the significance of RDI and its impact on our daily life, through the various and numerous activities organised in both country-level locations, during the Night, as well as prior and after the event. The impacts also refer to raising the interest of pupils in research careers through direct interaction between researchers focusing on STEAM subjects and young generation, via the online and onsite events, contests, interactive activities, as well as the “Researchers in Schools” activities. GreenSCI also enhances the engagement of citizens in research via thematic webinars, workshops, lectures, contests, visits to research laboratories. Finally, GreenSCI contributes to better understanding of EU programs among the public, due to the involvement of EU-funded project beneficiaries, including MSCA, scientific diaspora and NCPs. Overall, GreenSCI contributes to displaying the diversity of science and its impact on citizens' daily lives.
„Researchers at Schools 2022” activities and visits to research laboratories covered 15 schools and more than 600 pupils and their teachers.
Overall 6 MSCA beneficiaries and 12 EU funded/co-funded projects participated in the project activities organized in 2022.
The overall attendance of the key event organized on September 29, 2023 was over 5.000 attendees, in both locations – Chisinau and Balti. Plus, over 500 participants attended WP7 activities organized before and after the key event.
„Researchers at Schools 2023” activities and visits to research laboratories covered 14 schools and more than 800 pupils and their teachers.
Five MSCA beneficiaries and 11 EU funded/co-funded projects participated in project activities organized in 2023.
Based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the 2022 and 2023 GreenSCI European Researchers’ Nights and its impact, the activities were successful. The results of the event evaluation show the high satisfaction of the participants and the openness towards events that bring research closer to the general public.
The impacts expected from the GreenSCI project refer to increased awareness of the general public about the significance of RDI and its impact on our daily life, through the various and numerous activities organised in both country-level locations, during the Night, as well as prior and after the event. The impacts also refer to raising the interest of pupils in research careers through direct interaction between researchers focusing on STEAM subjects and young generation, via the online and onsite events, contests, interactive activities, as well as the “Researchers in Schools” activities. GreenSCI also enhances the engagement of citizens in research via thematic webinars, workshops, lectures, contests, visits to research laboratories. Finally, GreenSCI contributes to better understanding of EU programs among the public, due to the involvement of EU-funded project beneficiaries, including MSCA, scientific diaspora and NCPs. Overall, GreenSCI contributes to displaying the diversity of science and its impact on citizens' daily lives.