Context
The vision of the CONNECT project is to engage, inspire and ultimately connect with researchers and the public at large in a quest to increase awareness about research and innovation activities and to boost public recognition of science and research education in Cyprus. In the framework of the project, two European Researchers' Night (ERN) events will be organised in Cyprus in September 2022 and September 2023. The theme of the events, Mission: INSPIRE 2022 and Mission: CONNECT 2023, is inspired by the EU Missions aiming to mobilise and activate collective efforts to tackle common challenges and bring about lasting impact. The target audience is the public at large, attracting people regardless of their age, gender or scientific background, with a special focus on families, pupils and students. CONNECT will also bring researchers at schools in order for them to actively engage with the younger generation but also promote a scientific approach to teaching for teachers, providing direct access to information about research performed in Cyprus in the priority topics of the EU missions.
Overall objectives and Expected Impacts
Objective 1: To mobilise researchers within the R&I ecosystem of Cyprus, bringing them closer to the public and giving them enhanced opportunities to engage and interact with citizens and local, regional and national authorities through educational and entertaining activities planned throughout the year with a focus on the EU's missions.
Expected Impact 1: Through the enhanced engagement with citizens on R&I and the interaction of researchers with different target groups and in different settings, stereotypes about researchers, including ones relating to gender, will be reduced through the participation of both male and female researchers in the planned activities. At the same time, the researchers’ work will be made more tangible, concrete, accessible, opening research and science to all. In turn, this is expected to increase the number of citizens who recognize the benefits of research but also the number of young people choosing research over other professions. Ultimately, this will contribute to nurturing a research and innovation culture in Cyprus beyond academia. Regarding the researchers themselves, the actions will contribute in improving their communication skills when interacting with non-research audiences, also assisted by science communication training sessions and recurring opportunities to present at schools and engage in discussions both online and offline.
Objective 2: To implement a national Researchers at Schools Initiative in order to inspire the younger generation to embark on science and research careers and encourage school teachers to adopt a scientific approach for delivering lessons on EU missions.
Expected Impact 2: Raised interest of young people in science and research careers early on in their lives, creating a learning opportunity for pupils through a direct interaction with researchers and ultimately increasing the number of students taking up a career in science and research. Support for school teachers to develop a scientific approach around priority topics of the EU missions.
Objective 3: To better communicate R&I results and activities to society, with a spotlight on excellence research projects, in order to enhance the reputation and visibility of participating organisations towards the general public and possible future students.
Expected Impact 3: A more favourable general attitude towards R&I and increased awareness among the general public of the importance and benefits of R&I and its concrete impact on citizens' daily life, specifically in the areas of the EU missions. Increased awareness and interest in the importance of R&I results and activities to society, contributing to the diffusion and promotion of excellence research projects across Europe and beyond.
Objective 4: To promote the European dimension, gender balance and inclusion in research and innovation, regardless of scientific or other background.
Expected Impact 4: Through the involvement of different actors, CONNECT will achieve greater visibility of the European dimension of research and innovation, a better understanding of the European Union policies and programmes in general and the EU missions in particular among the general public and a better understanding of the importance of gender balance.
