European Researchers Night 2022-2023

Project Information

ERN 2022-2023 SVK

Grant agreement ID: 101060946

DOI

10.3030/101060946

Project closed

EC signature date 24 March 2022

Start date 1 May 2022

End date 31 December 2023

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 449 800,00

Coordinated by

SLOVENSKA ORGANIZACIA PRE VYSKUMNE A VYVOJOVE AKTIVITY
Slovakia

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ERN 2022-2023 SVK (European Researchers Night 2022-2023)

Reporting period: 2023-05-01 to 2023-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The European Researchers Night (ERN) is the biggest science popularisation festival in Slovakia held annually since 2007. It usually takes place in five cities across the country, with a number of accompanying events in whole Slovakia. Every year it attracts tens of thousands of participants and actively involves hundreds of researchers. The main aim of the festival is, above all, to familiarise the general public with science and research. The program activities bring research out of the laboratory and into the city centres, shopping malls, cafés, clubs or museums. The general public, especially the youth, can try out the latest technologies and instruments under the guidance of scientists, participate in experiments, competitions and quizzes, watch demonstrations and simulations and exchange ideas and parties with the researchers.

The ERN has following objectives that were achieved by interactive and understandable program:
• Bringing researchers closer to citizens and raising awareness about RDI activities;
• Supporting the recognition of researchers among broad public;
• Creating an understanding of the impact of researchers´ work on citizens´ everyday life;
• Encouraging young people to embark on research career;


The long-term impact since its establishment in 2007 in Slovakia is noticeable – it has a base of researchers and visitors (including teachers and schools) that participate every year and make up the ERN community.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The European Researchers´ Night 2022 (ERN) took place in Slovakia for the 16th time on the last Friday of September. We gathered more than 1 350 scientists and innovators who presented their work and achievements to the general public. The main motto was an appeal "Trust in science", which was created in response to the need to navigate in the flood of a large amount of information and, unfortunately, also misinformation. The theme of trust in science resonated across the entire program with links to current topics focused on the climate crisis, sustainability, and the war conflict in Ukraine. The main ambition was to encourage visitors to be active and to better get to know the science and the people behind it.

More than 1 640 scientists and innovators participated in the 17th edition of the ERN in 2023, where they presented their work and achievements to the general public. The event was organised again in 5 Slovakian cities and number of accompanying locations. The main topics of ERN 2023 were WATER - conservation, protection, cleaning, prevention of wasting resources, etc.; and ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - role in the advancement of humanity and solving the problems the world must face (including possible risks). The main ambition was to encourage visitors to be active and to better get to know the science and the people behind it.

Activities performed during both 2022 and 2023 editions:
• Presentation in scientific stands: hands-on experiments, interactive presentations, science shows;
• Debates, discussions, and chats with researchers: the chance to interact, and get more information on science and innovation;
• Lectures by scientists for a large group of people, including short interactive scientific speeches;
• Program on the stage for the public – competitions, activities, interviews with scientists and stakeholders from scientific and innovation eco – system (stage happenings in Bratislava, Banská Bystrica, Žilina, Košice, and Poprad);
• Stargazing with professional scientific equipment;
• Laser show; ...

Accompanying events:
• Medzev Observatory, Tekov Observatory in Levice, Slovak Central Observatory Hurbanovo, Museum of Special Education in Levoča, Science in the Settlement (eastern Slovakia) and Science trips (Bratislava, Košice).

Accompanying activities:
• Visit your school - Get to know your scientist, Scientific Courier, Meet Your Researcher, Ukrainian dimension.

The events in both years attracted around 150.000 participants.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

ERN 2022 main figures:
146.000 visitors, out of that app. 81.000 pupils and students; 1.352 researchers invloved (724 male and 628 female researchers); 227 scientific stands; 145 lectures; 14 discussions; 11 workshops; 33 competitions; 494 Scientific Courier boxes distributied to 285 schools across the country.

ERN 2023 main figures:
150.000+ visitors, out of that app. 83.000 pupils and students; 1.646 researchers invloved (724 male and 628 female researchers); 251 scientific stands; 107 lectures; 14 discussions; 33 workshops; 53 competitions; 391 Scientific Courier boxes distributied to 247 schools across the country engaging around 10.000 pupils and students.

Positive feedback from visitors, as well as researchers and teachers (specifically involved in Scientific Courier) proves the success and fulfilling of proposed goals.

ERN 2022 - location Zilina

ERN 2022 - location Bratislava - Old Market Hall

ERN 2022 - location Kosice

ERN 2023 - location Bratislava - V-klub

ERN 2023 - location Bratislava - Old Market Hall