Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MARIE (My Awesome Research Is for Everyone!)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-03-01 al 2024-01-31
The MARIE project, a collaboration among six prestigious academic and research organizations, aims to enhance the interaction between researchers and society. In 2023, six Researchers’ Night events were organized across different cities: Athens attracted 15,000 visitors, Thessaloniki 6,070, Heraklion 3,000, Rethymnon 700, Patras 2,800, and Larissa 1,900. Altogether, the events welcomed 29,470 visitors from diverse backgrounds, offering them a chance to engage with over 1,794 researchers at various stages of their careers. Additionally, the Researchers at School and Chat Lab initiatives brought researchers directly into classrooms across Greece. These activities allowed the consortium to reach out to more than 6,600 students, including those living in the most remote and inaccessible areas of the country.
WP6 Awareness raising and communication campaign 2
The consortium launched an awareness campaign to promote the ERN events and initiatives, emphasize the importance of science communication among researchers, and provide opportunities for interaction between researchers and society. The campaign employed a range of methods, including pre-events, recap videos and photos, the ERN website, TV and radio spots, articles, Social Media posts, announcements, interviews, and promotional material.
WP7 Activities during the Night 2
To facilitate interaction between the public and researchers, the consortium organized activities at all six events that blended research with entertainment, including hands-on experiments, live demonstrations, speeches, contests, educational activities for children, and music. Furthermore, all partners showcased technological advancements and scientific demonstrations in areas critical to improving quality of life and highlighted the EU's support for research, development, and innovation.
WP8 Researchers at Schools activities 2
Through the "Researchers at School" initiative, 3,104 students from across Greece interacted with 41 researchers at various career stages, becoming acquainted with the world of research. Additionally, in the "Chat Lab" activity, 160 virtual meetings were arranged between 55 volunteer researchers and school teachers and students, enabling an additional 3,500 students to engage with researchers in online, real-time interactions.
WP9 Impact Assessment 2
The impact assessment of the organized events and activities underwent both quantitative and qualitative evaluations. The qualitative evaluation was conducted through four distinct surveys aimed at the events' visitors, as well as the students and researchers who participated in the various activities organized by the consortium. On the quantitative side, the evaluation included data from ERN events (such as the number of visitors and researchers), "Researchers at School" and "Chat Lab" school visits (including the number of researchers, meetings, and students involved), as well as analytics and statistics from social media accounts and the ERN website.
The consortium launched an awareness campaign to promote the ERN events and initiatives, emphasize the importance of science communication among researchers, and provide opportunities for interaction between researchers and society. The campaign employed a range of methods, including pre-events, recap videos and photos, the ERN website, TV and radio spots, articles, Social Media posts, announcements, interviews, and promotional material.
WP7 Activities during the Night 2
To facilitate interaction between the public and researchers, the consortium organized activities at all six events that blended research with entertainment, including hands-on experiments, live demonstrations, speeches, contests, educational activities for children, and music. Furthermore, all partners showcased technological advancements and scientific demonstrations in areas critical to improving quality of life and highlighted the EU's support for research, development, and innovation.
WP8 Researchers at Schools activities 2
Through the "Researchers at School" initiative, 3,104 students from across Greece interacted with 41 researchers at various career stages, becoming acquainted with the world of research. Additionally, in the "Chat Lab" activity, 160 virtual meetings were arranged between 55 volunteer researchers and school teachers and students, enabling an additional 3,500 students to engage with researchers in online, real-time interactions.
WP9 Impact Assessment 2
The impact assessment of the organized events and activities underwent both quantitative and qualitative evaluations. The qualitative evaluation was conducted through four distinct surveys aimed at the events' visitors, as well as the students and researchers who participated in the various activities organized by the consortium. On the quantitative side, the evaluation included data from ERN events (such as the number of visitors and researchers), "Researchers at School" and "Chat Lab" school visits (including the number of researchers, meetings, and students involved), as well as analytics and statistics from social media accounts and the ERN website.
The impact assessment of the project's activities showed the majority of visitors were female, predominantly aged between 30-39 and 40-49, 74% of which accompanying children. Over 57% of the visitors were reached through e-media and social media campaigns. Interactive experiments, escape rooms, robots, treasure hunts, and telescopes emerged as the most popular activities, effectively engaging children with research, allowing visitors to meet researchers in person, and highlighting the significance of science. Additionally, the Researchers at School and Chat Lab initiatives significantly boosted school students' interest in research careers and advanced gender equality.