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"#NitRecercat: La Nit Europea de la Recerca"

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - NitRecerCat (#NitRecercat: La Nit Europea de la Recerca)

Reporting period: 2023-05-01 to 2024-04-30

The Catalan European Researchers’ Night (#NitRecerCat) project consists in a two years proposal for 2022 and 2023. The overall proposal is centred on two main activities: The European Researchers’ Night (ERN) and Researchers at Schools (R@S).The well-known ERN was held in September 30th 2022 and September 29th on 2023 bringing research and researchers closer to society with more than 600 activities performed in Catalunya (300 per edition). Apart from ERN, Researchers at Schools (R@S) activity was performed.It was designed as organizing 4657 different visits to schools during the week of ERN, 5 schools become #NitEduCat Schools during this period.

The main objectives of this project are and the contributions within the project:

- Tackling the existing stereotypes about researchers and the profession, bringing them closer to the public. During the “Research goes to School” activities, researchers were asked to explain their daily work.
- Enhancing researchers' public recognition through offering the opportunity of discovering the "human face" of research. Researchers has been asked to explain some tips of their personal life.
- Pointing out the societal importance of the researchers' work, including in citizens' daily lives as well in the near future as economic growth and employment. Researchers were asked to add “My research helps you with …”.
- Strengthening the connection between research and education. With the talks to students and the projects with #NitEduCat schools, research and education were put together. This also helped to get closer to segregated schools and vulnerable students.
- Showing the fun and fascinating character of research activities stimulating young people to choose scientific careers and later to stimulate them to embark on research careers with mobility.
- With the European Corners, it was shown that Europe cares for its researchers. Also, the gender dimension was taken into account with the “Catalan Women Researchers 2.0” exhibition.
#NitRecerCat project during 2022/23 and 2023/24 was divided in two main activities spread throughout of the Catalan territory:

- Catalan European Researchers’ Night (Nit Europea de la Recerca, ERN)
- “La Recerca va a l’Escola” –Researchers were going to School and viceversa
- “La Nit Catalana de la Recerca” – More than 600 activities (300 per year) were programmed all around Catalonia during Friday evening/night as well as "Racó d'Europa".
- “Ensopega’t amb la Recerca” – During Saturday morning, research found in everyday locations, from markets, to museums, malls, etc, so the public stumbled with research and researchers.

- Researchers at School – (R@S)
- NitEduCat Schools – 5 new #NitEduCat Schools were joining the project, where researchers', teachers and students were working together. The activities ended with a final workshop on April 2024.
- Researchers visiting schools – During the whole year, some activities have been performed in order to address to pupils in order to let them know about researchers and research.
The #NitRecerCat project were impacting directly to the next objectives:
- Increasing the awareness of the importance of research and innovation
- Reduce the stereotypes about researchers and their profession –
- Helping researchers to increase their communicative skills
- Giving support to teachers and educations about research
- Bringing science and research to segregated school

For the two-year project:
As for the quantitative impact, it can be summed up as:
- More than 30000 people participating
- 600 activities all around Catalonia for all public, but mainly for families.
- 8000 students participating in researchers at school
- 2000 students from segregated schools
- 1500 researchers involved in the activities
- More than 150 researchers with EU funding
- 5 new schools in the project of #NitEduCat

Assessment of Satisfaction - 2022/2023
- 1165 responses on Night Activities
- 180 Researchers for central events
- 331 Children for central events
- 300 Students for Researchers at School
- 11 Researchers for Researchers at School
- 45 teachers for Researchers at School
- 20 Public for Stumble upon Science (exhibitions)
The main messages taken from the survey:
- Researcher got the information for participating at ERN from their institution, and they are willing to participate (97%) in next edition
- Children liked the activities very much and will repeat next year
- Up to 90% of the participants have increased their knowledge about science.
- Students from Researchers at School have increased their knowledge about science and learnt something new.
- Researchers participating at Researchers at School will participate in next edition and other activities related to research communication from their universities or research centres.
NitRecerCat - Vic 2023
Girona - Workshop and 24 Catalan Women Reserachers Exposition 2022
Manlleu - Bat Workshop 2022
NitEduCat School - 2023
Girona - Workshop with Officer interaction 2022
NitEduCat School - 2023
NitEduCat Vallvera 2023
Tarragona - Workshop 2022
Tarragona - Corsini square - Workshops place 2022
Barcelona - Neuroconcert 2023
Vic - Workshop 2022
NitEduCat School - 2023
Visiting Labs Tarragona 2023
BCN Science Cafe 2023
Girona - Inaguration 2022