Science on the move - from lab to streets & school

Project Information

ScienceSCool

Grant agreement ID: 101061631

DOI

10.3030/101061631

Project closed

EC signature date 21 April 2022

Start date 1 May 2022

End date 30 April 2024

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 231 162,50

Coordinated by

UNIVERZITET U BEOGRADU - FAKULTET ZA FIZICKU HEMIJU
Serbia

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ScienceSCool (Science on the move - from lab to streets & school)

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

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

“Science on the move - from lab to streets & school” (ScienceSCool) is a two-year project organized around the theme "Life in a science bulb (2022)/Life outside the science bulb (2023)" by the Faculty of Physical Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering in 14 cities in Serbia.

The main objective of ScienceSCool project is the improvement of public perception of researchers and their work and its understanding of the great impact of science on our everyday lives. At the same time, the project aims at raising researchers’ awareness of the public concerns about their jobs. The goal will be reached via direct communication and interaction of researchers with the general public through diverse activities on Friday/Saturday afternoon/evening as well as throughout the project duration.

Specific objectives of the project are:
- popularisation of science and research amongst the general public;
- popularization of careers in science amongst the younger population;
- raising public alertness of the significance of research in general and its impact on everyday life, highlighting the ongoing research in Serbia as well as engagement of Serbian researchers in the EU-funded programs;
- presentation of scholarships, internships, trainings, workshops, and summer schools in all scientific fields offered by the EU countries, promoting the opportunity of international education/career in science;
- raising public consciousness on the need for the prevention of climate change, with special attention directed towards solutions for both eliminating their causes and annulation of their consequences on the environment and human health
- raising public understanding of the pan-European character of Researchers' Night and its objectives.

The project reached its main and specific objectives and proved to be successful.

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

Pre-events in 2022 and 2023 included:
• Visit of ScienceVans to rural schools (short lecture and workshop)
• “Something glowing in the dark” – A series of interactive lectures on the latest scientific topics were held in high schools during September
• The HealthyLungs4Life event (International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, September 7th) was celebrated through interactive lectures in high schools.
• Promo weekend, part I - fun educational workshop with direct interaction of researchers with passers-by, organized in cinema complex MTS Dvorana in Belgrade two weeks prior to the event)
• International Microorganism Day (17th September) was celebrated through interactive activities and workshops at IMGGI.
• Promo weekend, part II - fun educational hands-on activities with direct interaction of researchers with passers-by, was organized on the weekend prior to the event in Usce Shopping Center in Belgrade (only in 2022).
• Life of Brain and Walking with Science - the pedestrian zone of Belgrade city center involving direct interaction of researchers with passers-by during the week of the NIGHT itself.

A new promoactivity was introduced in 2022 – Escape Room (involving information on different areas of chemistry, e.g. radioactivity). The targeted audience was high-school pupils who all gave positive feedback.

Close to 2.000.000 persons (over 900.000 in 2022 as well as in 2023) were made aware of the Researchers' Night and its objectives.

All planned activities during the Night itself were successfully organized on-site.

• Ca. 700 researchers (400 in 2022 and 350 in 2023) have taken part in the realization of the activities with local scientists being involved wherever it was possible.
• Different types of activities were organized during the event including panel, demo and hands-on experiments, science show, workshops, talks, quizzes, card game, competitions, theatre play, concert. and multimedia show.
• The most successful activities were the Treasure hunt, Open Lab, SCI-Circus and Exploding discoveries.
• For instance, ca. 1250 participants (mostly children) were involved in the Treasure hunt;
• there was a significant response and participation of primary and secondary pupils in the Event in cities where the Researchers' Night was organized onsite for the first time, namely Priboj, Prijepolje and Nova Varos;

There were ca. 125.000 attendees in total: 55000 in 2022 and 70000 in 2023.

• Theater play (2022), multimedia show (2022), Exploding Discoveries (2023) and music concert (2023) are new types of activities organized for the first time with great response from the visitors.
• The number of EU-funded projects that were present at the event was higher than anticipated.

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)

Increase in the awareness of the importance of research: The organization of events like the Night has a positive impact on the awareness of the importance of research. The visitors of the Researchers Night are aware of the importance of the research and innovation and they tend to convey this message beyond the Night.

Increase in the awareness of the impact of research on the society and the benefits it brings – ERN gives visitors an opportunity to observe how scientists’ work benefits their everyday lives and society in general. ERN gives researchers a possibility to answer some oncerns about research.

More favourable general attitude towards research funding – The ERN visitors are positively surprised with the kind of research that state funding and EU funding are used for. A generally positive attitude towards the EU-funded research was observed.

“Breaking” the stereotypes about researchers – The prejudice of researchers as odd persons still exists and the NIGHT is a perfect opportunity to show that researchers are just ordinary people with an extraordinary job. We witnessed this message getting through to do public and not all of them expect to meet eccentric persons when they have a chance to meet the researchers.

Increased number of people perusing a career in science. This trend has been observed over the years that we have organized the event, so that there are persons who became aware of science as a carrier path at the Night, and are now researchers themselves. Increased interest for science careers amongst young people is particularly noticeable in smaller towns.

Researchers were the most warmly welcomed in small towns where visitors expressed a great eagerness for new knowledge. ERN provided the opportunity to reach the children and adults that may not have been aware of the importance and “beauty” of science.


The awareness campaign and promotional events enable researchers to talk about their research and its impact on the society, and to reach a wide audience that may not have been in contact with the researchers so much. More events throughout the year, that are widely publicised, would significantly contribute to achieving the goal of increased public awareness. The continuous presence in media and more scientific programs on national TV stations would also contribute to the understanding of research and innovation importance in Serbia.

A researcher is born

Great Science Adventure in Svilajnac 2023

Quantum music multimedia show 2022

Superstars -Women in Science 2022

Treasure hunt

Catch me if you can 2022

ERN in Pomoravlje in 2022

Young researchers

Solar School

ERN in Trstenik-Krusevac in 2022

National press conference 2022

Promo material sample

Green hydrogen production by Vinca Institute researchers in 2023

Young researchers in Pomoravlje 2023

Visit to Vinca Institute in 2022