Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ReCoNnect 2 (ReCoNnect: Research Communication for active learning)
Reporting period: 2022-05-01 to 2023-04-30
The ReCoNnect consortium is made up from 5 research institutes, some of the largest and most prestigious in the country, 4 universities, with high scientific expertise but also including journalism faculties and one public scientific body, that have been participating in previous research outreach events and coordinate some of the largest STEM educational networks
(teachers and pupils) derived from the European programmes. We propose the organization of 20 European Researchers’ Night events in places ranging from the largest city to small towns and even rural areas, and also a strong program of involving researchers at school in the next 2 years of the project. We are confident that by strengthening and connecting the existing science communication and educational programs (summer schools, conferences, workshops, fairs, contests, open days programs), the number of researchers involved in outreach activities will increase as well as the quality of the activities. The common resources and energies put together will allow us to look to the future with new hopes of an active and cultured society towards solving the humanity issues through science and awareness.
As the first network for STEM education and science outreach made by researchers and acting at the national level the results of the project were recognized by the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization of Romania who awarded the patronage for the ERN events and the associated events organized by our consortium. Also national media took notice and reported about our activities.
Overall we strengthen the connections between different scientific and educational organizations who are part or not of the ReCoNnect consortium, and we created a large number of opportunities for researchers to meet the public and the schools.
Next, we have developed new educational formats `The National ReCoNnect Science Contest`, with hands on and citizen science missions, and the national webinars programme `ReCoNnect - A different kind of school` each of these formats having the potential to become a reference in STEM education at the national level in the future.
Increasing awareness among the science communicators and outreach groups in the country is the strongest result that improves the quality of the events being organized.