Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Sci-NURTURE (Science from Nature to your Table)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-02-01 do 2023-11-30
Science from Nature to your table (Sci-NURTURE) reflects how environmentally sustainable agriculture and food production play an important role in our daily life. Unfortunately, the richness of resources is being depleted, the climate is changing, the lands on earth are getting dirtier, the soil is degraded, water resources are becoming insufficient, the quality and the amount of water in some regions of the world are quite low to drink and/or to irrigate, and the energy consumption is increasing substantially in each year. Apart from all of these, the world population is increasing rapidly. This means that the amount of food we need to provide to humanity will be nearly doubled in the future, while the resources we currently obtain our food from will stay the same or be even less. Owning, protecting, and being grateful for the resources we have in the world will only be possible by understanding the story of a long journey of a small seed or a cell to our dining tables. Sci- NURTURE aims to increase awareness of the sustainability of natural resources in society, especially the young generation and kids.
The Sci-NURTURE demonstrates all levels of the human food chain (plant-based, animal-based, and seafood-based) to the public. The scientific facts and scientific developments in the human food chain from the very beginning stages in nature to our tables were shown by researchers step by step to the public. This helped young people appreciate the importance of the term “sustainability” behind each food they see on their table. In this sense, they have easily seen how our food is grown, produced, harvested, and arrived to us. Most families have such a disconnect with this process, and this project showed children what happens behind the scenes and the effort and energy it takes to bring food to our tables. All ages found it attractive but especially kids and pupils witnessed the science behind every demonstrated process and enjoyed the final product they created in the kitchen workshops.
The Sci-NURTURE demonstrates all levels of the human food chain (plant-based, animal-based, and seafood-based) to the public. The scientific facts and scientific developments in the human food chain from the very beginning stages in nature to our tables were shown by researchers step by step to the public. This helped young people appreciate the importance of the term “sustainability” behind each food they see on their table. In this sense, they have easily seen how our food is grown, produced, harvested, and arrived to us. Most families have such a disconnect with this process, and this project showed children what happens behind the scenes and the effort and energy it takes to bring food to our tables. All ages found it attractive but especially kids and pupils witnessed the science behind every demonstrated process and enjoyed the final product they created in the kitchen workshops.
- promotional activities;
media (press, radio, websites, social media), including both sponsored and paid
outdoor advertising (bus stops, billboards);
distribution of promotional materials (leaflets, posters, banners, roll-ups) and items (T-shirts, pens, cloth bags);
- launching the event’s website (https://scinurture.atauni.edu.tr/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- launching the event’s social media accounts;
- press conferences;
- Radio Atatürk University and TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Association) radio stations were the main channels responsible for both promotion and live broadcast of the event.
- Almost 1 million online/ indirect beneficiaries were reached by awareness campaigns/activities facilitated by Atatürk University's internal communication facilities, shopping mall stands, billboards, radio and TV programs, newspapers etc.). Significant population was made aware of the European Researchers’ Night and its objectives indicating that the awareness campaign was effective.
- 45000 hits on the project website.
- 121 school visits with 89 researchers were completed in Researchers at School Activities Work Package in 2022. Almost half of the researchers were female scientists. 71 of the 121 schools are located in the city center and the others are in the districts. 40 of these schools are primary schools, 40 are secondary schools, 41 are high schools. Approximately 7140 students were reached, of which around 49% (3503) were female students and the rest (around 51%) were male students. In school visits, numerous experimental activities were conducted, and various scientific experiments were shown to the students.
- Sci-NURTURE main event lasted for two days (30 September-1 October 2022). A total of 61 activities were performed such as science shows, games, exhibitions, workshops, orientations and demonstrations.
- Activities were mainly organized around the main theme of the project: Soil, Water, Plant, Animal, Food, and Art. Extensive program with 61 different activities presented by 63 scientists contributing to a total of more than 200 researchers (full professors, Ass. and Assoc. Professors and their grad students). 35 of the 63 were female scientists.
- All activities were organized and carried out by the researchers of Ataturk University.
- European Union (EU) was promoted during the events in the EU corner.
- Total number of complete surveys collected from the students was 1839. Among them, the number of those from elementary school students was 529, the number of those from middle school students was 600, and the number of those from high school students was 710. There were 1077 female and 762 male students who responded to the survey.
- When students were asked what they have learned new and interesting during the event, most of the students who filled out the survey stated that they have learned a lot in this event. To name a few, students indicated they have learned how to plant a seed, how bees produce honey, how to milking by hand, what DNA looks like, how to make compost, how to do science, how to make plant-based medicine and so others.
- When teachers were asked about their thoughts and suggestions, most teachers stated that the event was great and collaboration with the schools can be expanded for the event next year.
media (press, radio, websites, social media), including both sponsored and paid
outdoor advertising (bus stops, billboards);
distribution of promotional materials (leaflets, posters, banners, roll-ups) and items (T-shirts, pens, cloth bags);
- launching the event’s website (https://scinurture.atauni.edu.tr/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- launching the event’s social media accounts;
- press conferences;
- Radio Atatürk University and TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Association) radio stations were the main channels responsible for both promotion and live broadcast of the event.
- Almost 1 million online/ indirect beneficiaries were reached by awareness campaigns/activities facilitated by Atatürk University's internal communication facilities, shopping mall stands, billboards, radio and TV programs, newspapers etc.). Significant population was made aware of the European Researchers’ Night and its objectives indicating that the awareness campaign was effective.
- 45000 hits on the project website.
- 121 school visits with 89 researchers were completed in Researchers at School Activities Work Package in 2022. Almost half of the researchers were female scientists. 71 of the 121 schools are located in the city center and the others are in the districts. 40 of these schools are primary schools, 40 are secondary schools, 41 are high schools. Approximately 7140 students were reached, of which around 49% (3503) were female students and the rest (around 51%) were male students. In school visits, numerous experimental activities were conducted, and various scientific experiments were shown to the students.
- Sci-NURTURE main event lasted for two days (30 September-1 October 2022). A total of 61 activities were performed such as science shows, games, exhibitions, workshops, orientations and demonstrations.
- Activities were mainly organized around the main theme of the project: Soil, Water, Plant, Animal, Food, and Art. Extensive program with 61 different activities presented by 63 scientists contributing to a total of more than 200 researchers (full professors, Ass. and Assoc. Professors and their grad students). 35 of the 63 were female scientists.
- All activities were organized and carried out by the researchers of Ataturk University.
- European Union (EU) was promoted during the events in the EU corner.
- Total number of complete surveys collected from the students was 1839. Among them, the number of those from elementary school students was 529, the number of those from middle school students was 600, and the number of those from high school students was 710. There were 1077 female and 762 male students who responded to the survey.
- When students were asked what they have learned new and interesting during the event, most of the students who filled out the survey stated that they have learned a lot in this event. To name a few, students indicated they have learned how to plant a seed, how bees produce honey, how to milking by hand, what DNA looks like, how to make compost, how to do science, how to make plant-based medicine and so others.
- When teachers were asked about their thoughts and suggestions, most teachers stated that the event was great and collaboration with the schools can be expanded for the event next year.
Sci-NURTURE has made a significant difference in every respect as it is an unprecedented scientific event in the region.
Potential impacts:
-Increase in students' desire on being scientist
-Better understanding the science and its benefits to society
-A rise in awareness of sustainability of the natural resources
Main conclusions
- Overall positive feedback about the event (interest, activities, contacts with researchers)
- Increased awareness of the key role of researchers and the benefits research brings to society
Potential impacts:
-Increase in students' desire on being scientist
-Better understanding the science and its benefits to society
-A rise in awareness of sustainability of the natural resources
Main conclusions
- Overall positive feedback about the event (interest, activities, contacts with researchers)
- Increased awareness of the key role of researchers and the benefits research brings to society