Our Science 2022-23

Project Information

Our Science 2022-23

Grant agreement ID: 101061765

DOI

10.3030/101061765

Project closed

EC signature date 25 April 2022

Start date 1 April 2022

End date 31 March 2024

Funded under

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 226 300,00

Coordinated by

RANNSOKNAMIDSTOD ISLANDS
Iceland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Our Science 2022-23 (Our Science 2022-23)

Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31

The main objective of the project is to enhance a positive public perception of researchers by facilitating open and active dialogue between researchers and citizens of all ages, focusing on families with children and young people that could consider a career in research. The idea is to portray researchers as ordinary people with fascinating jobs and to combat the stereotype that many people may have of scientists as absent-minded nerds in white robes and glasses. This will be done by bringing researchers closer to the general public, both during Researchers’ night activities and by inviting schools to host visits by researchers, with a view to increasing awareness of research and innovation activities and to boost public recognition of science and science education. The aim is also to allow people to experience first-hand what research and innovation activities are all about and create an understanding of the actual impact that these activities have on modern society and our daily lives. In addition to highlighting the importance of researchers’ work, the initiative provides a rare opportunity for researchers to communicate directly with the public at all ages.

The expected impact will be obtained by facilitating and enhancing active engagement between researchers and citizens, during pre-events such as direct interaction with researchers at science cafés in an inclusive manner, through citizen science activities that will lead up to Researchers’ Night, involving the citizens in scientific endeavours that will increase the transparency and understanding of researcher’s work, and finally through numerous activities during the actual Researchers’ Night events for two subsequent years. The direct interaction and public engagement will gain added importance in a post-covid world, where the need for such activities will have built up, which is expected to release extraordinary dynamics by active participation, conducing towards even stronger impact than before.

Website: www.visindavaka.is
Video from European Researchers' Night 2022 (Vísindavaka) in Iceland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caYAhceaQHg

Video from European Researchers' Night 2023 (Vísindavaka) in Iceland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzHVkK8-hdU

Video from ScienceSlamm 2023 in Iceland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BktG6BtVVu8

2022

The project started by planning a comprehensive Awareness Campaign including traditional communication activities and material such as newspapers and radio, as well as a strong online presence. The target group is the public at large, focusing on young people and families. The main message is in essence, that Researchers' Night aims to bring researchers closer to the general public and to increase awareness of research and innovation activities, with a view to supporting the public recognition of researchers, creating an understanding of the impact of researchers' work on citizen’s daily life, and encouraging young people to embark on research careers.
The main event took place from Friday 30 Sept. to Saturday 1 Oct. 2022, attracting the incredible number of 6200 guests to meet over 300 researchers. There were also pre-events such as science cafés, satellite regional events, award for science communication, citizen science activities, and the first ever Science Slam organised in Iceland.
Impact was measured with surveys for guests as well as researchers, in order to improve the organisation every year.
European Researchers’ Night is very well known in Icelandic society, where it goes by the title of Vísindavaka, and it was missed during the pandemic, leading to an even bigger impact of ERN 2022. For a country that does not even have a real science museum, the presence of such an event once a year, can generate even more impact, as guests and participating researchers rely on it as the only event providing opportunity for direct interaction between researchers and the public at large. So the ERN 2022 was missed and widely and sincerely welcomed back. This impact cannot be overlooked, and should be stressed especially.

2023

The project started by planning a comprehensive Awareness Campaign including traditional communication activities and material such as radio, billboard and bus stops advertising, as well as a strong online presence, including social media platforms such as Facebook/Instagram and Youtube.
The main event took place from 29-30 September 2023, attracting the incredible number of 6500 guests to meet over 300 researchers. There were also pre-events such as science cafés, satellite regional events, award for science communication and Science Slam organised in Iceland.

Impact was measured with surveys for guests as well as researchers, in order to improve the organisation every year.

European Researchers’ Night is very well known in Icelandic society, where it goes by the title of Vísindavaka and following the ERN 2023 can be considered as the larger Science communication event in Iceland. For a country that does not even have a real science museum, the presence of such an event once a year, can generate even more impact, as guests and participating researchers rely on it as the only event providing opportunity for direct interaction between researchers and the public at large. The ERN 2023 was a continuation of a successful science communication and public engagement festival, that has rooted itself into Icelandic society by being the largest Science communication event in Iceland. This impact cannot be overlooked and should be stressed especially.

2022 - 2023

o Science slam was added as one of the main events, and in addition to being incredibly successful, proved to be the first science slam ever organised in Iceland!
o Awareness raising was focused on a comprehensive linkage of the overall communication strategy and a very forward looking digital and social media campaign, which proved to be extremely successful. It is also more cost-efficient than many traditional promotional campaigns.
o By promoting the key role that researchers have for keeping the public informed about critical challenges and scientific discoveries that have an enormous impact on our daily lives, and combatting increased misinformation about science, we achieve perhaps the most important impact which cannot be ignored in modern societies. This impact is ever more important, as the role of science and scientists in explaining and understanding the covid pandemic was an eye opener for many societies and the public at large.
o European Researchers’ Night is very well known in Icelandic society, and it was missed during the pandemic, leading to an even bigger impact of ERN 2022. For a country that does not even have a real science museum, the presence of such an event once a year, can generate even more impact, as guests and participating researchers rely on it as the only event providing opportunity for direct interaction between researchers and the public at large. So the ERN 2022 was missed and widely and sincerely welcomed back. This impact cannot be overlooked, and should be stressed especially.