Project description
Connecting science and society in Lombardy
The role of science in our society is to generate new knowledge to tackle modern challenges, improve education, and enhance the quality of life. However, science and technology often remain obscure to non-experts, creating a gap between citizens and scientists. With the support of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), the Co.Science project aims to promote research and innovation, making science education appealing to young people, and equipping researchers with effective communication tools. The project will establish public forums for interaction between researchers and citizens, enhance researcher communication skills, and establish a network to involve citizens in scientific endeavours. It will also offer training for researchers and educational programmes in schools across six cities in Lombardy, Italy.
Objective
The role of science in our societies is strongly related to the creation of new knowledge to face the big challenges of our modern world, the improvement of education, and the increment of life quality. However, science and technology are often hidden from non-expert eyes, generating a gap between citizens and scientists. To thrive, science requires support, communication, and discussion. The Co.Science project aims to connect science to society by promoting the importance of research and innovation, by making science education attractive for youngsters, and by providing researchers with effective communication tools, bringing them closer to the citizens. The way to achieve these goals will go through 1. the implementation of public spaces where researchers and citizens meet face to face; 2. the empowerment of researchers in their communication skills; 3. the establishment of an ecosystem of people and institutions working together to engage citizens in science and 4. the public recognition's boosting of research and science education. The proposal is supported by a consortium of formal and informal learning institutions working together with institutional and civil stakeholders for effective and lasting public engagement and new and appealing opportunities to interact with citizens. The Co.Science project will specifically train researchers on the enhancement of their communication skills and it will organize two ERN editions, implementing educational initiatives in the schools. ERNs will be implemented in six important cities of Lombardy in Italy (Milano, Como, Varese, Busto Arsizio, Lodi, and Lecco) creating cross-disciplinary and multi-topic diffuse events on STEAM fields and promoting the European scientific culture. During the related school years, we will propose active learning actions in the schools owing to the presence of researchers among the students, thus re-building confidence, which is fundamental for our communities.
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support ActionsCoordinator
00185 Roma
Italy