The core of the work performed within S.T.R.E.E.T.S. to (the) Square represents a significant evolution in the science-society engagement model. Moving beyond the linear "streets" concept, which focused on connecting distant points across the territory, the project adopted the "Square" as its primary organizing principle. This shift transformed the Square from a mere metaphor into a functional, civic, and scientific hub where diverse publics, academic disciplines, and institutional actors converge. The Square was designed as a democratic space for mutual learning, where knowledge is not simply transmitted from experts to the public but co-created through interaction. This framework ensured that activities were inherently visible, accessible, and inclusive, specifically targeting demographics that traditionally face barriers to scientific culture, such as families in peripheral areas, students in underserved schools, and communities with limited prior exposure to research environments.
The project’s implementation was structured around six foundational pillars that ensured coherence between high-level scientific research and societal needs:
• Science: presented as a bidirectional process of discovery shared between researchers and citizens.
• Technology: addressed as a social construct that both shapes and is shaped by human needs and ethical choices.
• Research: demonstrated as a systematic, organized approach to solving the complex "wicked problems" of our time.
• Ethics: integrated as a cross-cutting dimension, highlighting the responsibility of the scientific community toward society.
• Engagement: achieved through participatory formats that moved away from passive observation toward active involvement.
• Society: viewed as an active interlocutor and partner in the production and interpretation of knowledge, rather than a passive recipient.
While the European Researchers’ Night served as the project's flagship moment, the work was executed as a continuous engagement pathway. The activities were meticulously designed to balance scientific rigor with broad accessibility. The project deployed an extensive portfolio of formats to accommodate varying levels of scientific literacy and interest:
• Public debates, "discovery stories," and sessions on ethical principles to foster critical thinking.
• Laboratory simulations, interactive experiments, demos, and prototypes that made abstract concepts tangible.
• Science shows, competitions, and educational games designed to lower the psychological barrier to entry for younger audiences.
• Multisensory experiences, museum visits, and guided tours that linked scientific inquiry with local cultural heritage and historical identity.
A substantial portion of the project’s efforts was dedicated to the Researchers at Schools initiative. This strand moved beyond simple outreach by positioning schools as active sites of scientific co-production. Researchers worked directly with teachers and pupils to stimulate creativity and scientific reasoning. A key achievement was the visibility given to the students' own scientific outputs, reinforcing the idea that young people are not just "future" researchers, but current participants in the scientific dialogue. This approach helped present scientific careers as diverse, attainable, and socially relevant pathways, directly addressing the need for a new generation of researchers in Europe. The work facilitated a deeper integration between universities, the CNR, cultural institutions, municipalities, and the private sector (including start-ups and innovation stakeholders). By aligning activities with EU Missions - such as climate change, health, and sustainable cities - the project demonstrated the practical relevance of research to daily life. The final outcomes of the action are consolidated into four strategic impact areas:
1. The successful validation of the "Square" model as a scalable framework for multidisciplinary science engagement.
2. A formalized, durable relationship between the regional research network and the school system.
3. The transformation of complex scientific data into inclusive, participatory formats that improved the reputation of participating organizations.
4. The creation of a stable "science-society ecosystem" in Campania and Southern Lazio, capable of sustaining the dialogue between research and the community beyond the project's lifecycle.
