Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TWISE Night (Tunisian Well-Being through Inclusive SciencE)
Reporting period: 2024-04-01 to 2025-10-31
TWISE Night: Tunisian Well-being through Inclusive Science is part of the MSCA Citizens strand, under European Researchers’ Night (ERN) and Researchers at Schools (RS) for 2024-2025. The event is organized by ARSII and REACT, in partnership with the University of Sousse, University of Carthage, University of Sfax, and University of Monastir.
TWISE Night brings researchers and the public together, promoting scientific understanding and motivating young people to explore research. Tunisian researchers present their work, explain its relevance, and show how it contributes to national development. The program is built around four pillars, Technology, Health, Social Life, and Environment, highlighting research’s direct impact on society.
The event aims to raise awareness among all age groups and genders about ERN and RS, encourage broad participation from organizations and individuals, and strengthen the visibility and impact of research in Tunisia. It also showcases Tunisian involvement in European research and innovation projects, sharing achievements and ongoing initiatives to encourage young researchers to engage with Horizon Europe and other EU programs.
TWISE Night reinforces the value of research in society and inspires the next generation to pursue scientific careers that support the well-being and progress of Tunisia.
TWISE Night brings researchers and the public together, promoting scientific understanding and motivating young people to explore research. Tunisian researchers present their work, explain its relevance, and show how it contributes to national development. The program is built around four pillars, Technology, Health, Social Life, and Environment, highlighting research’s direct impact on society.
The event aims to raise awareness among all age groups and genders about ERN and RS, encourage broad participation from organizations and individuals, and strengthen the visibility and impact of research in Tunisia. It also showcases Tunisian involvement in European research and innovation projects, sharing achievements and ongoing initiatives to encourage young researchers to engage with Horizon Europe and other EU programs.
TWISE Night reinforces the value of research in society and inspires the next generation to pursue scientific careers that support the well-being and progress of Tunisia.
Organizing a large-scale science popularization event presents numerous challenges, yet the TWISE Night team showed remarkable commitment and coordination throughout the project. The initiative was designed to connect a wide audience with the world of research, transforming science into an interactive, accessible, and enjoyable experience.
To build momentum and engage the public ahead of the main event, four pre-events were implemented over the two years:
Sousse Beach Science Festival, an open-air outreach event offering hands-on scientific activities to the public.
- TWISE Night Challenge, a youth-focused initiative stimulating curiosity and creativity through interactive sessions.
- TWISE Caravans, mobile presentations where researchers introduced their work and highlighted recent scientific and technological advances.
- Science Popularization Trainings, designed to equip participants with effective strategies for communicating scientific knowledge to non-specialists.
Regular face-to-face and online coordination meetings between the project team, supervisors, and coordinator ensured smooth management, consistent planning, and alignment with project objectives. Each activity, whether pre-event or main event, was accompanied by awareness campaigns, outreach actions, and evaluation processes to measure its impact on participants and the broader community.
TWISE Night itself welcomed audiences of all ages and backgrounds, offering an extensive program centered around four themes: environment, social life, technology, and health. Through hands-on experiments, science shows, games, quizzes, exhibitions, and digital activities, more than 150 researchers engaged directly with the public. These interactions highlighted current scientific challenges, particularly the ongoing fight against infectious diseases, and emphasized the essential role of research in societal well-being, progress, and economic development.
Also, the two editions of the European Researchers’ Night in Tunisia (2024-2025) were successfully organized and widely covered by national and regional media. They showcased the diversity of scientific research, increased public appreciation of its relevance in daily life, and inspired young people to consider careers in science and innovation.
To build momentum and engage the public ahead of the main event, four pre-events were implemented over the two years:
Sousse Beach Science Festival, an open-air outreach event offering hands-on scientific activities to the public.
- TWISE Night Challenge, a youth-focused initiative stimulating curiosity and creativity through interactive sessions.
- TWISE Caravans, mobile presentations where researchers introduced their work and highlighted recent scientific and technological advances.
- Science Popularization Trainings, designed to equip participants with effective strategies for communicating scientific knowledge to non-specialists.
Regular face-to-face and online coordination meetings between the project team, supervisors, and coordinator ensured smooth management, consistent planning, and alignment with project objectives. Each activity, whether pre-event or main event, was accompanied by awareness campaigns, outreach actions, and evaluation processes to measure its impact on participants and the broader community.
TWISE Night itself welcomed audiences of all ages and backgrounds, offering an extensive program centered around four themes: environment, social life, technology, and health. Through hands-on experiments, science shows, games, quizzes, exhibitions, and digital activities, more than 150 researchers engaged directly with the public. These interactions highlighted current scientific challenges, particularly the ongoing fight against infectious diseases, and emphasized the essential role of research in societal well-being, progress, and economic development.
Also, the two editions of the European Researchers’ Night in Tunisia (2024-2025) were successfully organized and widely covered by national and regional media. They showcased the diversity of scientific research, increased public appreciation of its relevance in daily life, and inspired young people to consider careers in science and innovation.
TWISE Night did far more than achieve its initial objectives. It set in motion a nationwide wave of scientific curiosity and inclusion, opening access to science and emerging technologies for a new generation. More than 12,000 young learners took part in the activities across Tunisia, demonstrating strong public engagement and a growing appetite for scientific discovery.
Collaboration was one of the project’s strongest pillars. Over 75 partners joined forces, universities, research institutions, associations, and local actors, illustrating the strategic importance of collective effort in science outreach. In total, 330 activities were delivered, creating a rich ecosystem of exchanges, demonstrations, and hands-on experiences. Their thematic distribution reflected both societal priorities and public interest: Technology (48.9%), Environment (33.3%), Social Life (13.3%), and Health (4.4%). Together, they showcased the ability of TWISE Night to address a wide spectrum of contemporary challenges.
The awareness and communication strategy relied on an inclusive, multi-platform approach using Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and . Across these channels, the campaign reached over 1.56 million people and gathered a community of more than 5,000 followers, confirming the project’s strong digital footprint.
Two dedicated digital platforms further amplified the impact: The main platform, hosting all activities and registrations for the two-year project, attracted over 11,000 active users and 41,000+ views. A second platform, designed specifically for the TWISE Night Challenge, reached 5,400+ active users and more than 10,000 views, reinforcing the project’s role in nurturing scientific enthusiasm among youth.
TWISE Night helped reshape perceptions of science in Tunisia by bringing researchers directly into dialogue with the public through immersive, playful, and interactive formats. It inspired young people to imagine themselves in STEM careers, highlighted the contribution of research to societal progress, and built a bridge between scientific communities and citizens. This dynamic, collaborative approach stands as a model for future science engagement initiatives.
Collaboration was one of the project’s strongest pillars. Over 75 partners joined forces, universities, research institutions, associations, and local actors, illustrating the strategic importance of collective effort in science outreach. In total, 330 activities were delivered, creating a rich ecosystem of exchanges, demonstrations, and hands-on experiences. Their thematic distribution reflected both societal priorities and public interest: Technology (48.9%), Environment (33.3%), Social Life (13.3%), and Health (4.4%). Together, they showcased the ability of TWISE Night to address a wide spectrum of contemporary challenges.
The awareness and communication strategy relied on an inclusive, multi-platform approach using Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and . Across these channels, the campaign reached over 1.56 million people and gathered a community of more than 5,000 followers, confirming the project’s strong digital footprint.
Two dedicated digital platforms further amplified the impact: The main platform, hosting all activities and registrations for the two-year project, attracted over 11,000 active users and 41,000+ views. A second platform, designed specifically for the TWISE Night Challenge, reached 5,400+ active users and more than 10,000 views, reinforcing the project’s role in nurturing scientific enthusiasm among youth.
TWISE Night helped reshape perceptions of science in Tunisia by bringing researchers directly into dialogue with the public through immersive, playful, and interactive formats. It inspired young people to imagine themselves in STEM careers, highlighted the contribution of research to societal progress, and built a bridge between scientific communities and citizens. This dynamic, collaborative approach stands as a model for future science engagement initiatives.