For the NET 24-25 proposal, we were aware that the Researchers at School initiative was providing us with an opportunity to engage with young people on a different basis: not a one-shot encounter during the ERN, but being part of their learning experience in their learning environment. To take on such a challenge we envisaged that our experienced researchers would mostly need some support in the organizing process rather in defining themes and content of their dissemination. WP3 was then conceived as a coordination and support tool to help researchers joining the Researchers at School initiative as part of the NET project. For the proposal, a preliminary scouting of all activities that the NET partners experienced over the past years was carried out, which provided us with basic information to arrange activities in different tasks according to the different coordination actions they required for their successful implementation. According to their objective, the tasks can be grouped as:
• Tasks addressing students: Welcome to the lab (all school level); Researchers give lessons (all school level); Streaming the researchers (mostly 2 level secondary schools); PCTO (only 2 level secondary schools); Students’ calendar contest (only primary schools);
• Task addressing teachers: Researchers meet teachers (all school levels);
• Task addressing NET stakeholders: Special events with stakeholders;
2024 The NET Science Week took place in the last week of September, leading up to the European Researchers' Night on September 20-28. This initiative focused on engaging citizens of all ages and backgrounds with science and research methodologies, showcasing the work and life of researchers, along with the European Union's missions and role in research. During the week, various activities were organized, including the reopening of partner facilities and laboratories to the public after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided tours and laboratory visits provided unique opportunities for attendees to interact directly with researchers and gain insights in the places where the research is conducted (All the activities are included in a dedicated section of the NET portal:https://www.scienzainsieme.it/category/notte-24/tipologia-2024/net-science-week-2024/). The program offered a wide range of events including guided tours of the research centres, facilities and laboratories, special openings, seminars, educational workshops, and science-based excursions and trekking. On September 27 and 28, 2024, the main events dedicated to the NET European Researchers' Night took place. The main venue was in Rome at Città dell'Altra Economia in the NET Village. The event also occurred at other partner locations in Rome, Viterbo, La Spezia, Livorno, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Venice, Chioggia, Livorno, Milazzo, Grottaminarda and Palermo. Rome NET Village: September 27 and 28, 2024 Città dell’Altra Economia in Roma became the “NET Village”, a science village open to all citizens with presentations, interactive sessions, laboratory-based activities, initiatives dedicated to children, talks and meetings with researchers to bring the general public of all ages closer to science.
2025: The NET Science Week took place in the last week of September, leading up to the European Researchers' Nights on September 19-25, 2025. This initiative focused on engaging citizens of all ages and backgrounds with science and research methodologies, showcasing the work and life of researchers, along with the European Union's missions and role in research. The promotion of the various scheduled events was planned and organized in close collaboration with WP6. The publicity of the initiatives began in June 2025 to ensure maximum visibility of the activities before the various summer closures and was carried out through social media, mailing lists, and press releases. Many activities were specifically targeted at primary and secondary schools, mainly from the Lazio region. The program offered a wide range of events including guided tours of the research centres, facilities and laboratories, special openings, seminars, educational workshops, and science-based excursions and trekking. ROME NET VILLAGE: September 26 and 27, 2025 Città dell’Altra Economia in Roma became - the heart of our project - the “NET Village”.
