AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Tasks undertaken
Target audiences
o Public at large regardless of age and scientific background;
o High school children, young people, core demographic young people actively searching for science-events, creative industry;
o Trend-setting young adults, broad local public , kids, high school children , young adults technology, art and science fans and adults science-fans were the main target audience in 2015;
Messages conveyed
o Researchers are amongst us;
o Researchers are ordinary people with an extraordinary job;
o Researchers are like us;
o Doing science and being a scientists can be cool, creative and fun;
o Scientific research is diverse;
Main communication tools to rely on
Off line
o Publication of articles, interviews, announcements, advertisements in national and regional press;
o Publication of general and specific press releases, followed by a phone call follow up;
o Public advertising through display of posters in streets, bars, libraries, universities…;
On line
o Revamping of project website, constant updating and maintenance;
o Revamping of social network profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Vimeo…) and weekly to daily posting;
o Links with institutional, participants’ and popular websites;
o E-mailings from the national organisation, from the local events, from sponsors, partners, related organisations, educational projects…;
o Setting up of media partnerships (Motherboard weblog, Vice Magazine, Kennislink, Volkskrant…)
o Cooperation with other Researchers’ nights (cross posting on social media, cross references, share of international programming…);
Promotional material
o Posters, flyers, booklets, programmes;
o E-ticket designs, ads and banners;
o Mention of "This European Researchers' Night project is funded by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions" on all promotional material displayed;
o Promotional gadgets (such as wrist bands, crew T-shirts..) (displayed through the European corner notably), complying with the general guidelines available at
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/communication/services/visual_identity/index.en.htm(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre)Overview of the results
o Conception, realisation and display of promotional material: posters of various formats, flyers, programmes, roll-ups, banners, booklets, timetables …displayed in the steets, libraries, bars, restaurants, public transport (railway stations, trams, busses…) in the various cities involved;
o Publication of press releases in the various citires involved sent to general press, art and science specific press, TV, local radio, local newspapers, magazines, Naturalis (science, literature and art target group)(Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Nijmegen);
o Media and promotional partnerships;
o Publication of articles, announcements, interviews in daily newspapers (Amsterdam) local main papers (“Dagblad van Het Noorden” notably) and daily newspapers,…;
o Promotion during other public events:
o Outdoors cinema Zienemaan for several days;
o Promotional stand with a live sound experiment and scientists explaining the experiment on Noorderzon Festival;
o Announcements in several newsmetters: University of Groningen, Science LinX, Groninger Forum, GIC, Studium Generale, Energy Academy, Bijzondere Locaties
o Organisation of pre-events:
o Talkshow ‘Het Zwarte Gat’ in the city theatre (Amsterdam);
o Featuring scientists from the Discovery Festival programme on eweek prior the event;
o THWWG, using an ambisonic audiobooth;
o Backbeamer projector in public space (mobile projector on a bike);
o Teaser preview event with 2 live experiments and a visual talk;
o Educational programme the day before the event;
o Ticket winning competitions in the various cities involved;
o Airing of announcements, promotional spots and interviews on national and local radio and TV stations;
o Realisation ad display of promotional movies;
o Revamping, constant updating and maintenance of project websites, namely europeanresearchersnight.nl , www.researchersnight.nl www.discoveryfestival.nl;
o Publication and animation of several blogs about science programmes;
o Links with popular, institutional and participating institutions' websites;
o About 150.unique visitors on the various websites linked to the event;
o Revamping, constant pdating and maintenance of social networks profiles, (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr…);
o Live youtube stream during the event itself (Groningen);
o Publication of banners and promotional ads on blogs, websites,-newsletters, event calendars;
o Publication of an e-magazine (with article focusing on Language researchers'night in Utrecht);
o About 2,35 million people made aware of the Researchers'Night and its objectvies.
ACTIVITIES DURING THE NIGHT
Tasks undertaken
List of locations and venues involved
Amsterdam: Science Center NEMO
Utrecht: Jaarbeurs
Leiden: Naturalis
Groningen: various, including and around Groninger Forum
Nijmegen: LUX and 4 small sublocations for exhibits and pre-events
Main types of activities planned
Hands-on live experiments, presentations, demonstrations, art and science cooperation, high quality art programmes, high-quality music programmes, combination of the 2, afternoon high school programme, exhibitions, science shows, European corners…
Detailed programme of activities
European corners
Number: Five
Location: Most frequented areas of locations;
Activities planned:
o Display of informative and promotional material;
o Connection with all relevant EU websites;
o Demonstration of at least one EU-funded research projects;
o Permanent presence of personnel likely answering questions from the audience about EU programmes and policies;
o Testimonials form researchers having benefited from EU support and MC fellows about their research, their experience, and research mobility;
o European Researchers' Night MSCA roll-up (entrance of the event) complying with the following content and format requirements: 200 X 85 cm, and the mentions: "European Researchers' Night", "Marie Skłodowska-Curie: an inspiration to follow";
o An image provided by the European Commission;
Overview of the results
o Offer of 243 different activities in the various cities involved, as described in the Annex I part B to the Grant Agfreement:
o 52 in Amsterdam, 57 in Leiden, 37 in Utrecht, 47 in Groningen and 50 in Nijmegen;
o Hands-on experiments, installadtions;
o Demos and workshops;
o Display of science movies, symposia, live interviews, micro talks, talk shows;
o EU interpreters' booth, language crash course, keynote lectures;
o Living labs, games, lectures, 3D printings;
o Speed dating with researchers, scientific cabarets,
o Various performances, EU corners…;
o Active involvement of 317 researchers in the various cities, of whom:
o approx. 50 having benefitted from MSCA schemes;
o approx. 60 having benefitted from FP7/HORIZON 2020;
o Over 7.700 attendees having taken part in the activities offered.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Tasks undertaken
Description of the current situation
o Existing surveys and studies to be identified;
o Sharing experiences with impact assessment professionals for other Researchers ‘night events (already set up of Facebook group);
o Formulation of theoretical variables for public perception of scientists aimed at assessing both short and long term impact of R.N.;
o Development of specific target groups for ex-ante and ex-post assessment;
Tools
o Ex-ante questionnaires;
o Entrance surveys, in depth face to face interviews, experience interviews, ex post surveys;
Indicators and parameters to be applied
o Quantitative: number of attendees, typography of attendees (age, gender, occupation, background), rating of the event, participation in various activities, hits on website, friends and followers on social networks, promotional items displayed, media coverage…;
o Qualitative: public opinion about researchers and their works (association with the word “researcher", characteristics of actual and ideal researchers, interest expressed for science and research, motivations for attending the event, intention to attend future similar events, involvement of researchers funded under HORIZON 2020 …
Selection of the sample
o Method: random selection;
o Absolute figures: at least 1.000 entrance surveys on both years, 200 face to face in- depth interviews and 800 experience interviews.
