The project is engaging stakeholders from different age groups, educational levels and professional backgrounds throughout the entire ERN 2016-17 timeline, and not just in the weeks previous to the event. Importantly the consortium is involving sectors of the population that are currently excluded from science and technology debates – for instance, schools and young people have been invited for several Meet a scientist events.
Regarding the Impact assessment a total of 902 questionnaires were collected, corresponding to a response rate of 8,92%.
The following main conclusions were drawn:
• The age of visitors in 2017 increased comparing with the age reported in 2016;
• The majority has completed a bachelor degree (34,74%);
• ERN is bringing new audiences to the local science centres and museums;
• More than 90% of the respondents were very pleased with the initiative;
• 99% would recomend the event to friends, family and colleagues;
• 61% of the respondents had already contacted with scientists before the visit to ERN 2017;
• The researchers’’ participation in the activities was considered very good and visitors we very pleased with the content of activities.
The researchers’ involved in the ERN2017 work mostly in Natural and Environmental sciences (25%), Life and Health sciences (29,9%) and Exact sciences and Engineering (34%). Least represented were the Social and Human sciences (6,9%). A total of 556 researchers participated in 2017 edition of ERN and we obtained 144 questionnaires. These surveys allowed us to trace the profile of the participant scientists: mainly Portuguese women between 21 and 35 years old.
• 55% of the respondents are female ;
• 63,8% of the researchers are aged less than 35 years, 9,7% are aged between 36 and 40 years, 9,7% are aged between 41 and 45 years old and only 1,7% are above 65 years old;
• 34,3% had already participated in any previous edition of ERN;
• 23 researchers that never experienced science outreach before;
• 48% of researchers claimed to be very high satisfied and 35% claimed to be very satisfied with it.
Researchers were pleased with ERN 2017: 99% would recommend the event to friends, family and colleagues and other 96% would participate again in future initiatives. Most of them (82%) had already participated in other science outreach activities before attending ERN 2017, mostly in lectures or meetings (28,1%), Open Days (24%) or visits to schools (17%). However, for 8% of the respondents ERN 2017 was the first experience in science outreach activities
