European Researchers' Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2016-2017

Project Information

RiNG-16-17

Grant agreement ID: 722995

DOI

10.3030/722995

Project closed

EC signature date 3 June 2016

Start date 1 June 2016

End date 30 November 2017

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 193 650,00

EU contribution

€ 153 780,00

Coordinated by

TIDEA DOO BANJA LUKA
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RiNG-16-17 (European Researchers' Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2016-2017)

Reporting period: 2017-02-01 to 2017-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The European Researchers' Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina (RiNG-16-17) aim is to bring researchers closer to the general public and to shape deeper connection between research and entrepreneurship. RiNG-16-17 will increase awareness of research and innovation potentials in BiH, support public recognition of researchers and promote achievements by local scientists and research-driven entrepreneurs, address research impact people’s daily life, and encourage young people to embark on research careers. Shortly, main objectives are:
- Enhance researchers’ public recognition;
- Increase awareness about research results, especially regarding the daily lives of citizens;
- Stimulate interest in research careers, in particular amongst young people facing a career choice.

RiNG-16-17 slogan is “research and innovation – two sides of the same coin”. RiNG-16-17 is a Researchers’ Night of national character, involving coordinated actions in six cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and incorporates cross-border aspect by involving researchers and research-driven business from the Balkan region as participants in RiNG activities. RiNG-16-17 specific objectives are:
- Increase awareness about science and research in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Forge the connection between science and entrepreneurship;
- Illustrate the fun and fascinating aspects of research;
- Stress the societal importance of research including for citizens’ daily lives and well-being;
- Point out the importance of European support in favour of researchers and research and stressing the importance of European and international cooperation in research.

RiNG-16-17 quantitative targets per event/year are:
- Number of people to be reached through awareness raising campaign in BiH: 350.000;
- Expected number of direct attendees to organized events in whole BiH: 15.000.

Thus, RiNG-16-17 is aiming to reach 700.000 people and involve 30.000 participants in the organized events during 2016-2017 period, organizing two European Researchers’ Nights in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The project has reached its objectives and proved to be successful.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

RiNG 2017 achieved following:

- Conception, production and display of promotional material: flyers, posters;
- Organisation of 2 press conferences in Sarajevo (26th September) and Banja Luka (27th September);
- Publication of articles, reports… in printed press (17 articles);
- Airing of promotional spots, programmes, interviews on radio and TV stations (49 appearances across national territory);
- Revamping, constant updating and maintenance of project website: nocistrazivaca.ba;
o 5.326 unique visitors on project website;
- Revamping constant updating and maintenance of social networks profiles: Facebook;
o About 100.000 visitors on Facebook page and website (in particular people aged 18-34);
- Pre-events:
o MSCA Round Table in Sarajevo (28th September);
o 2 pre-events for media in Bijeljina (28th & 29th September);
- About 1.200.000 people made aware of the European Researchers' Night and its objectives.

- Offer of 125 different activities as planned in the Annex I Part B to the Grant Agreement, namely:
o Sarajevo: 44;
o Banja Luka: 35;
o Mostar: 23;
o Bijeljina: 12;
o Gorazde: 4;
o Travnik: 7;

- Active involvement of 407 researchers, ( 217 in Sarajevo, 67 in Banja Luka, 93 in Mostar, 20 in Bijeljina, 7 in Gorazde and 3 in Travnik), of whom:
o one having benefitted from MSC actions;
o 88 having benefited from another EU support (FP7, HORIZON 2020);

- Active involvement of about 1.500 people in the implementation of the activities (researchers, innovators, exhibitors, edutainers, lecturers, volunteers…).

- 20.150 visitors having taken part in the activities, distributed as follows:
o Sarajevo: 6.800;
o Banja Luka: 7.500;
o Mostar: 3.600;
o Bijeljina: 1.500;
o Gorazde: 500;
o Travnik: 250;

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

- Collection, analysis and processing of 733 feedbacks, of which 397 prior the event and 336 during and after the event, and conduction of 209 interviews (39.6%) in Banja Luka, of which 162 (22.1%) prior the event and 128 (17.5%) during the event;

- Main conclusions:
o Typology of respondents: 46,1% male and 53,9% female;
o Overall positive feedback about the events themselves (activities, interest, contacts with researches, concrete organisation, schedule, venues and locations);
o Most successful activities: those with a high interactivity character, such as conversations with researcher, high school competition, interactive activities and workshops for children, star gazing and mobile planetarium, counselling and information about international education and careers, interactive experiments (forensics, chemistry, archaeology) and science fair, quizzes, games and competitions; activities with focus on the activities addressing children and high school students.
o Increased awareness about the importance of the role of scientists (75%);
o 63% of visitors of the event stated that the event made them think about the role or importance of scientists;
o Opinion on scientist: cultivated (93,2%); clever (over 95,8%), hard -working (86,3%);
o Profession of a researcher scored 7.2 out of possible 10 points, which is considered as “good and very good” (score is consistent with the data from 2016 and 2017);
o General audience expressed willingness to recommend the event (87%) and readiness to come to next Researchers’ Night (88%);

RiNG-17 banner