Since the project was not conducting research, progress beyond the state of the art was not expected but the progress in awareness and understanding of the ERIC policy, realized at the joint meetings are beyond what was expected at the start of the project.
To overcome the inaccessibility of the deep sea, various 3D animations of the deep sea research infrastructure have been developed including a cool VR animation. Also, various activities together with artists have been conducted. These activities stimulate the general awareness of (the vulnerability of) the deep sea, the interplay between fundamental research and industry and the values of fundamental research.
Through this project, KM3NeT actively contributed to discussions on gender equality and diversity and interacts with other research projects about the code of conduct and ethical behaviour. As an example, a gender equality plan and a code of conduct and ethical behaviour have been prepared which were subsequently adopted by the KM3NeT Collaboration. Corresponding flyers have been made which were distributed to all members of the KM3NeT Collaboration and will be presented to all newcomers as well (see figure). Data on the composition of committees, contributions to conferences, etc. are systematically collected. Personal feedback is regularly obtained from the members of the KM3NeT Collaboration in real time interactive Q/A sessions during meetings using designated apps. Eventually, these data and feedback can complement other data from industry, NGO’s, etc.
Finally, the idea of a making KM3NeT a CO2-neutral research facility has matured. This could represent a cost saving for the operation of KM3NeT. It could also set an example for other projects.
