Project description
Smashing stereotypes in science
How most people understand science and the work of scientists is usually based on how this information was presented to them at school. For young people today, their perception of science and scientists plays an important role in developing their interest in studying and pursuing a career in science. But perceptions are many times based on overgeneralised perceptions of scientists working in chemistry labs, wearing white coats and experimenting with Bunsen burners. In this context, the EU-funded PROBE project will organise the European Researchers’ Night at Trinity College Dublin in 2018 and 2019. PROBE aims to connect researchers with the public to challenge general perceptions and stereotypes. Public engagement and communication training workshops will be offered to all Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions programme-funded researchers. Research career showcase pre events will provide direct contact between researchers and school students.
Objective
European Researchers’ Night has become one of the most well-known and important public engagement events since it was first introduced in 2005. Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), has coordinated European Researchers’ Night events every year since 2013. Building on the success of the last two years in particular, Science Gallery Dublin and the School of Education at Trinity College, in partnership with the British Council in Ireland (BC), will host PROBE as part of European Researchers’ Night in 2018 and 2019.
PROBE will connect researchers with members of the general public through a wide range of interactive and hands-on activities, with a focus on dialogue and participatory learning. PROBE will embrace the theme of cultural heritage to coincide with the European Year of Cultural Heritage, and will emphasise citizen science as an approach to co-creating research.
PROBE will aim to challenge general perceptions of research, as well as stereotypes of researchers. The benefit of research to everyday life, the opportunities provided by research careers, and the role of the European Union will all be highlighted by PROBE events. Public engagement and communication training workshops will be offered to all MSCA-funded researchers, and research career showcase pre-events will provide direct contact between researchers and school students.
The PROBE project team have extensive experience managing and delivering high-quality public engagement events, and in publishing their evaluations in peer-reviewed education and communication journals. PROBE is a project that will build on the success of previous iterations of European Researchers’ Night hosted by Trinity College Dublin and will be grounded in best practice.
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
D02 CX56 Dublin
Ireland