Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ReFocuS 2.0 (Road to Friday of Science 2.0)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2019-04-01 al 2020-01-31
The aim of Road to Friday of Science (ReFocuS 2.0) project is to refocus and promote the value of cultural heritage and natural resources to society and highlight the important role that communities play in preserving and managing their cultural heritage and natural environment. The potential that cultural heritage offers is enormous, and beneficial to everyone. The contemporary society faces many challenges and people forget to pay special care to their cultural and natural heritage. Following the EU and UNESCO tendencies and guidelines which recognize the importance of cultural and natural heritage as an indicator and facilitator of the social development, as well as a promoter of human rights and democracy, we refocus public attention to synergy of education, cultural and natural heritage, and sustainable development. The other aim of the project is to pay more attention to: academics to share their knowledge and work with broader public and this way to provide effective heritage education, young people to keep the national treasures and protect national heritage, and general audience to be aware of cultural diversity as a fundamental component of sustainable development.
The project reached its objectives and proved to be successful. Reached objectives are:
o To pay attention to interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of modern research,
o To highlight the impact and relevance of research and researchers in local as well as in the global level,
o To encourage scientists and researchers to share their knowledge and work with the broader public,
o To mobilize both researchers and general audiences to connect with the Nights,
o To provide an opportunity to bring research to uncommon places to produce a high-quality set of activities,
o To develop and foster a positive attitude towards cultural heritage and diversity,
o To promote national as well as European cultural and natural heritage,
o To learn how the international community works together to save our common heritage,
o To find out how to overcome social inequalities based on cultural backgrounds.
Conclusion of the action
• The action reached the objectives pursued;
• Taking into account the main objectives of the action, several improvements might increase the event's impact in regards to future similar events;
• Organization of a larger number of science-related performances based on the made success;
The project reached its objectives and proved to be successful. Reached objectives are:
o To pay attention to interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of modern research,
o To highlight the impact and relevance of research and researchers in local as well as in the global level,
o To encourage scientists and researchers to share their knowledge and work with the broader public,
o To mobilize both researchers and general audiences to connect with the Nights,
o To provide an opportunity to bring research to uncommon places to produce a high-quality set of activities,
o To develop and foster a positive attitude towards cultural heritage and diversity,
o To promote national as well as European cultural and natural heritage,
o To learn how the international community works together to save our common heritage,
o To find out how to overcome social inequalities based on cultural backgrounds.
Conclusion of the action
• The action reached the objectives pursued;
• Taking into account the main objectives of the action, several improvements might increase the event's impact in regards to future similar events;
• Organization of a larger number of science-related performances based on the made success;
o Organization of a joint press conference with the other Serbian EU-funded project (September 3rd), (display of programme in each city, highlighting of the date and national
coverage of the event), attended by journalists and general public;
o Organization of local press conferences (Belgrade, September 20th; Niš, September 25th; Kragujevac, September 24th - presentation of the detailed program in each of
fourteen cities and towns covered by REFOCUS 2.0);
o Direct mailing to about 570 schools;
o Pre-events:
o Open day visits to the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics - Niš during May, attended by 300 school kids (guided tours around faculty on every Wednesday in May);
o “Fire and Ice” in BIG Fashion Centre in Belgrade on September 18th. It included interactive and attractive physico-chemical experiments and demonstrations during 45
minutes in four cycles;
o Direct street marketing, similar to the Shopping mall Lab, during the weekend prior to the event in the pedestrian zones of city centres involving direct interaction of
researchers with passers-by;
o Setting up of a promotional booth in a pedestrian zone in each city and town (entire day of the event);
o Activities during researcher’s Night week (from Monday September 23rd till Thursday September 26th) in 12 Science clubs;
o Estimated 3 million people in Serbia made aware of the European Researchers' Night and its objectives.
o 16 different types of activities included: hands-on experiments, demos, exhibition, workshops, science shows, quizzes, games, competitions, performances, concerts, guided
tours, informal talks with researchers, lectures and movie projections;
o 17 European corners (Belgrade, Niš, and Kragujevac - 2, other cities - 1);
o Saturday, September 28th: Knjaževac, Festival of science - open science;
o Activities addressing the audience aged 3 and above, except for quiz, guided tours, Informal talks with researchers, debate, roundtable and projection of a movie;
o Active involvement of about 1650 researchers, of whom 7 having benefited from Horizon 2020 funding scheme;
o Approximately 78.800 of attendees in total:
o 30.000 in Belgrade;
o 9.000 in Niš;
o 9.000 in Kragujevac;
o 1.500 in Inđija;
o 4.500 Smederevo;
o 800 Ranovac;
o 3.500 Kruševac;
o 3.000 Čačak;
o 2.000 Užice;
o 1.500 Knjaževac;
o 5.000 Leskovac;
o 3.500 Novi Pazar;
o 1.500 Gornji Milanovac;
o 2.000 Pančevo.
All activities were implemented as initially planned, except from change or addition of venues at some locations to the more favorable and more visible ones. The main objectives of this Researchers‘ Night were bringing closer researchers and the public at large of all ages and scientific backgrounds, consequently tackling the remaining stereotypes about researchers and their job, and pointing out the fun and fascinating aspects of research with a view to encouraging young people’s awareness of science and science careers.
coverage of the event), attended by journalists and general public;
o Organization of local press conferences (Belgrade, September 20th; Niš, September 25th; Kragujevac, September 24th - presentation of the detailed program in each of
fourteen cities and towns covered by REFOCUS 2.0);
o Direct mailing to about 570 schools;
o Pre-events:
o Open day visits to the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics - Niš during May, attended by 300 school kids (guided tours around faculty on every Wednesday in May);
o “Fire and Ice” in BIG Fashion Centre in Belgrade on September 18th. It included interactive and attractive physico-chemical experiments and demonstrations during 45
minutes in four cycles;
o Direct street marketing, similar to the Shopping mall Lab, during the weekend prior to the event in the pedestrian zones of city centres involving direct interaction of
researchers with passers-by;
o Setting up of a promotional booth in a pedestrian zone in each city and town (entire day of the event);
o Activities during researcher’s Night week (from Monday September 23rd till Thursday September 26th) in 12 Science clubs;
o Estimated 3 million people in Serbia made aware of the European Researchers' Night and its objectives.
o 16 different types of activities included: hands-on experiments, demos, exhibition, workshops, science shows, quizzes, games, competitions, performances, concerts, guided
tours, informal talks with researchers, lectures and movie projections;
o 17 European corners (Belgrade, Niš, and Kragujevac - 2, other cities - 1);
o Saturday, September 28th: Knjaževac, Festival of science - open science;
o Activities addressing the audience aged 3 and above, except for quiz, guided tours, Informal talks with researchers, debate, roundtable and projection of a movie;
o Active involvement of about 1650 researchers, of whom 7 having benefited from Horizon 2020 funding scheme;
o Approximately 78.800 of attendees in total:
o 30.000 in Belgrade;
o 9.000 in Niš;
o 9.000 in Kragujevac;
o 1.500 in Inđija;
o 4.500 Smederevo;
o 800 Ranovac;
o 3.500 Kruševac;
o 3.000 Čačak;
o 2.000 Užice;
o 1.500 Knjaževac;
o 5.000 Leskovac;
o 3.500 Novi Pazar;
o 1.500 Gornji Milanovac;
o 2.000 Pančevo.
All activities were implemented as initially planned, except from change or addition of venues at some locations to the more favorable and more visible ones. The main objectives of this Researchers‘ Night were bringing closer researchers and the public at large of all ages and scientific backgrounds, consequently tackling the remaining stereotypes about researchers and their job, and pointing out the fun and fascinating aspects of research with a view to encouraging young people’s awareness of science and science careers.
We can expect that Researchers' Night can have a long-term measurable socio-economic impact on society. Furthermore, it has a certain influence on the relationship between research institutions, universities, and non-academia institutions that work in the same field and cooperate on the project. ReFocuS 2.0 had indeed a positive impact on the relationships between researchers' community and reputable cultural, educational, and EU institutions such as French institute in Belgrade and Niš, University library in Niš, the National Museum and EU Delegation Info Center. The cooperation which started while preparing and organizing the Researchers' Night is continued through popular science lectures and workshop sets that take place independently from this event.
The inclusion of Scientific Clubs was one of the novelties of ReFocuS 2.0. They are a key national infrastructure for promoting science, spreading scientific culture and strengthening scientific literacy in the Serbia. Scientific Clubs in Belgrade, Niš, Kragujevac, Smederevo, Leskovac, Užice, Čačak, Knjaževac, Kruševac, Ranovac, Gornji MIlanovac and Novi Pazar were a part of Night activities.
Researchers’ Night events in Gornji Milanovac and Pančevo were organized for the first time. Based on the information and feedback provided by the audience, the events were very successful. The audience emphasized the importance of organizing events like this in areas where the research community and institutions are scarce or non-existent, and where science promotion is limited to the enthusiastic schoolteachers and school clubs.
All the above mentioned reinforced networking and Researchers’ Night activities will without a doubt contribute to a constant improvement of the public image of researchers and their jobs as well as of the awareness about opportunities related to the choice of a science-linked career.
The inclusion of Scientific Clubs was one of the novelties of ReFocuS 2.0. They are a key national infrastructure for promoting science, spreading scientific culture and strengthening scientific literacy in the Serbia. Scientific Clubs in Belgrade, Niš, Kragujevac, Smederevo, Leskovac, Užice, Čačak, Knjaževac, Kruševac, Ranovac, Gornji MIlanovac and Novi Pazar were a part of Night activities.
Researchers’ Night events in Gornji Milanovac and Pančevo were organized for the first time. Based on the information and feedback provided by the audience, the events were very successful. The audience emphasized the importance of organizing events like this in areas where the research community and institutions are scarce or non-existent, and where science promotion is limited to the enthusiastic schoolteachers and school clubs.
All the above mentioned reinforced networking and Researchers’ Night activities will without a doubt contribute to a constant improvement of the public image of researchers and their jobs as well as of the awareness about opportunities related to the choice of a science-linked career.