Periodic Reporting for period 2 - HUMAN_ERA Night (European Researchers' Night in Cyprus: The Human Era)
Reporting period: 2019-03-01 to 2019-11-30
The overall objective of the ‘HUMAN_ERA Night’ project was to reach out to the wider public and raise awareness about the research and innovation activities undertaken at national and EU level while boosting knowledge about the benefits of science to society in order to stimulate the interest in research careers, especially among young people. With the motto ‘science for all’ as a flagship, the ‘HUMAN_ERA Night’ organised two fun, interactive events,one in 2018 in Limassol and one in 2019 in Nicosia, targeting various audiences during European Researchers’ Nights in Cyprus. The events offered a unique opportunity for the public to meet and interact with the researchers through different activities.
• Bring together researchers and the public at large (of different ages, gender and background, but especially young people) and allow them to interact through a balanced mix of “edutainment” activities, so as to remove stereotypes about researchers, and make research careers more appealing by proving that researchers are in fact “ordinary people with fascinating jobs”, thus increasing the number of young people choosing to get involved in research while at the same time nurturing a research culture.
• Raise the public’s awareness regarding the latest R&I achievements in Cyprus and beyond, that have positively affected many aspects of our everyday lives, including economic growth and better quality of life, emphasising projects funded by the EU, in order to understand the benefits for society, as well as the international dimension of research and increase the public’s recognition of the importance of the researchers’ work.
• Engage relevant actors to encourage formal and informal science education with the aim to improve the scientific knowledge base in Cyprus.
• Give a clear message to policy makers that investment in research will help boost the economy and increase Europe’s competitiveness.
• Promote gender balance and inclusion in research by ensuring equal participation of males and females and extensive promotion.
• Promote the idea of the human (the researcher) as the driving force in the science evolution.
• Bring together researchers and the public at large (of different ages, gender and background, but especially young people) and allow them to interact through a balanced mix of “edutainment” activities, so as to remove stereotypes about researchers, and make research careers more appealing by proving that researchers are in fact “ordinary people with fascinating jobs”, thus increasing the number of young people choosing to get involved in research while at the same time nurturing a research culture.
• Raise the public’s awareness regarding the latest R&I achievements in Cyprus and beyond, that have positively affected many aspects of our everyday lives, including economic growth and better quality of life, emphasising projects funded by the EU, in order to understand the benefits for society, as well as the international dimension of research and increase the public’s recognition of the importance of the researchers’ work.
• Engage relevant actors to encourage formal and informal science education with the aim to improve the scientific knowledge base in Cyprus.
• Give a clear message to policy makers that investment in research will help boost the economy and increase Europe’s competitiveness.
• Promote gender balance and inclusion in research by ensuring equal participation of males and females and extensive promotion.
• Promote the idea of the human (the researcher) as the driving force in the science evolution.
Awareness campaign Work Package 1
Main targets of the campaign: Public at large in all its components whichever age and scientific background;
Specific attention paid to children and young people, especially those about facing a career choice;
Communication means: Off line, On line, Pre- events, Promotional material
Messages conveyed:
Science for all as a flagship;
Acknowledgment of the contribution of science and technology in facing the big challenges in Europe and beyond;
Promotion of the characteristics and qualities of people working in R&I;
Human Revolution (2019);
Overview of the results:The main conclusion to be drawn from the awareness campaign performed during the event is that the main goal was achieved that was to bring the researchers closer to the general public and to raise awareness about the research and innovation developments undertaken at national and EU level while boosting knowledge about the benefits of science to society in order to stimulate the interest in research careers, especially among young people.
• Estimate number of people made aware of the European Researchers' Night and its objectives: around 2.500.000 (full cover of the country’s population);
• Overall number of attendees (8.000); 3200 students visited the event;
Activities during the Night Work Package 2
Location 2019: Nicosia, Conference Centre FILOXENIA;
Main idea: Raise awareness on the human revolution in science and the impact on our civilisation - the Human Era;
Theme: 2019: The Human Era was celebrated through the scientific progress that humankind has achieved in the Life Sciences field. Other activities representing all scientific fields were also included in the programme as sub-themes.
Methodology: Spring Event (pre-event); Side Events; Main Event
- Hands on experiments activities
- STEM activities
- Art and science activities
- Games
-Interactive talks
-Science Theatre
- Competitions
- Award Ceremonies
- Music Entertainment
- Science Theatre
- Social Responsivity Activity
- Scientific Cocktail Reception and Meet and Greet
- EU-Corner
- Impact assessment
Overview of the results:
- Spring Pre-event and side events;
- Central theme: life science research with other sectors also represented to ensure multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity;
- Main event: Balanced mix of 90 activities combining entertainment and science (edutainment), and addressing the public at large in all its components; A dedicated kid’s zone with stem activities, robotics, recycling materials activities and science theatre; Social Responsibility activity
- Involvement of all major stakeholders in the Cypriot R&I System with a strengthened participation from SMEs and civil society organisations. Over 40 institutions participated at the main event; More than 600 researchers from all the main research organisations of Cyprus, all scientific disciplines and all stages of the career path, of whom: 30 having benefited from MSCA schemes;
- 34 H2020 funded projects participated in the Night by presenting their results to the general public;
- Policy makers were invited and came at the main event to highlight the importance of funded research for the economy and the society in general;
- Collaboration with the Ministry of Education to bring as many young people as possible to the main event. Overall, 3200 students visited the event;
- Involvement of at least 60 volunteers from the RIF and other partner organisations;
- Estimated 8.000 visitors;
Impact Assessment Work Package 3
Quantitative data: Number of attendees; Personal information; Information on the event; Number of hits on the relevant website; Number of friends and followers on social networks; Number of promotional items displayed; Media coverage;
Qualitative data: Opinion of participants on researchers and their job; Interest of participants in science, research and science careers; Intention of participants to attend similar events in the future; Involvement of researchers funded by Horizon 2020, including MSCA in the activities of the NIGHT; Comparison of opinions with past events;
Sample: The questionnaire was completed by 590 participants (approximate 7,4% of the total participants) from all age groups.
Overview of the results: The main conclusion to be drawn from the impact assessment performed during the event is that the event is an established convention in Cyprus, welcomed by the wider public and well appreciated by the participants. The responses collected represent a very satisfactory sample of overall participation and perceptions by including participants from both genders and all age groups, with increased participation of young people (students, researchers as well as young professionals) in line with the central target group and overall objective of the event.
Main targets of the campaign: Public at large in all its components whichever age and scientific background;
Specific attention paid to children and young people, especially those about facing a career choice;
Communication means: Off line, On line, Pre- events, Promotional material
Messages conveyed:
Science for all as a flagship;
Acknowledgment of the contribution of science and technology in facing the big challenges in Europe and beyond;
Promotion of the characteristics and qualities of people working in R&I;
Human Revolution (2019);
Overview of the results:The main conclusion to be drawn from the awareness campaign performed during the event is that the main goal was achieved that was to bring the researchers closer to the general public and to raise awareness about the research and innovation developments undertaken at national and EU level while boosting knowledge about the benefits of science to society in order to stimulate the interest in research careers, especially among young people.
• Estimate number of people made aware of the European Researchers' Night and its objectives: around 2.500.000 (full cover of the country’s population);
• Overall number of attendees (8.000); 3200 students visited the event;
Activities during the Night Work Package 2
Location 2019: Nicosia, Conference Centre FILOXENIA;
Main idea: Raise awareness on the human revolution in science and the impact on our civilisation - the Human Era;
Theme: 2019: The Human Era was celebrated through the scientific progress that humankind has achieved in the Life Sciences field. Other activities representing all scientific fields were also included in the programme as sub-themes.
Methodology: Spring Event (pre-event); Side Events; Main Event
- Hands on experiments activities
- STEM activities
- Art and science activities
- Games
-Interactive talks
-Science Theatre
- Competitions
- Award Ceremonies
- Music Entertainment
- Science Theatre
- Social Responsivity Activity
- Scientific Cocktail Reception and Meet and Greet
- EU-Corner
- Impact assessment
Overview of the results:
- Spring Pre-event and side events;
- Central theme: life science research with other sectors also represented to ensure multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity;
- Main event: Balanced mix of 90 activities combining entertainment and science (edutainment), and addressing the public at large in all its components; A dedicated kid’s zone with stem activities, robotics, recycling materials activities and science theatre; Social Responsibility activity
- Involvement of all major stakeholders in the Cypriot R&I System with a strengthened participation from SMEs and civil society organisations. Over 40 institutions participated at the main event; More than 600 researchers from all the main research organisations of Cyprus, all scientific disciplines and all stages of the career path, of whom: 30 having benefited from MSCA schemes;
- 34 H2020 funded projects participated in the Night by presenting their results to the general public;
- Policy makers were invited and came at the main event to highlight the importance of funded research for the economy and the society in general;
- Collaboration with the Ministry of Education to bring as many young people as possible to the main event. Overall, 3200 students visited the event;
- Involvement of at least 60 volunteers from the RIF and other partner organisations;
- Estimated 8.000 visitors;
Impact Assessment Work Package 3
Quantitative data: Number of attendees; Personal information; Information on the event; Number of hits on the relevant website; Number of friends and followers on social networks; Number of promotional items displayed; Media coverage;
Qualitative data: Opinion of participants on researchers and their job; Interest of participants in science, research and science careers; Intention of participants to attend similar events in the future; Involvement of researchers funded by Horizon 2020, including MSCA in the activities of the NIGHT; Comparison of opinions with past events;
Sample: The questionnaire was completed by 590 participants (approximate 7,4% of the total participants) from all age groups.
Overview of the results: The main conclusion to be drawn from the impact assessment performed during the event is that the event is an established convention in Cyprus, welcomed by the wider public and well appreciated by the participants. The responses collected represent a very satisfactory sample of overall participation and perceptions by including participants from both genders and all age groups, with increased participation of young people (students, researchers as well as young professionals) in line with the central target group and overall objective of the event.
- Increase in the awareness of the importance of research and innovation
- More favourable general attitude towards its funding
- Better understanding of the key benefits that research brings to society
-Reduction in the stereotypes about researchers and increase of people taking up research careers
- Increase of people taking up research careers
- Create a better understanding of the EU among the general public
- More favourable general attitude towards its funding
- Better understanding of the key benefits that research brings to society
-Reduction in the stereotypes about researchers and increase of people taking up research careers
- Increase of people taking up research careers
- Create a better understanding of the EU among the general public