United Europe – United Science – United Culture – United Night

Project Information

UNIGHTED

Grant agreement ID: 818464

DOI

10.3030/818464

Project closed

EC signature date 26 June 2018

Start date 1 June 2018

End date 31 December 2019

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 150 500,00

EU contribution

€ 143 500,00

Coordinated by

POLITECHNIKA POZNANSKA
Poland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - UNIGHTED (United Europe – United Science – United Culture – United Night)

Reporting period: 2019-04-01 to 2019-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Researchers’ Night (RN), organised already twelve times in Poznań, has become during the years highly recognisable autumn event for both public at large not only in Poznań, but also in the Wielkopolska region. The assessment of impact of previous RN editions continuously shows a positive change of the public perception of researchers, as well as improved mutual understanding between researchers and public. The event also indirectly results in increasing interest in choosing scientific careers by young people. Moreover, activities during the Night contribute to demystifying existing stereotypes by stating that researchers are just ordinary people, having extraordinary job, but also families, friends, hobbies, etc. The UNIGHTED project aims at strengthening efforts to bringing researchers closer to the public at large, increase the awareness of research and innovation, by supporting the public recognition of researchers and their job, clearly showing the impact of researchers’ work on society’ daily life and well-being of the European citizens. It also aims at encouraging young people especially about making a career choice to embark on scientific careers. As a result of the project, the perception of researchers as ordinary people willing to share their passion for research with the public at large, will increase among the society, being in accordance with the European motto of the event: Researchers are amongst us.
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

"WP 1: Main target: Public at large regardless of age and scientific background, namely all inhabitants of Greater Poland (not only Poznań and its surroundings);Special attention to be paid to children and young people, especially about making a career choice;
Overview of the results:Honorary patronage of president of Poznan, Jacek Jaśkowiak, Polish Academy of
Sciences, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Ministry of National Education, Marshall Office of the Wielkopolska Region;
Gazeta Wyborcza is the official media “supporter”;AMS became the official media patronage of the event;About 79 numbers of publication about RN 2019 (written press, internet, radio, etc.)
-2 pre-evetns: during this year`s event “Salon Maturzystów 2019” for High School Graduate on 23– 24th of September 2019, event took place at Poznan University of Technology permises and at Poznań Energy Day – family picnic on Sepmtember, 14, 2019; Internet portals patronage: POZnan City (www.poznan.pl)
Revamping, constant updating and maintenance of project website: www.poznan.nocnaukowcow.pl;Numbers of views of site: 131 772; 32 321 unique users;Revamping and constant updating of social network profiles 7.753 registered “like it” on Facebook and the number of observers 7.829 ;Posting of electronic banners on www.poznan.pl www.put.poznan.pl amu.edu.pl puls.edu.pl www.man.poznan.pl www.awf.poznan.pl www.poznan.gazeta.pl www.nauka.gov.pl ;Production and display of promotional give away such as T-shirts, fluorescent sticks, buttons with RN logo, Bookmarks-calendars, penlight key rings with logo…;Estimated 2,2 million people made aware of the European Researchers Night and its objectives.
WP 2: General statistics: Estimated number of visitors (including all 6 locations in Poznan, 48 buildings):60.000; Number of workshops, shows and demonstrations: 402; Duration of the event:12;Number of researchers:1494; Number of other than researchers in workforce: 1296; Numbers of researchers supported by UE (MSC Actions: 52, other than MSCA: 29); Common features to all locations: Training courses for researchers: how to explain difficult topics in simple language, presenting science topics and sometimes complicated issues in an accessible and friendly way, workshops addressing researchers from all participating instituions; Common theme: ""UNITED EUROPE – UNITED SCIENCE – UNITED CULTURE”; Types of activities: hands-on experiments, demos, simulations, science shows, games, competitions, contests, exhibitions, presentation of prototypes, quizzes, guided tours, lab visits, speed dating, crime investigation, orienteering, display of films."

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)

Overview of the results:
sample of 1130 questionnaires (survey form filled in by respondents 15 core questions and 4 demographic questions) survey conducted by volunteers at the following partner institutions: PUT, PNCS, PULS, AMU,and PUEB;Typology of visitors: 62% female and 38% male respondents; 83% respondent were residents of Wielkopolska Province, 4% were from other provinces while 13% of the respondents did not specify their residency. The largest group came from the city of Poznan (39% of the respondents). The most numerous age group was below 13 years (43%) and14-18 years old (37%). The mean age of a visitor was 17,7 years.
Information about event: sources of information: teachers 38,5 %, friends 27,4 %, Internet 26,2 %, mass media 14,1%)
Increase interest in science: 69% of the respondents declared that their participation led to increased interest in science and research and almost 83% of them stated that such actions were needed
Overall appreciation of the event was high with the average at 4,53 out of 5 points.
Possible improvements: Increasing the number of experiments and workshops etc.;Increasing the number of events without tickets,
Increasing the number of available tickets;Improvement of the registration system to facilitate obtaining of the tickets,
More dates available;More gifts and sweets;Introducing events for adult people;More information about the RN in the mass media;Longer timeframe of the RN so that the events do not overlap

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Activies during the night

Awerness campaing

Activies during the night