Safe with Science

Project Information

SAWE

Grant agreement ID: 818968

DOI

10.3030/818968

Project closed

EC signature date 9 July 2018

Start date 1 May 2018

End date 31 December 2019

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 157 819,75

EU contribution

€ 157 819,75

Coordinated by

UNIVERZA V MARIBORU
Slovenia

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SAWE (Safe with Science)

Reporting period: 2019-03-01 to 2019-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

"Sawe 2018-2019 activities brought closer to the public, especially to a youngster, also the human face of scientists with the sense for humour and fun.

Objectives:
Make as many people as possible aware of the European Researchers' Night and its objectives.
Attract as large as a possible number of the participating organisation to the events organised.
Offering all the categories of the public at large, regardless of age and scientific background, as broad as possible a range of activities.
Directly and actively involving both researchers and the audience.
Combining in a balanced way entertainment and ""education to science through researchers"".
Contributing to enhancing the public recognition and appraisal of researchers and their work.

To achieve objectives above, we implemented an awareness campaign with pre-events and public call for (pre)schoolchildren. On the last Sept. Fridays, ERN was organized with renewed yearly programs in the festive and fun atmosphere. Sawe program activities aimed at offering the public at large especially the young an opportunity to cooperate and socialize with researchers in a relaxed atmosphere. They included experiments, presentations, astronomy observations, workshops, researchers’ rock bands performed by researchers and students. Sawe ERN events took place in Ljutomer, Maribor, Brežice, Koper and Izola. The »EU corners« were in the heart of every ERN location. MSCA fellows' witnessing contributed to present how the EU cares about its researchers. Finally, yet importantly, the impact assessment included pre-study, research prior to, during and after main events. With this study, we were able to conclude that the participants of the event were very satisfied with the content of the ERN event, it incited interest in science and recognition of career opportunities, the majority expressed interest in the scientific work results, their intentions to attend future ERN events, while the vast majority of respondents would choose the profession of a researcher."

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

"Awareness campaign 2018-2019
o The yearly national press conference (Slovenian’s ERN consortiums).
o Conception, production and display of promotional material, participation with ERN poster exhibition in BiH, the publication of 119 articles (gathered in press clipping reports), direct e-mailing to kindergartens, primary and secondary schools.
o Conception, production and airing of promotional video (prior and after the main ERN events) radio spots, public advertising, announcements, interviews (airing in various TV, radio stations), TV media cooperation by filming the invitations to participation on the public call “Researcher – the Guardian of the Language”.
o Filming and airing special TV reportage about MSCA ITN - the regional unit of national TV.
o Organisation and implementation of pre-events for specific target groups.
o Maintenance of the project’s website in Slovene and English language (linked with EU website) an Twitter, Facebook.
o Conception, production and display of promotional video through social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, partners’ websites),
o National reward public calls (2018, 2019)- 216 competitive products were gathered, exhibited during the ERN reward ceremony.
o Estimated 1, 5 million people made aware of the European Researchers’ night and its objectives.

Activities during the ERN - Locations: City of Maribor, Brežice, Koper Capodistria, Izola, Ljutomer.
EU Corners Located in a frequented area in each of the cities involved offering: the European flag, connections to all relevant EU websites (list to be provided by REA), a demonstration about at least one local research project EU per year-supported in the area considered, interactive activities, the permanent presence of personnel likely to answer public questions about EU policies and programmes, and promoting the European role in research and innovation, testimonials/activities conducted by researchers funded by the EU, MSCA fellows.

Overview of the results:
- The offer of the activities as planned, including Hands-on activities; Workshops; Quizzes; Lectures; Stargazing; EU corners…
- Active involvement of researchers:
- 132 in 2019, of whom 6 having benefitted from MSCA schemes; 5 having benefitted from another EU support (FP 7 or HORIZON 2020).
- 119 in 2018, of whom 3 having benefitted from MSCA schemes; 6 having benefitted from another EU support.
- Attendance of up to 12.500 visitors per year.

Impact Assessment
Tasks included pre-study and research before, during and after events using a paper-pencil method, review of past work and preparation activities. Pre-study includes analysis of research methodology and questionnaires used so far, serving as the basis of the necessary amendments, conception, pilot testing and verification or modification of research methodology and questionnaires used. Field survey revealing public opinion is conducted in person, paper and pencil questionnaires are conducted by trained interviewers with random selection in the venues involved before, during and after the event, and based on 994 feedbacks aimed at assessing both the public opinion about researchers and science in Slovenia and their satisfaction after having taken part in the events. One is dedicated to the image of the researchers implemented before and during/after the ERN event, a second one is focused on ERN visitors' satisfaction survey. It’s related to perception view, image of researchers and their job, image of science and its potential impact on citizens' daily lives, interest expressed by young people for career in sciences, opinion on policies in the research field, evaluation of researchers, evaluation of the characteristics of ""actual researchers"" vs. characteristics of ""desired researchers"". During the ERN event, an additional questionnaire is used on the visitor’s satisfaction with ERN and willingness to take part in the next ERN."

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)

In average, the assessment of the image of researchers by the survey participants in 2019 improved compared to ERN2018 research.
oThe respondents perceive Slovenian researchers as very useful for society (58 %), future-oriented (63,6 %), responsible (51,2 %) and diligent (54,5 %).
o More than 75% of respondents agree with the statement that science will make everyday life easier. Two-thirds of Slovenian respondents agree with the statement that science has such an important part in their lives that they should all be part of it.
o Respondents estimate that science in Slovenia contributes to the development of Slovenia (50,1 %); is useful for society (47,1 %), and for the everyday life of citizens and future-oriented. Although more than one-third of respondents believe that it is a poorly paid profession and do not have an important impact on politics.
o Increase of people taking up research careers: It can be concluded that the profession of a researcher is perceived as attractive because it represents a very good choice for one-third of the respondents, and the profession itself is interesting for almost 80 % of the respondents. In 2018, 65%, answered affirmatively, which indicates that the profession of a researcher in Slovenia is an attractive choice.
o Science communication: In 2019 85 % of respondents would participate in future ERN (47 % in 2018).

Dyes from plants in everyday life

Experiment with electricity

Experiments in criminology - Papillary lines