European Researchers' Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018-2019

Project Information

RiNG-18-19

Grant agreement ID: 819023

DOI

10.3030/819023

Project closed

EC signature date 5 July 2018

Start date 1 June 2018

End date 30 November 2019

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 208 000,00

EU contribution

€ 172 200,00

Coordinated by

TIDEA DOO BANJA LUKA
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RiNG-18-19 (European Researchers' Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018-2019)

Reporting period: 2019-03-01 to 2019-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Main Objectives
The European Researchers' Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018-2019 (RiNG-18-19) aim is to bring researchers closer to the general public and to shape deeper connection between research, creativity and entrepreneurship. RiNG-18-19 will continue working to increase awareness of research and innovation potentials in BiH, support public recognition of researchers and promote achievements by local scientists and research-driven entrepreneurs, address research impact people’s daily life, and encourage young people to embark on research careers. Shortly, main objectives are:
Enhance researchers’ public recognition;
Increase awareness about research results, especially regarding the daily lives of citizens;
Stimulate interest in research careers, in particular amongst young people facing a career choice.

Specific Objectives
RiNG-18-19 slogan is “Let’s STEAM! We are all creators.” where STEAM refers to Arts in STEM, and is modified to highlight people in Science, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts and Makers. RiNG-18-19 is a Researchers’ Night of national character, involving coordinated actions in at least eight cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and incorporates cross-border aspect by involving researchers and research-driven business from the Balkan region as participants in RiNG activities. RiNG-18-19 specific objectives are:
- Increase awareness about science and research in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Forge the connection between science, art and entrepreneurship;
- Illustrate the fun and fascinating aspects of research;
- Stress the societal importance of research including for citizens’ daily lives and well-being;
- Highlight importance of Cultural Heritage as intersection between science, culture and arts;
- Point out the importance of European support in favour of researchers and research and stressing the importance of European and international cooperation in research.
To honour European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 RiNG will be expanding the current community of science, tech and entrepreneurship enthusiasts in Bosnia and Herzegovina by introducing art perspective and encouraging collaboration between STEM sector, museums and artists, with particular focus on the history, local traditions and ethnography.

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

Main indicators for RiNG 2019 awareness campaign are:
Number of people reached through the awareness raising campaign: over 1,500,000.
Number of supporting media organizations: 44.
Most efficient channels: appearances on radio and TV, printed material distribution (flyers, posters) for direct engagement with potential attendees, promotion through social media (Facebook page) and nocistrazivaca.ba website.
Press conferences: 2 main press conferences were organized in Sarajevo (24th September) and Banja Luka (24th September), one local conference for journalists in Bijeljina and one local conference in Brcko.

Main indicators for the event organization:
Number of activities organized: 147, out of which 27 in Banja Luka, 13 in Bijeljina, 19 in Brčko, 6 in Goražde, 5 in Konjic, 14 in Mostar, 37 in Sarajevo, 11 in Trebinje, 15 in Tuzla
Venues/locations for RiNG activities: 23 venues in 9 cities across BiH
Number of people attending activities: 28.700 out of which 7.850 in Banja Luka, 2.000 in Bijeljina, 2.000 in Brčko, 1.050 in Goražde, 850 in Konjic, 4.400 in Mostar, 7.850 in Sarajevo, 200 in Trebinje, 2.500 in Tuzla
The most successful activities are the ones that involve direct communication and interaction with researchers, in particular High School Competition, interactive workshops and other activities for children, hands-on experiment at Science and Innovation Fair, star gazing in various forms, and conversations with scientists
452 researchers involved in RiNG19: Banja Luka 63 (13.9%), Bijeljina 24 (5.4%), Brčko 3 (0.7%), Goražde 7 (1.6%), Konjic 18 (4.0%), Mostar 80 (17.7%), Sarajevo 199 (44.0%), Trebinje 20 (4.4%), Tuzla 30 (6.6%), Zenica 8 (1.7%), out of whom 64 having benefitted from EU support in the past and one MSCA Fellow;
Number of EU Corners: 9, one in each city involved

Impact Assessment indicators:
Number of questionnaires collected prior the event: 312
Number of questionnaires collected during/after the event: 248
Number of drawings collected: 210 drawings
Number of other artwork (literary, sculptures, etc) collected: 24 literature works


Event Assessment:
Most successful activities: High school competition for best science project; Interactive workshops and other activities for children; Star gazing in various forms: mobile planetarium, observation through telescopes; Conversations with scientists; Science achievements presentations;
Least successful activities: Science lectures.

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)

The Researchers’ Night event in Bosnia and Herzegovina is on steady development and growth, both in terms of cities and locations, as well regarding the content, which is being presented to visitors. Over the period, the event is growing in number of visitors, by gathering new ones and reclaiming those who come back. The event starts to receive general public recognition and wider support from other organizations, expanding the collaboration. The European Researchers’ Night in its seventh year in Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed itself a place as go-to event for science promotion in cities where the event already took place several times.

Increased awareness among the general public of the importance of research and innovation and more favourable general attitude towards its funding:
o At least 1,500,000 people were reached through the communication and dissemination actions in BiH in 2019. Extensive social networking and PR campaign to utilize local media were implemented.
o Additionally, local authorities were addressed via targeted communication actions to involve into policy-level R&D strategic development and impact general attitude towards research and innovation funding.

Better understanding of the key benefits that research brings to society:
o RiNG contributed to better understanding by the public of the role of researchers and the key benefits they bring to society development and impact on daily life, in particular related to its economic impact.

Reduction in the stereotypes about researchers and their profession:
o RiNG further improved researchers' public recognition in terms of changing the existing stereotypes about researchers and the profession in Bosnia and Herzegovina through targeted interventions in schools, science cafés, debates and other interactive RiNG activities.

Increase, in the long term, of people taking up research careers:
o RiNG provided career “market place” during the Night to increase awareness and attractiveness of career patch as researcher, in particular by the young people, stimulating choice for research careers in the long term.

In conclusion, RING 2019 had overall well-coordinated joint promotion campaign in whole Bosnia and Herzegovina, which over achieved set goals. Overall, the awareness raising campaign reached 1,500,000 people all over Bosnia and Herzegovina (planned: 500,000) and brought over 28,700 attendees to the event (planned: 21,000) in 9 cities (planned: 8).

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