Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SCICITY (Science in the City)
Reporting period: 2019-03-01 to 2019-12-31
This project used the motto ‘science in the city’ (SCICITY) to achieve two overall objectives: (i) raise citizens’ awareness, particularly young people, towards innovation and research being conducted in Europe to face the impact of global changes and preserve natural and cultural heritage; and (ii) bring researchers closer to urban communities, enabling them to express their concerns and expectations about research and science. The SCICITY project included the sub-theme ‘Cultural Heritage Preservation’ to highlight adaptation measures facing global changes in urban communities, while promoting the relevance of science and research to assure quality of life in the future. From March 2019 to December 2019 SCICITY continued to involve large segments of the scientific community in public engagement and science communication/awareness activities during the ERN and build-up activities, targeting all age groups, with special focus on young people, encouraging them to choose scientific careers. Joining results of the previous period, the SCICITY project involved a total of 2087 researchers, 14 610 attendees in activities and 6892 students, from North to South of Portugal in Braga, Lisbon, Évora and also in Coimbra and Monsaraz.
Awareness campaign Work Package 1:
Main targets, communication tools, promotional materials and messages to be conveyed are in line with the proposal (Annex I) and detailed in the full Technical Report (Part B). All announcements and promotional materials included the mention "European Researchers' Night". The graphic identity reflected the goals and concerns of the project and was used for producing different online and offline promotional materials for all venues, taking into account environmental sustainability.
A diversity of online communication channels was used to reach the project main targets: the project website and social media profiles (Facebook and Instagram). There is a progressive growth in the number of followers of social networks from May 2018 to December 2019 (37% more followers of Facebook). Other channels of communication have also been used: promotional video, printed advertising, newsletters, interaction with radio, TV and newspapers. For detailed results and metrics, please see Full Technical Report (Part B).
Activities during the Night Work Package 2:
Build-up activities - from March to September seventeen build-up activities were organised in Lisboa (including Estoril), Braga, and Évora (including a big event in April 2019 at the city's Museum to showcase and promote the main event). For the complete list of activities please see Full Technical Report (Part B).
Preceding the Main Event, the partner FCT UNOVA (Lisbon) developed actions designed to engage school students. The number of students that participated in such activities was 5972 and about 128 researchers collaborated for their organization.
Main Event:
The SCICITY Main Event took place in Lisbon, Braga, Évora and the associated cities Monsaraz and Coimbra.
Lisbon: the National Museum of Natural History and Science and the Príncipe Real Garden offered a series of 118 activities (around 600 researchers involved). A total of 49 volunteers (39 female) collaborated with the delivery of activities: their dinner was provided by ESHTE promoting the Mediterranean diet and food security.
Braga: 39 activities were developed (involving around 230 researchers). A total of 60 volunteers helped during the night (45 female).
Évora: 36 activities were developed (involving around 105 researchers). A total of 21 volunteers helped during the night (15 female).
Associated cities: Coimbra offered 8 activities during the Night (around 230 researchers) and Monsaraz offeres 5 activities (5 researchers).
The EU-corner was present in a frequented area in Lisbon and Braga, 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-supported in the area considered, interactive activities and testimonials/activities conducted by researchers funded by the EU, in particular, MSCA.
The Night outcomes:
Overall number of attendees to ERN2019: 7694 participants.
Total number of researchers involved in the activities organised: 1171 researchers.
Impact Assessment Work Package 3:
In the ERN 2019 main event 787 questionnaires were collected from which 687 were validated (visitors over 15 years old). The number of validated questionnaires is around 9,5% of the estimated number of visitors. Please consult full Technical Report (Part B) to confirm very positive results on quantitative and qualitative indicators, paper questionnaires and online surveys to institutions and researchers for Lisbon, Braga e Coimbra and for results on the activities “Draw a Scientist”, the poll “Has scientific research been contributing to the development of Portugal?” and the Graffiti Wall - “Throw a challenge to be solved by science until 2050”. Highlight results are given next to link with potential impacts.
Overview of the results and their exploitation and dissemination:
In this period, the SCICITY project involved 1171 researchers in activities to engage 7694 attendees and 5972 school students in Braga, Lisbon, Évora and also in Coimbra and Monsaraz. The results obtained are extremely positive since they show an increase in the number of researchers involved and in the number of attendees, when compared with ERN18 (more 27.8% researchers and 11.2% visitors).
However, the best results associated to this period are related to the large participation of school students in the events previous to the Night and to the success of the ERN in Évora (600 attendees).
Main targets, communication tools, promotional materials and messages to be conveyed are in line with the proposal (Annex I) and detailed in the full Technical Report (Part B). All announcements and promotional materials included the mention "European Researchers' Night". The graphic identity reflected the goals and concerns of the project and was used for producing different online and offline promotional materials for all venues, taking into account environmental sustainability.
A diversity of online communication channels was used to reach the project main targets: the project website and social media profiles (Facebook and Instagram). There is a progressive growth in the number of followers of social networks from May 2018 to December 2019 (37% more followers of Facebook). Other channels of communication have also been used: promotional video, printed advertising, newsletters, interaction with radio, TV and newspapers. For detailed results and metrics, please see Full Technical Report (Part B).
Activities during the Night Work Package 2:
Build-up activities - from March to September seventeen build-up activities were organised in Lisboa (including Estoril), Braga, and Évora (including a big event in April 2019 at the city's Museum to showcase and promote the main event). For the complete list of activities please see Full Technical Report (Part B).
Preceding the Main Event, the partner FCT UNOVA (Lisbon) developed actions designed to engage school students. The number of students that participated in such activities was 5972 and about 128 researchers collaborated for their organization.
Main Event:
The SCICITY Main Event took place in Lisbon, Braga, Évora and the associated cities Monsaraz and Coimbra.
Lisbon: the National Museum of Natural History and Science and the Príncipe Real Garden offered a series of 118 activities (around 600 researchers involved). A total of 49 volunteers (39 female) collaborated with the delivery of activities: their dinner was provided by ESHTE promoting the Mediterranean diet and food security.
Braga: 39 activities were developed (involving around 230 researchers). A total of 60 volunteers helped during the night (45 female).
Évora: 36 activities were developed (involving around 105 researchers). A total of 21 volunteers helped during the night (15 female).
Associated cities: Coimbra offered 8 activities during the Night (around 230 researchers) and Monsaraz offeres 5 activities (5 researchers).
The EU-corner was present in a frequented area in Lisbon and Braga, 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-supported in the area considered, interactive activities and testimonials/activities conducted by researchers funded by the EU, in particular, MSCA.
The Night outcomes:
Overall number of attendees to ERN2019: 7694 participants.
Total number of researchers involved in the activities organised: 1171 researchers.
Impact Assessment Work Package 3:
In the ERN 2019 main event 787 questionnaires were collected from which 687 were validated (visitors over 15 years old). The number of validated questionnaires is around 9,5% of the estimated number of visitors. Please consult full Technical Report (Part B) to confirm very positive results on quantitative and qualitative indicators, paper questionnaires and online surveys to institutions and researchers for Lisbon, Braga e Coimbra and for results on the activities “Draw a Scientist”, the poll “Has scientific research been contributing to the development of Portugal?” and the Graffiti Wall - “Throw a challenge to be solved by science until 2050”. Highlight results are given next to link with potential impacts.
Overview of the results and their exploitation and dissemination:
In this period, the SCICITY project involved 1171 researchers in activities to engage 7694 attendees and 5972 school students in Braga, Lisbon, Évora and also in Coimbra and Monsaraz. The results obtained are extremely positive since they show an increase in the number of researchers involved and in the number of attendees, when compared with ERN18 (more 27.8% researchers and 11.2% visitors).
However, the best results associated to this period are related to the large participation of school students in the events previous to the Night and to the success of the ERN in Évora (600 attendees).
The consortium worked to develop a joint communication to celebrate women in science (8th of March 2019) and for a showcase event in Évora on the 11th April 2019. The ERN 2019 was additionally unveiled in Coimbra and Monsaraz. After the Main Event, some follow-up activities and resources were developed to disseminate the project's results and promote its goals, incluing the framework developed for ERN 2019. The SCICITY project exceeded the objective of engaging the youngsters with science and the ERN.
The ERN2019 impact assessment results highlight:
• The ERN is getting into the Portuguese’s agenda, attracting all age groups, but especially young people; among adults, most are highly qualified people, female slightly higher than male.
• The event attracts newcomers (around 68,2%); most people come with friends and family.
• The large majority of atendees consider that they had fun, learned, gained interest in science, felt closer to researchers and had a very positive image of science careers and researchers.
• Nevertheless, the "draw a scientist" ativity still reveals the persistence of stereotyped images of the scientists.
• The challenges that the public poses for science to solve in the coming years put concerns about the environment in the the lead, surpassing health concerns.
• Institutions and researchers are committed to engage the public: the majority express high levels of satisfaction with the event, intending to participate in future editions.
The ERN2019 impact assessment results highlight:
• The ERN is getting into the Portuguese’s agenda, attracting all age groups, but especially young people; among adults, most are highly qualified people, female slightly higher than male.
• The event attracts newcomers (around 68,2%); most people come with friends and family.
• The large majority of atendees consider that they had fun, learned, gained interest in science, felt closer to researchers and had a very positive image of science careers and researchers.
• Nevertheless, the "draw a scientist" ativity still reveals the persistence of stereotyped images of the scientists.
• The challenges that the public poses for science to solve in the coming years put concerns about the environment in the the lead, surpassing health concerns.
• Institutions and researchers are committed to engage the public: the majority express high levels of satisfaction with the event, intending to participate in future editions.