Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ReFocuS 3.0 (Road to Friday of Science 3.0)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-07-01 bis 2021-02-28
ReFocuS 3.0 (Road to Friday of Science Third edition) project aims to substantially raise public awareness about the importance and positive role of science for and in society by bringing the researchers into the focus of the general public. Using open to diversity as an overall theme, we presented the openness of science, sharing of knowledge and the concept “science is everywhere”. We wanted to make people aware that everybody can contribute to science. This future direction of the science, open science, cannot be achieved without combining and involving not just several academic disciplines, but also non-academia. The project relies on the diversity of all actors in the science networks: researchers of diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, citizens as a new type of researchers, diverse research topics important for the society and diverse institutions involved in science.
The project reached its objectives and proved to be successful. Reached objectives are:
Promote the diversity of ideas, knowledge and researchers as an imperative for the development of science and society;
Exemplify partnership of citizens and researchers on important topics of public interest;
Improve/increase the trust of visitors in science/scientists;
Explain the science by using popular formats such as workshops, quizzes, interactive experiments, debates, scientific popular films, competitions, art and science approach etc., instead of using the usual scientific articles;
Encourage a scientist to stand out and communicate science;
Break the existing stereotypes about the “awkward” scientist;
Break stereotypes that stand in the way of young people, especially girls taking careers in science;
Raise public awareness of the researchers’ contribution to general progress and development;
Promote and support networking and mobility of ideas among young people;
Highlight the importance of the EU support to researchers and scientific research in Serbia;
Encourage EU-funded researchers to contribute and interact as much as possible with visitors by displaying their projects and promoting the use of research and
Improve networking with other national/international projects involved in science popularization through mutual support of events and exchange of ideas, experiences and people.
Conclusion of the action
• The action reached the objectives pursued;
• Taking into account the main objectives of the action, several improvements might increase the event's impact in regards to future similar events;
• Organization of a larger number of science-related performances based on the made success;
The project reached its objectives and proved to be successful. Reached objectives are:
Promote the diversity of ideas, knowledge and researchers as an imperative for the development of science and society;
Exemplify partnership of citizens and researchers on important topics of public interest;
Improve/increase the trust of visitors in science/scientists;
Explain the science by using popular formats such as workshops, quizzes, interactive experiments, debates, scientific popular films, competitions, art and science approach etc., instead of using the usual scientific articles;
Encourage a scientist to stand out and communicate science;
Break the existing stereotypes about the “awkward” scientist;
Break stereotypes that stand in the way of young people, especially girls taking careers in science;
Raise public awareness of the researchers’ contribution to general progress and development;
Promote and support networking and mobility of ideas among young people;
Highlight the importance of the EU support to researchers and scientific research in Serbia;
Encourage EU-funded researchers to contribute and interact as much as possible with visitors by displaying their projects and promoting the use of research and
Improve networking with other national/international projects involved in science popularization through mutual support of events and exchange of ideas, experiences and people.
Conclusion of the action
• The action reached the objectives pursued;
• Taking into account the main objectives of the action, several improvements might increase the event's impact in regards to future similar events;
• Organization of a larger number of science-related performances based on the made success;
o Organization of a joint press conference with the other Serbian EU-funded project (November 3rd), (display of programme in each city, highlighting of the date and national coverage of the event), attended by journalists and the general public;
o More focus on the online campaign and online communication with visitors by partnering with more diverse media:
o Direct mailing to about 530 schools.
o Pre-events:
o National open lab days - 9 videos were prepared and released strategically each day of the week prior to the event.
o Activities during researcher’s Night week (from Monday, November 24th till Thursday November 27th) in 11 Science clubs included various activities dedicated mainly to the younger generation. Some of the activities targeted adults.
o Quizzes: we organised 5 quizzes, each in two versions corresponding to different age groups and level of knowledge (in total 10 quizzes). Quizzes were made by researchers on topics of their interest, either professional or private. ;
o Video series “Where science lives” of 4 video clips as a story about a family where brothers are scientifically challenged by cunning parents while on a mysterious journey. ;
o “Science in the city” activity is articulated around the AI/VI - custom made the mobile game that re-examines the relationship between man and artificial intelligence;
o Informal talks with researchers dedicated to climate change and biodiversity loss. The four researchers from the various fields, meteorologist, conservation biologist, agricultural field researcher and climate activist;
o Estimated 700.000 people in Serbia made aware of the European Researchers' Night and its objectives.
o Total of 410 activities was distributed among 12 different types of activities: hands-on experiments, demos, exhibition, workshops, science shows, quizzes, games, competitions, performances, virtual guided tours, informal talks with researchers and lectures;
o 22 activities as a part of the European corners;
o Activities addressing the audience aged 3 and above. The majority was targeting school kids, but some was addressing adults specifically such as quiz, virtual guided tours an informal talks with researchers;
o Active involvement of 809 participants out of which 343 are active researchers and 13 have benefited from Horizon2020 funding scheme;
o The overall number of attendees was estimated to the number of 56.146. The number was estimated by the number of views on the YouTube channels and the website. The numbers for each city are:
o 21.818 in Belgrade;
o 6.450 in Niš;
o 12.283 in Kragujevac;
o 567 in Inđija;
o 1.926 Smederevo;
o 2.932 Ranovac;
o 1.097 Kruševac;
o 323 Čačak;
o 1.360 Kladovo;
o 540 Knjaževac;
o 2.145 Leskovac;
o 746 Pirot;
o 1.738 Gornji Milanovac;
o 2.221 Pančevo.
The greatest risk to ReFocus 3.0 was as foreseen in risk management strategy Restriction for movement due to COVID situation and Restriction for organising events to COVID situation for all WPs. The solutions proposed in the risk management strategy were adequate, planned well in advance and implemented quickly. As proposed, activities in all WPs were focused on the online version of the ERN 2020. During the awareness campaign, 80% of activities were online, while 20% were onsite. During Night all activities, 100%, were online either prerecorded or live streamed without the audience.
o More focus on the online campaign and online communication with visitors by partnering with more diverse media:
o Direct mailing to about 530 schools.
o Pre-events:
o National open lab days - 9 videos were prepared and released strategically each day of the week prior to the event.
o Activities during researcher’s Night week (from Monday, November 24th till Thursday November 27th) in 11 Science clubs included various activities dedicated mainly to the younger generation. Some of the activities targeted adults.
o Quizzes: we organised 5 quizzes, each in two versions corresponding to different age groups and level of knowledge (in total 10 quizzes). Quizzes were made by researchers on topics of their interest, either professional or private. ;
o Video series “Where science lives” of 4 video clips as a story about a family where brothers are scientifically challenged by cunning parents while on a mysterious journey. ;
o “Science in the city” activity is articulated around the AI/VI - custom made the mobile game that re-examines the relationship between man and artificial intelligence;
o Informal talks with researchers dedicated to climate change and biodiversity loss. The four researchers from the various fields, meteorologist, conservation biologist, agricultural field researcher and climate activist;
o Estimated 700.000 people in Serbia made aware of the European Researchers' Night and its objectives.
o Total of 410 activities was distributed among 12 different types of activities: hands-on experiments, demos, exhibition, workshops, science shows, quizzes, games, competitions, performances, virtual guided tours, informal talks with researchers and lectures;
o 22 activities as a part of the European corners;
o Activities addressing the audience aged 3 and above. The majority was targeting school kids, but some was addressing adults specifically such as quiz, virtual guided tours an informal talks with researchers;
o Active involvement of 809 participants out of which 343 are active researchers and 13 have benefited from Horizon2020 funding scheme;
o The overall number of attendees was estimated to the number of 56.146. The number was estimated by the number of views on the YouTube channels and the website. The numbers for each city are:
o 21.818 in Belgrade;
o 6.450 in Niš;
o 12.283 in Kragujevac;
o 567 in Inđija;
o 1.926 Smederevo;
o 2.932 Ranovac;
o 1.097 Kruševac;
o 323 Čačak;
o 1.360 Kladovo;
o 540 Knjaževac;
o 2.145 Leskovac;
o 746 Pirot;
o 1.738 Gornji Milanovac;
o 2.221 Pančevo.
The greatest risk to ReFocus 3.0 was as foreseen in risk management strategy Restriction for movement due to COVID situation and Restriction for organising events to COVID situation for all WPs. The solutions proposed in the risk management strategy were adequate, planned well in advance and implemented quickly. As proposed, activities in all WPs were focused on the online version of the ERN 2020. During the awareness campaign, 80% of activities were online, while 20% were onsite. During Night all activities, 100%, were online either prerecorded or live streamed without the audience.
ReFocuS 3.0 had indeed a positive impact on the relationships between researchers' community and reputable cultural, educational, and EU institutions such as the French Institute in Belgrade and Niš, University library in Niš, the National Museum and EU Delegation Info Center. ReFocuS 3.0. edition continued the tradition of spreading scientific culture and strengthening scientific literacy in Serbia. Scientific Clubs in Belgrade, Niš, Kragujevac, Smederevo, Leskovac, Čačak, Knjaževac, Kruševac, Ranovac, and Gornji MIlanovac were a part of Night activities together with the Inđija and Pančevo.Researchers’ Night events in Pirot and Kladovo were organized for the first time. The audience emphasized the importance of organizing events like this in areas where the research community and institutions are scarce or non-existent, and where science promotion is limited to the enthusiastic schoolteachers and school clubs. The online event offered new perspectives to the ERN in Serbia. For the first time, the Night program in all cities was available to explore for all visitors from the comfort of the home. The greatest advantage of this year online event is the fact that the entire program is online for years to come, so the impact of European Researcher Nigth is not measured just by one day but has a long term impact.