European Researchers' Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2020

Project Information

RiNG-20

Grant agreement ID: 955424

DOI

10.3030/955424

Project closed

EC signature date 13 June 2020

Start date 1 July 2020

End date 28 February 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 129 000,00

EU contribution

€ 106 600,00

Coordinated by

TIDEA DOO BANJA LUKA
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RiNG-20 (European Researchers' Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2020)

Reporting period: 2020-07-01 to 2021-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

2020 edition of the European Researchers’ Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina (RiNG) has celebrated science under slogan “Discover Hidden Treasures” while putting a strong focus on the hidden talents of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This year RiNG created an extensive programme of online activities, aiming to bring researchers closer to the general public and to shape deeper connection between research, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Overall Objectives
To bring researchers closer to the general public and to shape deeper connection between research and entrepreneurship, through an increased awareness of research and innovation potentials in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
To enhance researchers’ public recognition;
To increase awareness about research results, especially regarding the daily lives of citizens;
To stimulate interest in research careers, in particular amongst young people facing a career choice.

Specific Objectives
The project also pursued some more specific objectives, namely:
To increase awareness about science and research in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
To forge the connection between science and entrepreneurship;
To illustrate the fun and fascinating aspects of research;
To stress the societal importance of research including for citizens’ daily lives and well-being;
To point out the importance of European support in favour of researchers and research and stressing the importance of European and international cooperation in research.

Quantitative objectives
RiNG-20 quantitative targets are:
- Number of people to be reached through awareness raising campaign in BiH: 1,000,000;
- Expected number of direct attendees to organized events in whole BiH: 26,000.

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

The European Researchers’ Night BiH 2020 was organized by Tidea Ltd as main coordinator and event organizer with key supporting partners HEIS and BALKANFILM and external supporters, such as EU Info Centre in BiH, association Mali Princ and Poliglota Insitute in Brčko, Faculty for Production and Management in Trebinje, majority of museums and universities in the country. Due to coronavirus pandemic, all events were held online and included researchers from 14 cities in BiH as well as several international and diaspora scientists. RiNG20 live content was viewed by 34,335 attendees who enjoyed offering of 47 edutainment activities throughout the extended programme of this event.

- Number of activities organized: 47, out of which 21 during the main online event, 10 online science talks / panels, 5 competitions (high school science project, artwork competition, best video at Science Fair, 3MT competition for PhD students, and online Treasure Hunt), 5 RiNG content streams (RiNGeraja episodes, #BrainDate video interviews, science fair videos, European Robotics Week activities, on-demand RiNG videos on Youtube), 5 quizzes and workshops, and EU corner.

- Venues/locations for RiNG activities: online live stream (Facebook), on-demand videos (Youtube), in-person sites for limited number of participants (e.g. workshops with children, video recordings of laboratories and museum premises).

- Number of cities involved in BiH: 14, attending researchers were from: Banja Luka, Brčko, Goražde, Gračanica, Istočno Sarajevo, Jajce, Konjic, Mostar, Sarajevo, Šipovo, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla, Zvornik

- Direct attendance at live online events: 34,335. Additionally, on-demand content on Youtube gathered 68,458 views while High School and Artwork Competitions gathered 127.182 and 26.093 public votes respectively.

- Most successful activities were ones which targeted children and high school students, e.g. artwork competition, high school competition, children workshops.

- EU corner activities have gathered 9,700 views and reached 973,000 people audience on social networks of RiNG and EU Info Centre.

- 404 people involved with RiNG20 implementation, out of which 218 researchers: 148 in main RiNG activities, out of which 6 were MSCA Fellows, and 70 through 3MT competition for PhD students.

- Number of people to be reached through awareness raising campaign in BiH: 1,500,00.

Due to coronavirus pandemic, all RiNG activities had to be moved online. However, first online edition of RING has been very successful and overachieved set goals. Overall, the awareness raising campaign reached at least 1,500,000 people all over Bosnia and Herzegovina (planned: 1,000,000) and brought over 34,335 viewers to the event (planned: 26,000).

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)

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 2020. 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.

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.

RiNG20 event banner