Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SuperScienceMe (SuperScienceMe: REsearch is your R-Evolution - European Researchers' Night)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-07-01 bis 2021-04-30
SuperScienceMe involves the entire Calabrian and Lucania territories: 4 universities, 8 local Institutions of the National Research Council, and Calabria Region. The activities are based on the successful format of the Unical Researchers' Nights previous editions extended to the regional and extra-regional territory, involving Calabrian and Lucania research/innovation systems.
The claim “Research is your R-Evolution” showed the milestones of humankind evolution obtained by research results to introduce evolutionary concepts and to think about the broader evolutionary implications (without science we would still live in caves; science is responsible for progress, for preserving more lives, improving living conditions, etc.).
Since 2014, the format has been based on the high involvement of local stakeholders and the general public (family, pupils, high school and universities students, researchers, policymakers) to bring research in several environments (schools, hospitals, social associations for migrants’ inclusion, penitentiary institutes).
The overall objectives are:
• to create bridges between researchers and the general public. SuperScienceMe will virtually open the doors of the laboratories to visitors, children, young people, and adults who will become "researchers for a day".
• to promote the understanding that research goes beyond social and/or territorial boundaries;
• to inspire all school students to embrace research career;
• to strengthen the visibility of the activities of Calabrian researchers involved in projects deriving from the opportunities offered by the European Commission (i.e. Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions).
Main conclusions:
"EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS NIGHT is an exciting opportunity to exchange experiences" (students' opinion); "It is an inspiration to make people more aware of what has been done and what could be done! "(researchers' opinion) and "It is essential to show the contribution of the European Union in financing research results" (opinion of the general public).
The claim “Research is your R-Evolution” showed the milestones of humankind evolution obtained by research results to introduce evolutionary concepts and to think about the broader evolutionary implications (without science we would still live in caves; science is responsible for progress, for preserving more lives, improving living conditions, etc.).
Since 2014, the format has been based on the high involvement of local stakeholders and the general public (family, pupils, high school and universities students, researchers, policymakers) to bring research in several environments (schools, hospitals, social associations for migrants’ inclusion, penitentiary institutes).
The overall objectives are:
• to create bridges between researchers and the general public. SuperScienceMe will virtually open the doors of the laboratories to visitors, children, young people, and adults who will become "researchers for a day".
• to promote the understanding that research goes beyond social and/or territorial boundaries;
• to inspire all school students to embrace research career;
• to strengthen the visibility of the activities of Calabrian researchers involved in projects deriving from the opportunities offered by the European Commission (i.e. Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions).
Main conclusions:
"EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS NIGHT is an exciting opportunity to exchange experiences" (students' opinion); "It is an inspiration to make people more aware of what has been done and what could be done! "(researchers' opinion) and "It is essential to show the contribution of the European Union in financing research results" (opinion of the general public).
"Awareness campaign” main results:
Communication tools used:
Promotional materials:
• online (banners, advertisements, websites, posters and playbills, links to relevant EU websites and social networks);
• offline (roll-ups, programs, posters, t-shirts and sweatshirts, pen cases, coloured pencils, diaries, masks, gadgets, scientific kits, gadget kits for migrants).
Promotional activities during and after the NIGHT:
• 1 promotional video of pre-event activities;
• Press office;
• "SuperScienceMe Live" promotion on social networks;
• Promotion of videos, photos, and interviews with researchers and visitors, during "SuperScienceMe Live"
• Pre-event “Calabria-Basilicata coast-to-coast”: the journey with the SuperScienceMe branded electric car, with stops at strategic points in the two regions to inform the general public about the Researchers' Night event. The journey resulted in a video that was disseminated through the communication channels of the project (from October 11th, 2020 to November 9th, 2020).
"Activity during the Night" main results:
• Researchers involved in NIGHT’s activities: 545;
• Experiencing research: n. 217 laboratory’s experiences and demonstrations (189 (2018 ed), 219 (2019 ed);
• Thematic Corners: 5 Thematic Corners showing research and innovation results and dissemination of EU project results;
• Social inclusion: 3 sub-activities dedicated to hospitalized children, immigrants, and prisoners. N.180 scientific kits distributed to disadvantage people of Pediatrics Department of Cosenza’s Civil Hospital, penal institution of Rossano (CS) Prison, cultural and social associations of Lamezia Terme (FISH), Cosenza (SIPROIMI and Cooperativa la Terra) and Potenza (INSIEME);
• Imagine the research: photo/video thematic contest;
• Research without barriers: NIGHT becomes more inclusive by entering the homes of deaf people. All activities were translated into Italian Sign Language (LIS) by a team of professional interpreters;
• Recreational cultural program: n. 1 Science Show organized, with the participation of several artists where researchers challenge each other with pitches.
"Impact assessment" main results:
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe, the event has been entirely digital. A platform (www.superscienceme.eu) was set up as a large research showcase, activities were divided by age (family, youth, and children) and themes, and a live broadcast and recorded workshops/experiments were organized.
Main results of the project:
• 9,366 users, and 63.797 hits (Google analytics, 27 November 2020);
• 582 anonymous questionnaires (online) for students, general public, and academic community;
• 545 researchers involved in NIGHT’s activities;
• 165 interviews to acquire opinion on Researchers’ NIGHT;
• 5 Independent Observer and 43 opinions on the activities of the NIGHT;
• 5,372 followers (Facebook page) and 34,331 people reached and 275,831 visualizations;
• The Gender analysis showed that the main trend was of female posts (41% men, 59% women).
Communication tools used:
Promotional materials:
• online (banners, advertisements, websites, posters and playbills, links to relevant EU websites and social networks);
• offline (roll-ups, programs, posters, t-shirts and sweatshirts, pen cases, coloured pencils, diaries, masks, gadgets, scientific kits, gadget kits for migrants).
Promotional activities during and after the NIGHT:
• 1 promotional video of pre-event activities;
• Press office;
• "SuperScienceMe Live" promotion on social networks;
• Promotion of videos, photos, and interviews with researchers and visitors, during "SuperScienceMe Live"
• Pre-event “Calabria-Basilicata coast-to-coast”: the journey with the SuperScienceMe branded electric car, with stops at strategic points in the two regions to inform the general public about the Researchers' Night event. The journey resulted in a video that was disseminated through the communication channels of the project (from October 11th, 2020 to November 9th, 2020).
"Activity during the Night" main results:
• Researchers involved in NIGHT’s activities: 545;
• Experiencing research: n. 217 laboratory’s experiences and demonstrations (189 (2018 ed), 219 (2019 ed);
• Thematic Corners: 5 Thematic Corners showing research and innovation results and dissemination of EU project results;
• Social inclusion: 3 sub-activities dedicated to hospitalized children, immigrants, and prisoners. N.180 scientific kits distributed to disadvantage people of Pediatrics Department of Cosenza’s Civil Hospital, penal institution of Rossano (CS) Prison, cultural and social associations of Lamezia Terme (FISH), Cosenza (SIPROIMI and Cooperativa la Terra) and Potenza (INSIEME);
• Imagine the research: photo/video thematic contest;
• Research without barriers: NIGHT becomes more inclusive by entering the homes of deaf people. All activities were translated into Italian Sign Language (LIS) by a team of professional interpreters;
• Recreational cultural program: n. 1 Science Show organized, with the participation of several artists where researchers challenge each other with pitches.
"Impact assessment" main results:
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe, the event has been entirely digital. A platform (www.superscienceme.eu) was set up as a large research showcase, activities were divided by age (family, youth, and children) and themes, and a live broadcast and recorded workshops/experiments were organized.
Main results of the project:
• 9,366 users, and 63.797 hits (Google analytics, 27 November 2020);
• 582 anonymous questionnaires (online) for students, general public, and academic community;
• 545 researchers involved in NIGHT’s activities;
• 165 interviews to acquire opinion on Researchers’ NIGHT;
• 5 Independent Observer and 43 opinions on the activities of the NIGHT;
• 5,372 followers (Facebook page) and 34,331 people reached and 275,831 visualizations;
• The Gender analysis showed that the main trend was of female posts (41% men, 59% women).
Based on the evaluation carried out in the 2018-2019 edition, the evaluation of the edition 2020 has been improved by identifying new tools to better accommodate children's opinion (vignettes and feedback card) and to improve quality of assessment (Independent Observers).
Furthermore, the edition 2020, realized in a total digital version by mean of a web platform (www.superscienceme.eu) and the social channels, has allowed to obtain an higher inclusion of disadvantage people, also thanks to the translation in signs language of all the activities carried out.
Furthermore, the edition 2020, realized in a total digital version by mean of a web platform (www.superscienceme.eu) and the social channels, has allowed to obtain an higher inclusion of disadvantage people, also thanks to the translation in signs language of all the activities carried out.