Project description
Connecting rural citizens with science
Science communication remains essential for ensuring that citizens, including those in rural communities, can engage with research and understand its relevance to everyday life and societal challenges. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the TALK0 project aims to transform the rural municipality of Carballo into a European model for local science engagement. It will organise European Researchers’ Nights, school programmes, and innovative community-based activities in order to connect thousands of citizens with researchers. By combining local research themes, creative outreach formats, and long-term citizen participation structures, the project aims to democratise access to knowledge, inspire future STEM generations, and create a replicable model for science communication in rural areas across Europe.
Objective
"The TALK0 project ""Km0 Talent, connecting local science with the citizens of Carballo”, wants to turn this dynamic rural municipality of Galicia into a European model of scientific dissemination. During 2026-2028, it will connect science with more than 4,000 citizens through two editions of the European Researchers' Night (2026 and 2027), of the continuous program researchers in schools, which will reach 60% of students and activities in everyday spaces of the municipality.
Its innovative approach is based on three pillars: 1) It uses the local thematic axes Sea-Land-Industry as living laboratories that demonstrate how European research solves global challenges with proximity solutions, aligning with EU missions. 2) Hybridize science with attractive formats such as science microtheater, science slams, and other activities in markets or bars, ensuring that 30% of participants are new audiences who have never attended a science event. 3) Ensure sustainability by creating the first Local Council of Science and Innovation in Galicia.
Each Researchers' Night will mobilize 1,000 participants: With close dissemination events, the main event (last Friday in September) with science fair, marine demonstrations, scientific monologue competition and other formats, and post-events such as coffee with scientists. The project, coordinated by the Carballo Local Municipality, involves 60 researchers with gender parity, connecting academia (Universidade da Coruña, Academia Joven de España), with the public administration, and local companies.
The expected social impact is to democratize access to knowledge in rural settings, combat the STEM gender gap by creating local female role models, and make the motto ""the EU in everyday shift"" tangible. The results will be disseminated through a multi-channel strategy that will reach 50,000 people, documenting a replicable model for 10 other European rural municipalities."
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-CITIZENS-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
15100 Carballo
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.