Project description
Making science an adventure
Reframing science as an adventure rather than a chore is essential to bridging the STEM divide and dismantling the perceived barriers that discourage young girls from pursuing these careers. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ERNEST project aims to use educational escape rooms to spark curiosity. Working with researchers and institutions across Europe, the project is creating a network of portable, inquiry-based escape room experiences for schools, public spaces, and the European Researchers’ Night. By extending these activities to smaller towns and remote areas, the project will help foster a more inclusive and science-literate society.
Objective
Scientists are often seen as eccentric individuals, lost in their own world and working on extremely complex topics. As a result, students often approach scientific subjects with little enthusiasm, and fewer pursue STEM studies compared to other disciplines, particularly girls. Recent efforts have aimed to counteract these misconceptions and show that “science is also fun.” Game-based learning has proven effective in engaging and motivating young people. Escape rooms, in particular, have been successfully used as tools for science outreach, offering inquiry-based structures and immersive environments to involve participants with scientific topics. The time is ripe to structure the successful efforts on escape rooms created by many research teams in Europe, make them accessible to a wider public, and share scientists’ enthusiasm in an enjoyable way.
The ERNEST (European Researchers Night Escape Science Team) project seeks to create a European network of institutions and scientists using educational escape rooms to engage citizens with science, share scientific outcomes, and spark curiosity about STEM careers and research.
For the European Researchers Night (ERN), we plan an Escape Room Marathon with rooms on diverse scientific topics, deployed in multiple urban locations across Europe, beyond traditional ERN venues. The escape rooms will be produced in portable kits for schools and other locations, targeting not only large cities but also smaller towns and remote areas. As part of the Researchers at Schools activities, ERNEST will offer hands-on formats such as digital design contests, behind-the-scenes sessions, and science investigations, where teachers and students explore game-based learning, storytelling, and science engagement. In line with Horizon Europe priorities, ERNEST will promote gender balance in STEM, ensuring women and men researchers are equally represented and encouraging girls to actively engage in science.
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.
00044 Frascati
Italy
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.