Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Let\'s Do The Science (Life is Science, Science is Life: LET\'S DO THE SCIENCE!)

Teaser

The Let’s do the science Turkish Researchers’ Night 2014 aimed at bringing closer to one another researchers and public at large in all its components.The purpose consisted of improving the mutual understanding between scientists and general public, and also illustrating...

Summary

The Let’s do the science Turkish Researchers’ Night 2014 aimed at bringing closer to one another researchers and public at large in all its components.
The purpose consisted of improving the mutual understanding between scientists and general public, and also illustrating the positive influence of researchers’ work on the citizens’ daily lives and well-being, while also convincing young people to consider embarking on scientific careers.
In such a context, a broad range of activities were offered to the attendees, covering several science topics and including a wide range of scientific disciplines; attendees were offered guided visits to university labs, meetings and workshops with researchers, conferences, edutainment facilities, seminars and entertainment activities related to science subjects, observing and discussing ideas of public about science and hot topics of their life related to science and EU.
25 different disciplines were actually covered during the event and the activities covered the whole university campus (210.000 m2) while being on line broadcasted. The programme defined allowed continuous rhythm and activities likely attracting any component of the public at large whichever scientific background or age.
An intensive awareness campaign had been launched, including press mobilisation as well as airing of promotional TV and radio spots and several interviews. IT facilities were also highly mobilised through banners campaign, the project website and the social networks which proved very active.

Work performed

\"I.1.1. AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Tasks undertaken
Target audiences
o Public at large, regardless of age and scientific background;
o Special attention to be paid to kids and young people, especially those about to face or facing a career choice;
o Also focus on women, not educated people, elderly adults, groups from disadvantaged regions;

Messages conveyed
o Researchers are amongst us;
o Researchers are ordinary people with an extraordinary job;
o Science is everywhere in daily life ;
o European Union is accessible to all;
o There is a place for everybody for research and education in EU ;
o Science is for everyone and anyone can be a researcher;
Main communication tools to rely on

Off line
o Publication of articles, interviews, announcements, advertisements, in national and regional press;
o Airing of promotional spots, interviews, announcements, programmes on national and regional radio and TV stations;
o General mailings to households and stakeholders;
o Direct visits notably to public education centres;
o Direct meetings with press representatives;
o Meetings with provincial Directorate of national education;
o 7 Researchers’ Night and European corners in various different crowded popular landmarks of the city one week prior to the event ;
o Mobile Researchers’ night and EU corner on road one month prior to the event in various districts of the city , providing info;
On line
o Setting up of the project website, constant updating and maintenance;
o Setting up of social networks profiles (Twitter, Facebook);
o General mailing relying on Metropolitan Municipality’s and Children university’s database;
o Links to institutional and popular websites ;
o Advertising via banners on various websites and profiles ;

Promotional material
o Folders, brochures, programmes, posters, banners;
o Ads and banners, websites;
o Mention of \"\"This European Researchers\' Night project is funded by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions\"\" on all promotional material displayed;
o Promotional gadgets (such as shirts, pens, key chains)(displayed through the European corner notably), complying with the general guidelines available at http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/communication/services/visual_identity/index.en.htm

Overview of the results
o Conception, realisation of promotional material: posters of various formats, banners, roll up, flyers, programmes, invitation cards, give away (T-shirts, key chains, balloons);;
o Public advertising: billboards, roll ups displayed in city, public transport (busses and subways), participating institutions, campuses); and though EU corners, LED advertsing screens (displayed in various civil society organisations (Women’s Education and Employment Association, Environmental Volunteer Foundation, Mamak Municipality etc, public education centres...);
o Airing of announcements on national radio;
o Invitations sent to all schools , institutions and NGOs in Ankara, local governmental institutions, municipalities;
o Announcement of 2 competitions (paintings and pictures around the themes \"\"How European are we?\"\" and \"\"Tell me science\"\"), addressed to primary, secondary and high schools as well as universities;
o Conception and production of a promotional film based on last year\'s events\' videos, displayed through project website;
o Publication of a press release (displayed to Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Ankara
University and Ankara University Children’s University database);
o After the event, event was published nearly 10 national newspaper and nearly 50 local newspaper.
o Setting up, updating and maintenance of the project websites http://www.letsdothescience.com/, www.letsdothescience.ankara.edu.tr. (and links to insitutuonal and popular websites (notably Ankara\'s University and Ankara\'s University Children University);
o Over 10.000 unique visits on project website;
o REvazmping, and constant updating of social network profiles (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/letsdothescience/?fref=\"

Final results

IMPACT ASSESMENT
Tasks undertaken
Description of the current situation
o Relying on existing studies and surveys to be identified;
o Survey ex-ante, interviews and questionnaires;

Tools
o Questionnaires available both on site and on line ;
o Internet and blogs surveys;
o Polls on site;
o Phone calls after the event;
o Face to face interviews;

Indicators and parameters to be applied
o Qualitative: public opinion on researchers and their job (associations with the word “researcher”, characteristics of current and desired researchers, interest expressed for science and research, interest expressed for science careers, typology of attendees (age, gender, occupation, background), intention to attend future similar events, involvement of researchers funded by FP 7 and HORIZON 2020, including MSCA actions ;
o Quantitative: number of attendees, participants in various activities, number of hits on website, friends and followers on social networks, promotional items displayed, media coverage…

Selection of the sample
o Method: selection of equal number from 5 pre-defined groups, i.e. kids, women, young people, adults, disadvantaged;
o Absolute figures : at least 900 questionnaires filled in, 30 face to face interviews;

Overview of the results
o Collection and processing of 2.153 feedbacks , either prior, during and after the event, namely 2.118 questionnaires and 35 face to face interviews, as well as 1.056 pre and post tweets;

o Main conclusions:
o Typology of visitors: 48 % female and 52 % male, almost 40 % attendees under 18;.
o Overall positive feedback regarding the event itself (interest of activities, concrete organisation, contacts with researchers, location and venues, scheduling);
o Particular positive feedback about the informative character of the activities, the equipment displayed, the interactivity offered, the entertaining character, concrete examples shown, particular accessibility and attractiveness towards children;
o General intention expressed by attendees (90 %) to take part in similar future events;
o Improved image of researchers and their job in particular amongst children;
o Increased interest for science and science careers, in particular amongst young people,
o Increased awareness about science and scientists specifically amongst ypung people, about EU programmes in education, culture and research, as well as regarding the Ankara University.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.letsdothescience.com.