Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 2 - YorNight (York: City of the Past, City of the Future)
Teaser
For the second time European Researchers’ Night took place in York in 2015 after the successful event in 2014. York is an incredibly exciting, vibrant and diverse city, rich in heritage, discovery and an over-riding sense of curiosity, in short a city where ideas spring to...
Summary
For the second time European Researchers’ Night took place in York in 2015 after the successful event in 2014. York is an incredibly exciting, vibrant and diverse city, rich in heritage, discovery and an over-riding sense of curiosity, in short a city where ideas spring to life and flourish and where collaboration is celebrated.
YORNIGHT aimed to enhance public recognition of researchers and their work, point out the impact of research on citizens’ daily lives and well-being and stressed the fun and fascinating aspects of research with a view to stimulating young people’s interest for science and science careers.
In such a context, five main messages were conveyed, both during the awareness campaign and during the event itself, namely:
o Researchers are amongst us;
o What’s up with research and innovation?
o Research eases your life and increases your well-being;
o Research is fun;
o Being a researcher is exciting and amazing;
Although addressing the public at large in all its components, YorNight specifically targeted young people, in particular those facing or about to face a career choice.
The project celebrated and explained the depth and breadth of the research on the theme York: City of the Past, City of the Future. The Work Programme delivered its key messages through an integrated programme including talks, exhibitions, interactive displays, hands-on experiments, competitions, short research-related videos, research café’s and a European Corner.
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 young people facing career choices, as well as to primary school pupils , scout and girl guide groups, parents of the children;
Messages conveyed
o Researchers are amongst us;
o Researchers are ordinary people with an extraordinary job;
o What’s up with research and innovation?
o Research eases your life and increases your well-being;
o Research is fun;
o Being a researcher is exciting and amazing;
Main communication tools to rely on
Off line
o Visits to primary schools raising awareness about research and impact on daily lives;
o Mobilisation of “Science is For Parents Too†association for encouraging parental support for primary school kids in less advantaged areas;
o Distribution of promotional packs to girl guides and scouts (leaflets and badges) explaining also the meaning of the 2 YorNight badges;
o Publication of articles, announcements, advertisements in press and magazines at local level (Local Link, The Press);
o Airing of promotional spots, announcements, interviews on local TV and radio stations;
o Distribution of 1.000 beer mats to local pubs in York;
On line
o Setting up of a project website (profiles of researchers, links to other relevant institutional and popular websites, such as Science Grll, Athena Swan, Royal Institutions interactive games site)
o Setting up of social networks profiles (Twitter, Facebook)
Promotional material
o Posters, leaflets, brochures, programmes;
o Ads and banners;
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 (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 Design and production of promotional material: printed brochures displayed through participating institutions and universities\' mailing lists, flyers displayed in public places (information centres, cafes, businesses, campus), invitations displayed to local schools, city council, north Yorkshire business enterprise partnership, Children\'s University, regional Scouts and Girl Guides groups; bookmarks displayed through local bookshops, libraries and York Museum Trust, branded beermats distributed to local pubs;
o Public advertising: banners, billboards, digital screens (hotels, campuses, sport centre);
o Airing of interviews of organisers and researchers, and announcements on radio stations (local BBC station);
o Promotion during other public events involving school children and teachers (University of York and Yorkshire Museum)
o Publication of press releases by various institutions involved;
o Publication of advertisement and of articles in local newspapers (York Press), as well as in several publications of involved institutions (Yorkshire Museum programme booklet, York Explore quarterly magazine, English Heritage quarterly magazine and York city guides such as Little Vikings, York Mix, Everything York and Visit York) ;
o Pre-event: public lecture at St Peter\'s School (day prior to the event);
o Setting up, constant updating of the project website: yornight.com (general info on the event, venues, researchers\' profiles, links to popular and institutional websites).;
o 47.648 non-bounce page views on project website, 5.711 non-bounce sessions, 4.122 unique users of which 63,5 % new;
o Setting up and constant updating of social nework profiles (Facebook, Twitter);
o 239 likes and 4.349 posts on Facebook, 416 followers and 80 tweets on Twitter;
o On line advertsing on popular websites; cross marketing with big popular events such as the Food and Drink Festival and the BBC History Magazine weekend;
o Over 335,382 people made aware of the Researchers\'Night and its objective\"
Final results
\"o Main conclusions:
o Typology of visitors: balanced male/female participation, about 50 % aged under 18, huge number of under 12 accompanied by family, most from local area, having heard about the event mostly through brochures, University of York weekly events email, direct mailing or promotion druing other public events, as well as websites;
o Overall positive feedback regarding the events: event rated as \"\"excellent\"\" or \"\"good\"\" by 96 % of responders, appreciation of possibility of direct contact with researchers, of the venues chosen and their easy access, (although some difficulties for the set up in venues open during the day such as libraries and tourist attractions);
o Most successful activities: interactive talks addressing kids aged 7-11, astronomy workshop for families, interactive exhibitions in Yorkshire Museum gardens, Year of Light hub, panel discussion related to the discovery of Richard III, reconstruction of the acoustics of St Mary\'s abbey;
o Less successful activities: researcher cafés (no real interaction with researchers), dressing up box (kids to identify what they perceive as a researcher) (due to location chosen that didn\'t attract sufficient participation although enjoyed by those who took part), draw a scientist (not relevant for too small children and not sufficiently competitive towards other offered activities for older ones);
o Improved image of researchers and their work by Girl Guides and Scouts: increased awareness by 83 % respondents, positive image of researchers and
their job (83 % of Girl Guides considering having learned something, 86 % considering science is fun, 72 % aware of solving problem capacity of science, while such figures amounted for scouts 83 %, 98 % and 98 %);
o Complete awareness of science benefits to society in pre-event questionnaires (100 % responders), as well as on citizens\' lives (94 %), while describing researchers as \"\"creative\"\" 41 %) and \"\"ethical\"\" (32 %);
o Positive image about research contribution to well-being, understanding of the job researcher, as well as of the researchers themselves (interesting, open-minded, ethical) in both face-to-face interviews and reactions inserted in tubes during the events;
o Positive impact on youth\'s interest for scientific careers (increased for 66 % of Scouts and 4 % of Girl Guides, interest for scientific career for 53 % of schoolchildren, 88% of the responders to the pre-event on-line questionnaire, 48 % of responders to face-to-face interviews).
o Possible improvements with a view to future similar events:
o Written promotional material: improved design and clearer explanation on all the activities offered;
o Identification of a larger space for large groups hands-on activities (such as Year of Light hub) allowing massive participation of families;
o Calling upon extra volunteers (for organisation of activities, setting up, impact assessment-linked activities);
o Larger spaces to be offered to researchers.\"
Website & more info
More info: http://yornight.com/.