Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ScienceCity (ScienceCity Szczecin)

Teaser

The main goal of the Polish European Researchers’ night in Szczecin, “Science City”, consisted of enhancing researchers\' public recognition notably through offering the public at large in all its components, whichever their age and scientific background, the opportunity...

Summary

The main goal of the Polish European Researchers’ night in Szczecin, “Science City”, consisted of enhancing researchers\' public recognition notably through offering the public at large in all its components, whichever their age and scientific background, the opportunity of discovering in an attractive form the direct impact and the importance of researchers work on citizens\' daily lives and well-being; it also intended stimulating young people’s interest for science and science careers. In such a purpose, the project brought together researchers from Western Pomeranian University of Technology, Pomeranian Medical University, University of Szczecin and Maritime University of Szczecin. The project took advantage of many major environmental investments realised through EU
and regional public funds, to point out the importance of research achivements on citizens’ lives. A broad range of activities was offered, notably including: hands-on experiments, science shows, presentations, demonstrations, chats and debates with researchers, guided lab visits, quizzes, competitions, games, European corners… Researchers from various regional institutions were directly in touch with the audience through a series of talks, interactive events and exhibitions. A virtual ScienceCity game was created as part of the awareness campaign, map of Szczecin aimed at making scientific themes interesting and accessible for the public and at encouraging people to take part in the events: each new technology illustrated in ScienceCity was actually associated with an interactive expert (virtual avatar of a scientist who developed it, whom the audience was able to directly meet during the event itself). European Union and its support in favour of research and researchers was also particularly pointed out since all technologies and research results presented on the map were linked to
research projects EU funded. ScienceCity also offered a virtual representation of existing industrial facilities, covering several topics such as logistics, mechanics, automation, computer science, materials
science, chemistry, etc.

Work performed

\"AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Target audiences:
o Public at large regardless of age and scientific background;
o Special attention to be paid to kids and young people, in particular those facing or about to face a career choice;

Messages conveyed:
o Researchers are amongst us;
o Researchers are ordinary people with an extraordinary job;
o Experience is the foundation of creating science;
o Scientific career can be both challenging and rewarding;
o We learn from each other;
o Everyone can be a researcher;
o Europe cares for its researchers;
o European and international cooperation are of utmost importance for current research;

Main communication tools to rely on:
Off line
o Publication of articles, announcements, advertisements in regional and national press;
o Airing of promotional spots, announcements, interviews, programmes on several radio and TV stations;
o Publication of various press releases;
o Patronage of Ministry of Science and education as well as Local authorities;
o Organisation of a press conference (researchers, rector, representatives of local authorities attending);
o Direct contacts with students clubs and associations from all regional universities;
o Facial contours of famous researchers on public buildings (beam projections);
o Enlightening of public buildings according to the weeks ‘ coloured code;
o Display of promotional material in public transport means (trams, busses especially long distance);
o Pre-events:
o Mobile labs in public spaces (shows, experiments, workshops in squares);
o Circulation of 2 small electric cars around city centre;3
o Display of colourful mini gadgets throughout the city;
o Display of interactive and functional art sculptures (science-related) within a city landscape (bench with solar panel, stationary bicycle…);
o Open science gallery (knowledge exhibition);
o Open workshops for groups , invitation to schools and groups to develop their own project modules;

On line
o Setting up of project website, linked to national Polish Researchers‘ night website;
o Links with cooperating bodies, institutional and popular websites;
o Setting up of social network profiles (Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare)
o Setting up of Science city platform(June 2014);
o Internet advertising campaign (banners and sponsored articles);
o Direct mailing to previous attendees, mailing database, cooperating bodies newsletters lists, commercially obtained database;

Promotional material:
o Posters, leaflets, programmes, banners;
o Ads and banners, websites, links;
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 maps, plastic balls, edible plastic gadgets, seed paper, fluorescent stickers, 3D printed objects, info kits and packages)(displayed through the European corner notably),

Overview of the results
o Conception, realisation of promotional material: posters of various formats, leaflets, guiders, maps, badges, programmes, displayed in shopping malls and public spaces;
o Public advertising: billboards (giant) in city centre, on coordinator\'s premsies and other public buildings, setting up of pesters in central public spaces (city) and bulletin boards (surrounding area),spacing windmills on green squares in central city places;
o Advertising in public places and public transport (trams and buses);
o Airing of annoucements/advertising /programmes/interviews/information strips on national, regional and local radio and TV stations :
o General mailing of invitiations to directions of kindergartens, primary, middle and high schools, as well as universities, cultural institutions, public bodies, including city and region authorities, businesses and scientific partners, combined with displaying posters and leaflets in educational institutions;
o Annoucements during public events : visits and presentations in educational science fairs, (branded promotional stands), I\"

Final results

o Collection and processing of 1.000 ex-ante questionnaires and 1.000 questionnaires during the event itself;
o Collection and processing of the results of the survey addressing reseachers regarding their perception by the general public;
o Main conclusions (details to be found in deliverbale n° 3 related to the impact assessment):
o Typology of visitors:
Aged 6-12 (8%), 13-18 (47 %), 19-26 (20 %), 27-40(18 %), 41-55 (7 %);
Education level: basic (8 %) , basic vocational (47 %), medium (28 %) higher (17 %)
Origin mostly from Szczecin and province (97 %);
o Overall positive feedback regarding the event itself (activities, interest, contacts with researchers, concrete organisation, scheduling, location and venues);
o Increased interest for science after having participated in the event (82 %);
o Increased interest for science careers after having participated in the event (52 %);
o General will to take part in future similar events (98 %);
o Own perception of their social position by researchers: over 50 % not considering it satisfactory or even fair.

Socio-economic impact of the action

Clearly the Researchers\' Night event will not on its own have a measurable socio-economic
impact. It nevertheless can has a certain influence about the relationships between
research institutions, universities etc. operating in the area and having cooperated for the
project, likely to go on after it and generate further synergies and positive impact for the
territory concerned.

Researchers\' night, when involving (whether directly within the partnership or through
external cooperation) companies, including small and medium ones operating in the area,
can ease the setting up of bridges between research and industry and, as such, lead to
employment and innovation. It is intended reinforcing the participation of companies,
including small and medium ones, in the implementation of the activities not only for a
reinforcement of the links between research and industry but also with a view to an
increased integration of researchers in the local social fabric.

The strong presence of research communities in the territory concerned, allows anyway the
Researchers\' night having an impact on the social fabric, strengthening the links between
scientific and non-scientific population. Furthermore, the interest shown during the various
events by students about choosing a career orientation allows expecting a certain increase
in university population opting for scientific careers, and first signs in such sense have
already been observed as referred to above.

Website & more info

More info: http://zut.edu.pl/nocnaukowcow.