Opendata, web and dolomites

Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - FUSION NIGHT (Find Your Passion for Science on Researchers Night)

Teaser

\"The “FUSION NIGHT” 2015 Polish Researchers’ Night was led by the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IAR&FR), in partnership with Olsztyn School of Higher Education (OSHE).Kids, teens and adults were invited to take part...

Summary

\"The “FUSION NIGHT” 2015 Polish Researchers’ Night was led by the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IAR&FR), in partnership with Olsztyn School of Higher Education (OSHE).
Kids, teens and adults were invited to take part as a unique occasion when science, entertainment and education met in one single place.

The FUSION NIGHT programme offered a broad range of activities aimed at increasing the awareness of the community at large about the importance of research careers and the central role of scientists in improving the daily life and well-being of European citizens.

Amongst the very numerous activities offered, one may list: “become a researcher for one night and give lecture to one’s peers\"\" (Polish Academy of Kids), test the content of vitamins in juice or milk, discover the secrets of cryopreservation in a mobile laboratory , develop one\'s own creams using fruit powders, design a book from scratch, learn the secrets of animal biodiversity or make a fruit puree in liquid nitrogen.

Other entertaining activities were organised namely swimming competitions, basketball game, salsa course and martial arts training all conducted by the organiser\'s young researchers. Furthermore, a live concert of an international group of English teachers in Olsztyn and an exhibition of science curiosities captured on the stained glass were also offered.

Collaboration with partners from industrial circles helped providing visitors with a first-hand view of the products and innovations “born” thanks to the solutions provided by science and researchers.

The “after hours” passions and interests of the researchers as well as the organisation of science demos, workshops and experiments conducted by young enthusiastic researchers, contributed to breaking prevailing stereotypes about scientists, who appeared as fascinating individuals, embodying insatiable passion for discovery, dedication to their work, yet having a variety of interests and a balanced, successful life.\"

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 school children and secondary education students, in particular those about facing or facing a career choice;

Messages conveyed

o Researchers are among us, they are not from another world;
o Researchers are ordinary people with an extraordinary job;
o Researchers are fascinating people, they embodying insatiable passion for discovery, openness of mind, dedication to their work and readiness to take a great effort for the betterment of other people’s lives;
o Research careers are challenging and gratifying
o Being a researchers gives you a chance to leave your own footprint on the sands of time;
o Science is cool;
o Modern world wouldn’t be a modern world without the understandings and technologies enabled by science;
o Science is deeply interwoven with our everyday lives
o It affects us all, every day of the year, from the moment we wake up, all day long, and through the night;
o Discovering the curiosities of science can be both educating and entertaining;
o Cooperation of science and industry brings benefits for each and every one of us.

Main communication tools to rely on

Off line

o Publication of articles, announcements, advertisements in regional and local newspapers, including Olsztynska Newspaper, Wyborcza Newspaper, Life of Olsztyn local newspaper and Made in Olsztyn magazine;
o Airing of promotional spots, programmes, interviews, announcements, on several science and information radio programmes(about 10) and on TVP Olsztyn regional television station;
o Public advertising: banners in the city centre, advertising on transport public means (busses);
o Promotion of the event during other public events (science festivals, science picnic of Polish radio and Copernicus centre in Warsaw)
o Launch of a competition “fascinating science, create an inspiration for future researchers”;
o Display of promotional material (brochures, folders, posters)in schools universities, )
o Pre-events:
o Open day (early May) in participants’ labs;
o Picnic opening the celebration of the 11 years of Poland in EU (2015);
o Visits to schools by PhD students (hands on experiments, chemical workshops) in Warmia and Mazury region (4 elementary and grammar schools);
o Exhibition “look at the world through the eyes of a scientist” at the Marshall office (3 weeks-duration);
o Picnics for kids (competitions, lectures, games) in May and June 2015;

On line

o Setting up, constant updating and maintenance of the project website(information, topics, announcements, pictures, competitions, links to EU websites and other events’ ones);
o Setting up of social networks profiles (Twitter, Facebook;
o Setting up of blogs exclusively run by researchers(pictures of their everyday life, research carried out with special emphasis on health, food technology, biodiversity and environment as considered d as “hot” topics” towards a general audience);

Promotional material

o Posters of various formats, billboards, folders, brochures;
o Ads, banners, links with 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 (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 (2000 B1 format copies), roll ups (3 items), programmes (5000 booklets), invitations (1800 DL format copies), leaflets (25000 DL format copies);
o Public advertising (billboards, citylights, display of promotional material in streets…): 3 billboards, 10 swing signs, posters in 100 public transport buses, a promotional bus tapped with ERN’s ad, 25 000 door\"

Final results

\"OVERWIEW OF THE RESULTS:
o Organisation of a DAST-C survey prior to the event (\"\"drawing a scientist\"\" by school kids), followed by the same request after the event;
o Comparison and analysis of the drawings ex ante and ex post;
o Collection of on-line questionnaires filled in by visitors registered on webpage, and comparison of the results collected with those of an ex-post questionnaire sent after the event;
o Realisation of face to face interviews during the events;
o Collection and analysis of the comments, observations, suggestions posted on blogs run by researchers and through social media;
o Main conclusions:
o Overall positive feedback regarding the event (activities, interest, contacts with researchers, organisation, scheduling…);
o Typology of visitors: 45 % male and 55 % female, mostly aged 6-12 (44 %) and 13-18;
o Most successful activities: hands-on experiments, workshops and science shows implying a high interactivty level;
o Intention of the organisers to seriously limit the number of lectures and rather focus on activities combining education and entertainment;
o General will expressed y attendants in favour of a longer duration (by a few hours) of the event (to be taken into consideration in 2015);
o Improved image of researchers amongst school kids (drawings) notably through the representation of young, female, smiling and not isoldated researchers;
o Increased interest fo science careers observed amongst young people (from 75 % prior to the event up to 90 % afterwards);
o General intention expressed by attendants to take part in a similar event in the future (98 % of responders).

Overview of the results

3318 questionnaires, interiews, polls collected and processed (33% of total attendees)
Main conclusions:
o Typology of visitors: 47 % male and 53 % female, mostly aged 6-12 (36 %) and 13-18 (43%);
o Most successful activities: hands-on experiments, workshops and science shows implying a high interactivty level;
o Source of information on ERN: school (45%), friends (23%), internet (10%)
o Improved image of researchers amongst school kids (drawings) notably through the representation of young, female, smiling and accessible researchers;
o Improved recognition of research bearing on people’s everyday lives
o Increased interest fo science careers observed amongst young people (from 75 % prior to the event up to 90 % afterwards);
o General intention expressed by attendants to take part in a similar event in the future (98 % of responders).
\"

Website & more info

More info: http://www.nocnaukowcow.pan.olsztyn.pl.