BE a citizEn Scientist (European Researchers’ Night)

Science

In twelve years of involvement in the European Researchers’ Night project, Frascati Scienza worked to make a real change in the perception of the general public, stakeholders and researchers of what research and science communication is, always innovating its methods and messages. Starting from the objective to make accessible large research infrastructures (COME IN 2006), up to showing science as the driver for creating effective benefits to the European citizens (MADE IN SCIENCE 2017), Frascati Scienza has made a real impact on the territory, scientific partners and institutions, as shown by the impact assessment results of the past 12 years, as well as increasing constantly the number of attendees (today more than 50.000) and the quality of the organization and partnership process. Currently, Frascati Scienza believes that a further step should be done in the direction of science, and researchers' work in general, to be actively and fully participated and collaborated by the society. This required, for our project and in general for science communication, to enact a new paradigm in which research do not belong only to researchers but come out from a common collaboration process with the society and the various stakeholders to enjoy science discoveries. In the implementation of its activities, this edition of the NIGHTs (2018-2019) directly involved the citizens, and especially young people, in hands-on activities, such as citizen science projects, by collecting and using data sets, encompassing different disciplines, with the ultimate goal to acquire new knowledge, scientific skills and competencies, supporting the public recognition of researchers. This process demonstrates how science proceeds by trials, but comes to solid conclusions and incontrovertible results, so people can trust the hard work of researchers.

European Researchers’ Night 2018/2019 is a European project coordinated by Frascati Scienza with the aim to communicate to society the importance of science, reducing the stereotypes about researchers and their profession and increasing, in the long term, the number of young people taking up research careers. In order to communicate these messages to the general public, “BE a citizEn Scientist” (BEES) was the slogan of the project. The acronym BEES suggest a collaborative society where citizens work together with researchers taking an active part on discussions and research itself. Approximately 70.000 people participated to more than 700 events organized in 34 Italian cities, involving more than 1500 researchers in the organization. In the two-years period, the awareness campaign reached in Italy more than 60 million people making aware of the Researchers' Night and its objectives, using offline (TV and print media) and online (social, website, ads, email and newsletter) communication.

Citizens and researchers were the main actors of the BEES project. Participative and inclusive events (world cafes, trivia nights, discussion games, etc.) were planned directly involving people in research, thus transforming them from citizens to citizen scientists. In order to convey the message to the public at large, specific activities will be developed to involve different kind of public, looking at Edutainment, to reach kids and youth through Hands-on activities, science games and shows; Spectacular and informal style, to reach adults and curious attendees with guided tours inside the labs and outside the research centers, exhibitions, science shows and parties; Participative and inclusive style, to reach young and adults, not only science-addicted people, in order to deeply involve them in the discovery process.

Frascati Scienza has conducted a comprehensive survey about impacts and results achieved during the events, collecting more than 2000 questionnaires, obtaining an exhaustive feedback on the general public. The survey showed that the project had a general positive impact on public image of researchers and their job, on the importance of science and its potential impact on citizens' daily lives, on the interest expressed by young people for scientific careers, on the increased awareness among the general public of the importance of research and innovation and more favourable general attitude towards its funding. The event was also useful to strengthen the collaboration among the various research institutes involved during the events, tightening contacts for future common projects. Finally, the goal of encouraging the dialogue between researchers and other citizens and raising awareness about researchers’ work was achieved.

BE a citizEn Scientist (European Researchers’ Night)

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