Activating and enhancing interest in scientific culture for different target groups: the experience of Researchers’ Night in Tuscany Katherine Isaacs University of Pisa SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Outline 1. Introduction 2. Outreach in general 3. Special contexts, special experiences 4. Tools and results 5. Concluding remarks SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

1. Introduction - Outreach: a necessary dimension of universities’ central mission: «Elaboration and transfer of knowledge», in the broadest sense - Outreach: scientific, educational - Two sides of the same coin... SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

2. Outreach in general is taken to mean extending the action of the University to the surrounding ‘human’ area, meaning usually schools, associations, mature citizens, interested professionals, enterprise. Often run by a specific sector/office May includes ‘extension courses’ and dissemination events, seen as a public service SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Research outreach: illustrating research projects and results in such a way as to be understandable/understood and appreciated by persons not directly involved in the project, and who are normally understood not to be part of the academic/research community. promoting research (usually ‘hard sciences’ among upper school students SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

3. Special contexts, special experiences SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

A special context and a ‘success story’ 25 September 2015 Researchers’ Night; the last Friday in September each year; a European event Fourth year in Tuscany; supported by the Tuscany region, coordinated by the University of Pisa Main Partners: Superior Normal School, St. Anna Superiore School, National Research Council, Universities of Florence, Siena, and Siena for Foreigners....INFN, INGV, egoVirgo IMT Lucca SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Several hundred activities in: Pisa, Lucca, Cascina; Florence, Prato; Siena, Arezzo to celebrate RESEARCHERS what they do, and what it means for all of us a ‘Bright’ night, for ‘Bright’ people, making a Brighter world.... SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Pisa: a special context A city of students, teachers and researchers, a research vocation: inhabitants university students upper school students 5000 full-time researchers/univ professors plus technical and administrative support personnel SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Pisa: city of researchers but: Highly ‘pillarized’ with regard to disciplinary area, institute, location in the city Limited contact between institutions, departments centres SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Florence: a larger city, a smaller university… a different context. Here too an important ‘reaching out’ between institutions and disciplines: a ‘walk’ that included the Botanical Gardens, the Conservatory – with a concert – the Academy of Fine Arts – and finally the University. SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Siena, the city of the Palio A multitude of activities in the piazzas, in the streets of the medieval city, ending up with a grand finale in Piazza del Campo SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

4. Tools and Results: Tools Press conferences (regional, local) Facebook; Twitter Website: video promo Posters; leaflets; postcards Stand; Science cafès; Bookshops Cinema (cycle of films on researchers) Open laboratories «Spaghettata» Theatre Radio ‘talk show’ SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Support of the Municipality of Pisa Council member responsible for Culture and Schools (also professor of Physics at UNIPI), sends invitation to all school directors, teachers, explaining the importance of the opportunity in informing and orienting their students and pupils. SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Results - remarkable participation of the public, including many young people. - enthusiasm of the public and the researchers - pressing requests from the participants to hold such events ‘more often’ SCIENCE OUTREACH SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

A kind of epiphany The city shows its true colours Researchers recognise and interact with each other Friendly rivalry and collaboration as they take their reponsibility of explaining to the public, including their colleagues, why their research is essential, useful, fascinating…. SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

A question: why is the sky dark at night? Another question: why was BRIGHT such a bright night? SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Can we preserve and enhance the ‘spirit’ of BRIGHT during the rest of the year? Or at least remind ourselves of it from time to time? SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Conclusion Outreach is not just an activity, and certainly it is not a second-class activity It is an attitude …of responsibility and respect- special events, such as BRIGHT can foster respect and stimulate the ability to communicate research responsibly SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Conclusion Outreach is not just an activity, and certainly it is not a second-class activity It is an attitude …of responsibility and respect- special events, such as BRIGHT can foster respect and stimulate the ability to communicate research responsibly SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Clearly research outreach must be structural, part of the insitutional strategy, practiced and understood all year. BRIGHT has shown us its potential and, perhaps, its goals. SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015 Website:

Video ‘Promo’ SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015

Thank you! SCIENCE OUTREACH Italy China SNS, Pisa, 4 November 2015