Monday, 30 September 2024 A successful European Researchers' Night 2024
The highly anticipated European Researchers' Night 2024 filled the lecture halls and premises of the University of Primorska and kept participants excited about science with a wide range of fun activities throughout the day. Friday, 27 September was held under the slogan "oooZoscience! - Fake News and Conspiracy Theories? Let's empower (ourselves for) science!". The pan-European event, which took place simultaneously in 23 countries and in more than 400 cities across Europe and beyond, was a great success this year also at the University of Primorska.
Researchers brought science closer to schoolchildren and teachers, young people and the general public through a wide range of activities. They held 21 workshops, presentations, guided tours and various other activities in seven different locations. More than 100 researchers, students and professionals from the University were involved in organising and delivering all activities.
This year, the event was attended by students from 17 primary and secondary schools in the Obalno-Kraška and Goriška regions, their teachers, students of the University of Primorska and other interested parties. Almost 1200 visitors were present at all locations.
At the UP Faculty of Humanities, the workshop organised by UP FAMNIT, 'Pop-it', named after the popular children's fidget toy used mainly as a stress reliever, attracted the largest number of participants, 160. The workshop 'Learning about statistics through play - for children and adults' (UP FAMNIT) was also very popular, attracting more than 110 participants who learned the basics of statistics through play and acquired basic skills in data analysis.
The Faculty of Health Sciences also had a varied programme. Just over 500 children attended workshops on the basic use of kinesiology tapes, preparing a balanced meal, learning resuscitation, movement challenges, how the brain analyses and integrates information about food into complex perception and many others.
Schoolchildren also had the opportunity to take part in a treasure hunt called "Fantastic animals and where to shoot them" where they got an insight into wildlife sightings. At UP FAMNIT, they were able to build on this knowledge by conducting field research and obtaining genetic samples.
At the storytelling evening in the Mythical Park organised by UP FHŠ, Renata Lapanja, a renowned storyteller from Tolmin, will be telling old religious tales from the Tolmin and Idrija traditions at the mythical point of the shembilla Pod Lisičino (a 15-minute walk from the centre). Afterwards, Dr Katja Hrobat Virloget will touch upon the meaning of boundaries in narrative and ritual traditions.
The successful European Researchers' Night 2024 brought science closer to many and delighted many schoolchildren, adolescents and adults alike with its many fun activities. The event was funded under the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions through the call HORIZON-MSCA-2023-CITIZENS-01-01: European Researchers' Night and Researchers in Schools 2024 - 2025, and this time the project is also connected to the Science Month campaign.
