Project Reconnect Science with the Blue Society (acronym: Blue-connect) gathers partners from five main coastal cities of the Mediterranean part of Croatia, i.e. 9 partner institutions: Universities in Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Rijeka and Jurja Dobrila in Pula, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, the Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences, the Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation and the Science and Technology Park of the University of Rijeka STEP-RI, whose research is largely characterized by the natural, biomedical, ecological, social and economic aspects of the sea.
The main goal of the project is to reconnect science with society by bringing research and researchers closer to the public, strengthening the recognition of science in the public and research education, and building trust and understanding of science and its impact on the blue society in the region. The project will implement activities that promote research and science in an understandable and interesting way and encourage the engagement of the general public and young people in science in order to work together on the relevant problems facing the Mediterranean.
The central activity of the project is the manifestation of the European Researcher's Night, which will include a number of scientific and social activities, and will be held in five cities in the Republic of Croatia: Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Rijeka, and Pula. The European Researcher's Night is a European public and media event aimed at promoting research careers, primarily aimed at young people and their families. The goal is to attract people regardless of the level of education, with a special emphasis on children and young people, especially those who do not have access to science and research and are therefore less inclined to engage in STEAM fields or research activities. The European Researcher's Night will be organized on September 30th, 2022, and September 29th, 2023, at popular public locations in city centers. Numerous scientists will present their work and research projects in an interesting way. Activities include lectures, demonstrations, exhibitions, interactive workshops, and experiments in which interested visitors will be able to participate.
The European Researcher's Night in Rijeka and Split will be attended by employees of the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes who will provide interested participants more information about the Horizon Europe programme, which forms the Framework Program of the European Union for Research and Innovation for the period from 2021 to 2027, and about the EURAXESS initiative, which through the service center within the Agency for Mobility and EU Programs, offers free assistance to incoming, outgoing and returning researchers and their families.
Find more information about the Blue-connect project and the Researcher's Night on the official website.
See you on September 30th, 2022, at the Researcher's Night!