Understanding Science and Research

The main aim of the “Forschung begreifen” (Understanding Science) project is to increase understanding of the key benefits that research brings to society in general but also promote and facilitate greater public participation in the entire scientific process including participation in scientific research as well as dissemination activities. Our further aim is to enhance youth’s engagement with science and research and in this way encourage them to become future researchers. We created a program that integrates researchers from almost all significant research institutions in and around Vienna, which are aiming to use the European Researches’ Night framework to share the knowledge and present their activities and projects. The event will incorporate formats such as School Workshops, Science Talks, Science Cafes, Science Slams, EU-Corner, more than 60 Scientific Booths and 16 Workshops, as well as several Social Activities to bring public and science closer together. Interdisciplinarity plays a significant role in this project and its activities integrate more than 25 domains involving activities from fundamental up to applied science as well as from Physics to Arts aiming to provide something for everyone. The project “Forschung begreifen” integrates 5 partners with different competences, backgrounds and public outreach, therefore being able to implement a successful European Researchers’ Night in Vienna in 2020. Consequently, the main objectives of the “Forschung begreifen“ events are: (i) to enhance both public knowledge and understanding of science, (ii) to explain the benefits of research to the public and how it influences daily life, (iii) to bring the public and science closer together and facilitate a bidirectional flow of information using citizen science, (iv) to offer an exciting learning experience that would increase the climate change awareness and show how researchers but also public can cope with related challenges, (v) to motivate and inspire youth to enjoy, understand and pursue research careers by connecting them with outstanding scientists and innovations, (vi) to become closer to and more involved with art but also show diversity of research in this area, (vii) to increase public awareness of the diversity of scientific research and enable a greater visibility for research centres and innovative projects and (viii) to enhance the recognition of researchers and their role in society.