Researchers´ Night 2014-2016
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | VETENSKAP & ALLMÄNHET, VA - Vetenskap & Allmänhet VA |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 450 000 |
| Project duration | January 2014 - March 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The science festival ForskarFredag takes place annually on the last Friday in September at several cities around Sweden. The event has been organised since 2006 and is part of the European Commission´s initiative European Researchers´ Night. The aim is to make researchers and their work more known and to boost people´s interest in research and science. The target group is the public at large, especially young people. ForskarFredag 2016-2017 is granted financial support from the EU-commission through the call European Researchers´ Night (GA 722934-FF16_17).
Expected results and effects
In 2014 and 2015 activities were arranged in 23 cities across the country, 31 cities in 2016. ForskarFredag 2014-2016 has resulted in more than 1 200 activities across the country where 50 000 visitors have met 1 400 researchers. The majority of the visitors were children and teenagers. More than 15 000 pupils and teachers have participated in real research through the annual citizen science project The mass experiment. 26 regional heats have been arranged of Researchers’ Grand Prix.
Planned approach and implementation
VA coordinates the local ForskarFredag events in collaboration with the Swedish Research Council, VINNOVA and the European Commission. The local events are organised by universities, science centres, municipalities, county councils, museums, research centres and regional councils, together with local partners. Decisions about ForskarFredag is made in the Steering Committee, where all the organisers are represented, as well as VA. Steering Committee meet two times a year with web based meetings in between. This management has worked well since 2006.