On Friday, 27 September, the biggest science event in Finland will take over the country’s university campuses. Researchers’ Night is a chance for researchers to present their work and studies to the public. The curious can peek into scientists’ laboratories while the bold can even try to do some science themselves.
Researchers’ Night is celebrated at the same time in over 300 European cities. University researcher Janne Pakarinen is responsible for coordinating the event in Finland. Coordination of the event has been rewarding for Pakarinen and he thinks this event has a great importance for the dialogue between science and society.
“The event enables researchers to convince the general public of the importance of their own research,” says Pakarinen. “Especially in basic research, this is important, because not all research results have, or need to have, a direct social impact.”
Researchers often work behind closed doors, so events like these are valuable moments in which researchers can show the results of their work to an audience. At the same time, the public gets access to the latest advances in science and the research currently ongoing in their community.
“It has been gratifying to see how Researchers’ Night has evolved into a large-scale, high-quality event covering many disciplines.”
Last year, up to 27,000 curious visitors of all ages attended Researchers’ Night. The event features a wide range of activities for children and adults. Visitors have the opportunity to explore many different disciplines, from natural sciences and linguistics to sports and cosmology.
“It has been gratifying to see how Researchers’ Night has evolved into a large-scale, high-quality event covering many disciplines,” Pakarinen says.
Researchers’ Night will be held on Friday, September 27, 2019 simultaneously in Espoo, Helsinki, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kokkola, Kuopio, Oulu, Sodankylä, Tampere and Turku. Check out the event and the programme offerings in your area at www.tutkijoidenyo.fi/en
This Researchers’ Night project is funded as part of the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, grant agreement 817987.
For more information:
Janne Pakarinen,
janne.pakarinen@jyu.fi / 040 8054900
Reetta Kalliola,
reetta.j.kalliola@jyu.fi / 040 664 0612