The greatest science event of the year, European Researchers’ Night, is here again. On Friday 28 September, researchers in over 300 locations across Europe will have a chance to describe their research in their own words.
For researchers, the event offers an excellent opportunity to exhibit their work to interested audience. Senior Researcher Janne Pakarinen from the University of Jyväskylä is the coordinator of the event in Finland and sees the event as meaningful to researchers.
“Research findings are often published in media and conferences targeted to a narrow group, and the target audience is from the same professional field. Researchers’ Night provides scientists with an exceptional channel to display their own research,” Pakarinen summarises.
Research is often conducted in workrooms or laboratories out of public sight. In Researchers’ Night, visitors can see researchers at work. At the same time the visitors are told about the latest scientific breakthroughs and practical research work and can get closer to scientific leaps taken in their own region.
“This kind of direct contact lowers the threshold for the audience to ask interesting questions, which in turn motivates the researcher to present his or her own results, aims and discoveries,” Pakarinen describes.
In Researchers’ Night, people of all ages can learn about most interesting scientific phenomena in various ways. The local programmes have been published and are available on the local organisers’ websites.
According to Janne Pakarinen, also this year Researchers’ Night will feature researchers and research from many different fields.
“We are again looking forward to a diverse, colourful event that has plenty to offer regardless of age and educational background,” Pakarinen says.
In Finland, European Researchers’ Night will take place on Friday 28 September 2018 simultaneously in Espoo, Helsinki, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kokkola, Kuopio, Oulu, Sodankylä, Tampere and Turku. Read more about the event and your local programme at www.tutkijoidenyo.fi
For more information:
Janne Pakarinen
University of Jyväskylä
janne.pakarinen@jyu.fi / 040 8054900
Liisa Harjula
University of Jyväskylä
liisa.harjula@jyu.fi / 040 805 4403
The European Researchers’ Night project is funded under the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Plan, agreement number 817987.