European Researchers' Night 2022-2023 takes place on 30 September

The University of Coimbra (UC) coordinates another edition of the European Researchers' Night (EIS) in the city of Coimbra. With the theme "Science for All, Sustainability and Inclusion", UC researchers are invited to participate in several science communication activities for all ages. The Science Route, scheduled for 30 September, promotes animating the downtown of Coimbra with a diversified programme of science and culture.

The face-to-face programme of the Science Route includes more than 50 points spread from Largo da Portagem to Rua da Sofia, where researchers will promote various activities between 5pm and midnight. The Science Route is promoted in close collaboration with the Coimbra Promotion Bureau (APBC) and supported by Coimbra City Hall. To guide visitors on this route, and learn about the places, activities, researchers involved and associated partners, a web app that gathers all this information will be available.

"This is an event that puts Coimbra on the map of European cities that promote scientific research developed in their research centres to the general public," highlights Vice-Rector and Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research of the UC, Cláudia Cavadas. "This initiative highlights the strategy of the University of Coimbra in disseminating the scientific research developed at the UC in various areas, contributing to scientific literacy, bringing researchers closer to society. On the other hand, this event reinforces and promotes the development of the scientific community's science communication skills, contributing for science to be better understood by the entire population", says the researcher.

For the President of APBC, Assunção Ataíde, the "partnership has been a constant challenge for the city, both for the citizens and the shopkeepers themselves, because the exchange of experiences between these communities has been very beneficial for everyone". "The meeting between Science/Research and Commercial Companies has been a form of mutual enrichment and a path of excellence for all. We not only demystify the complexity of the scientist, but we also dignify the dialogue between science and the citizen," he highlights.

Besides the Science Route, the programme of the Researchers' European Night in Coimbra will have several initiatives, such as:

Sciever@Talks, relaxed conversations with researchers from the University of Coimbra, promoted by iiiUC and supported by Rómulo de Carvalho, for students from the Senior Universities of Coimbra region. In these talks, relevant themes of the research done at the University will be approached, such as Healthy Aging, Sustainability, Equality and Diversity. These talks will take place between September 19th and 22nd.

Friday of Science, takes place on September 23rd with the presentation of two Science Mini-Shows in Largo da Portagem (16:00) and Praça 8 de Maio (18:00), showing a bit of what you can see at the 50 points Science Route on September 30th.

Digital Open Day presents several online activities for schools all over the country, including two promoted by UC researchers. This activity takes place on September 27th. Interested institutions can register and access the programme at noitedosinvestigadores.org.

PubhD Coimbra consists of the presentation of doctoral projects by three UC students in an informal setting of a bar. This initiative takes place on 29 September at Liquidâmbar, at 22h00.

Researchers@Schools, students from the Schools of the Coimbra Region will develop, together with UC researchers, small research projects on topics related to Inclusion and/or Sustainability. The projects are presented in the Science Route. This activity takes place throughout the 2022/2023 academic year.

Finally, and on the same day that the Science Route takes place, 30 September, the BioBlitz takes place, aiming to involve the general public in the collection of useful data for science and nature conservation.

All the information about the initiatives promoted by the UC is available at https://www.uc.pt/iii/nei/.

The 2022 edition of the European Researchers' Night is coordinated in Coimbra by the UC's Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, included in a national consortium with Évora, Lisbon and Braga. With the purpose of promoting awareness and the population's involvement in Science, more than 50 activities will be represented, mostly in person, involving more than 400 researchers, 50 PhD students/volunteers, about 30 Research & Development units and other institutions.