Summary
In all cities will be organized in order to introduce researchers to the general public and sparkle new friendships, following the usual steps in making friends. The goal of the awareness campaign is to make the face of science a familiar face. Activities planned for the main event will be organized around the topics based on those that friends usually engage in.
Be A Friend: Hang Out – In this section of the program visitors of all ages will have a chance to meet the scientists in cafes and chat with them over a coffee or ice-cream in a relaxed atmosphere. Unlike other activities where the researchers will be interacting with many visitors at the same time, this will be a unique opportunity to meet face to face and talk about science, hobbies, movies etc.
Be A Friend: Meet Our Parents This section of the program will contain hands-on experiments, demonstrations and science shows describing the science behind some of the major discoveries in the history of science, as well as some of the modern day research inspired by them. The stories of lives of the 10 chosen “parents” - “fathers” and “mothers” of modern day science, will be presented to visitors, together with explanations about their main work (e.g. the story about Richard Feynman and his impact on the development of nanotechnology, or the story about Marie Sklodowska Curie and her work on radioactivity). These stories will be presented along with the work of the present-day researchers that followed from the work of “parents” (e.g. related to Feynman – interactive demonstration about current research in field of nanotechnology, or related to M. S. Curie – interactive workshop about how radioactive isotopes are today used in medicine).
Be A Friend: Support Them – “The Y Factor” This section of the program presents a competition between researchers and science professionals for the best science communicator, which we call “The Y Factor” (designed
FRIEND2U
to resemble the famous talent competition known as the X Factor). During the awareness campaign the audition will be organized, where the jury will choose 10 finalists. The finalists will compete in the finals during the main event, in front of the audience to support them and vote for the best short explanation of a scientific concept.
Be A Friend: Enjoy Activities Together – Visitors will have the opportunity to engage in social activities with researchers - play basketball together (a small tournament between the scientists and the general public will be organized for the event), sing karaoke, paint, etc. The purpose of these activities is to show the other side of science to the public – to show the researchers as every day people who have hobbies and enjoy activities other than their work.
Be A Friend: Help Them Out – We will design special interactive science quizzes, science treasure hunts and puzzles for visitors, which they will solve on their own, with maybe just a little help from their friend – the Scientist.
Be A Friend: Discuss and Hear Them Out –Several lectures will already be given in schools during the awareness campaign, while two additional lectures for the widest public will be organized during the Night itself. A public debate on one of the currently hot topics will also be organized.
Be A Friend: Meet Our Friends This segment will also present the opportunity to engage people that are not from science-background in activities that promote science (e.g. a stand-up comedy act on the topic of science, mime artists and actors who will be facilitators of activities for the youngest). Moreover, a 30 min science show will be created by scientists and artists, specifically for the Friend2U RN, and will consist of on-stage experiments wrapped in the elements of a drama play.
Be A Friend: Meet Our Kids In this section we will introduce the next generations of scientists to the public – high school students, winners of the scientific Olympic games.
Be A Friend: Meet
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