Researchers are Europe’s stars for a night (plus link to background MEMO)

Brussels, 13 September 2005

23 September 2005 will see the first ‘European Researchers’ Night”. This event, part of the Researchers in Europe 2005 initiative will take place in cities across the EU. More than 30 national, regional and local organisers - businesses, academic institutions, research organisations, public authorities – will host scientific events and activities in a relaxed and festive setting. The aim of the Night, with its exhibitions, games, interactive entertainment, and scientific experiments is to demonstrate the excitement of a career in research, as well as its importance to our society. People from all walks of life will be able to find out more about what researchers do and who they are. Brussels will be the centre of the night’s activities, with four major events taking place around the city.

The Brussels events will take place in 4 different locations, between 18.00 and 1.00am

• A humanoid robot show with Asimo, a robot built by a team involving European researchers and interactive hands-on experiments in the Halles St Gery
• An opportunity to discover the mysteries of the southern skies at the Brussels Planetarium
• Unlock the secrets of nature – animal, vegetable, mineral and everything else – at the Institute of Natural Sciences
• Pass the three scientific challenges set by ULB’s Inforsciences team.

A free shuttle service will link the 4 sites.

Elsewhere, events will include:

• a night of stargazing in the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Slovenia
• solving a “Crime in the Science Museum” in Portugal,
• a science café in Copenhagen
• “Research goes on stage” in Camerino, Italy
• An ‘Experiments Marathon’ in Hungary

More details on these and other events across Europe are in MEMO/05/316 and at http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/researchersineurope/events/upevents/list_events_en.cfm

The Researchers in Europe 2005 initiative is a Europe-wide platform for the promotion of science and research, focussing on the individuals involved in this fascinating field. It is hoped that through direct interaction with scientists, people will get a better understanding of what they do, young people will be encouraged to consider science as a career and young researchers will see Europe as a dynamic and exciting place to carry out their research.

Researchers’ Night – 23 September 2005
MEMO/05/316

Item source: IP/05/1131 Date: 13/09/2005 Previous Item Back to Titles Print Item