Irene Gianordoli, BFW – Bundesforschungszentrum für Wald
Forest Groove – forest biodiversity in harmony
“Forest Groove” is a Citizen Science project that engages students in exploring forest biodiversity through sound. Partnering with institutions like the Natural History Museum Vienna, students record and analyze forest soundscapes—bird calls, insect activity, and human traces—to assess ecosystem health. Using platforms like iNaturalist, they contribute valuable data to conservation research while creating sound mixes and podcasts to communicate findings. This project blends STEM with the arts, fostering environmental awareness and scientific curiosity. The talk will showcase how sound-based research can inspire hands-on, interdisciplinary learning and deepen ecological engagement.
Miguel Carrasco Tellado, Fundación Descubre
Scientific Tourism: Navigating towards a sustainable and inclusive economy in rural areas through science engagement
Scientific Tourism, led by Fundación Descubre, aims to bring science closer to society by creating new opportunities for collaboration between scientists, public engagement professionals, and tourism entrepreneurs. The project focuses on establishing sustainable and inclusive tourism in areas with limited economic resources, drawing visitors through science-driven cultural experiences.
Building on Spain’s strong tourism industry, the project expands the science communication agenda, transforming successful outreach initiatives into unique cultural and experiential journeys. Descubre has established Spain’s first network of scientific tourism promoters, now including 114 members, and developed an introductory manual to the field. The initiative also offers 10 routes for Andalusian scientific tourism and sets criteria and indicators for new promoters.
Dimitar Uzunov, Arte Urbana Collectif
Please ASK! – Art Science Kick – Kick-off new methodologies in performing art and science collaboration
Please ASK! is a Creative Europe co-funded project that bridges art and science through theatre. By fostering collaboration between artists, scientists, and educators, the initiative develops engaging performances on topics like astrobiology, quantum physics, and evolutionary biology. Following a research phase and a creative laboratory, project partners will produce science-themed theatre performances tailored to diverse audiences, including underrepresented groups. This talk will showcase the project’s innovative methods, capacity-building process, and potential as a replicable model for science communication. Please ASK! demonstrates how performing arts can serve as a powerful tool for engaging society with science in an accessible and impactful way.
Andrea Brunello, Arditodesio
Theatre and climate awareness: engaging hard to reach audiences
Writing a great book (The Climate We Want) for popularizing top notch climate research for young audiences seems like a great idea. Young people need to be made aware of what is going on! But what if nobody reads it? The whole project can be quite frustrating and a waste of resources. That is why the University of Padova (Italy) and Arditodesio joined forces to produce a theatrical play with the aim to communicate the contents of the book and its… existence, joining forces to raise awareness towards the most pressing issues of our time. This 8 minute talk will show how a science communication book on the Climate Crisis provided the backbone of a theatrical play targeting young and not so young audiences in northern Italy and beyond and how we achieved the results we were aiming for.
David Fjolnir Armannsson, The Icelandic Centre for Research – RANNIS
Brewing Curiosity: A Cup of Warm Cocoa with a Stir of Science
Science can often feel distant, like an ocean separating experts from the public. The Science-Cocoa (Icelandic: Vísindakakó), an Icelandic science outreach initiative, offers a simple yet powerful solution: connecting scientists and communities over a cup of warm cocoa. These informal gatherings create a space where complex ideas become approachable, sparking curiosity and conversation.
Science-Cocoa takes over the public space at libraries and offers scientists the opportunity to share stories about their research, while guests are encouraged to ask questions and engage in discussions. This approach helps scientists develop better communication skills while making science accessible to everyone, from children to adults. The events show that science isn’t just for labs or classrooms—it’s for everyone, everywhere.
In this presentation, we’ll explore how Science-Cocoa has inspired curiosity, strengthened connections, and created lasting memories.
Catarina Moura, INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
Using circus to trim the sails of science communication
In a world where the complexity of science discourages public engagement, NanoCircus offers an innovative approach. This INL initiative combined nanoscience with circus arts, presenting the nano-world to diverse audiences in an accessible and engaging way.
The project emerged from an artistic residency with Equilibrium Social Circus, a social initiative to tackle behavioural issues in adolescence. Teenage artists immersed themselves in INL’s labs, learning about nanotechnology firsthand. At the same time, they became circus teachers, sharing their skills with researchers and clearing turbulent waters between science and creativity. The result was a one-evening performance blending scientific concepts with artistic expression, making complex ideas more relatable.
NanoCircus shows how unconventional and interdisciplinary methods can steer science communication on course, promoting dialogue between scientists and artists, and serving as a model for future public engagement initiatives.