#EUSEA26

Parallels Sessions II - 2.2 ACT Waterford: can creatives working with scientists change attitudes and behaviour on climate action?
2023-05-03 14:00 - 14:45 UTC | Seminar Room 123
Sheila Donegan, Eoin GillNollaig Healy, Calmast, South East Technological University, Ireland

Citizens are aware of climate change but move to action is slow. Can creatives with scientists engaging communities help change attitudes and behaviour?

ACT Waterford , a yearlong interdisciplinary climate action project did just that. Waterford a county in Ireland has a population of 127,000 that aims to decarbonise by 2040. Working with the council, Calmast STEM engagement centre selected 5 different communities, pairing them with 5 creatives and scientists, each focused on a separate climate action theme. Creatives from theatre, visual arts, sculpture, horticulture, sustainability used various techniques to attract /engage individuals (all ages and backgrounds) and communities. The works were displayed in cultural festivals.

This session will relate how ACT Waterford created, engaged and activated a diverse range of urban, rural and online communities on climate action. It will reflect on the difficulties met in a complex multi-audience and multi-disciplinary project

Parallels Sessions II - 2.1 Parasite Street Science
2023-05-03 14:00 - 14:45 | Auditorium
Hannah Bialic, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, UKNicola Veitch, the School of Infection and Immunity, at the University of Glasgow.

Parasite Street Science is an initiative formed between the University of Glasgow and the street theatre company SURGE in 2019. This collaboration’s goal is to improve communication and public engagement through the art of street theatre – specifically communication about sleeping sickness: a deadly parasitic disease transmitted by the tsetse fly. The performance was showcased at the Merchant City Festival in 2021 and again in 2022, forming the basis of the main stage of the project, which took place in Malawi in October 2022. The project involved community members, scientists, medical practitioners, health and theatre professionals from both Scotland and Malawi: a global effort exploring the potential of street theatre for complex health issues. The performance toured villages in two infection hotspots performed to thousands of people. Our session will lead the discussion on how to build a street theatre performance that simplifies complex ideas and creates impact.

Lunch Break
2023-05-03 13:00 - 14:00 | Conference Hall / Garden

Parallels Sessions I - 1.4 Intersectoral Engagement – Planetary Health as a case study
2023-05-03 11:30 - 13:00 | Seminar Room 7
Niklas Marzinek, Falling Walls Foundation, Germany

Maria Hagardt, Public & Science, Sweden

Successful solutions need interconnected ecosystems – The new academic field and policy framework ‘Planetary Health’ represents the idea of an intersectoral mindset not only in its name and core idea of connecting human health and environmental sustainability, but also in the way it urges for joint efforts from multiple sectors, research disciplines, and social and political actors. This session will use the ‘Planetary Health’ framework as a case study to explore means of embedding Engagement practices, creating new and even unlikely partnerships and integrating expertise from beyond the network to adequately address complex challenges. Representatives from the international Falling Walls Engage Hubs, whose Science Engagement activities center around engagement with Planetary Health, will share and discuss their insights on how to foster local solutions and global impact through multi-stakeholder involvement.

Parallels Sessions I – 1.2 Horizon Talks
2023-05-03 11:30 - 13:00 | Seminar Room 123
Kristin Anders, University of Galway, Ireland

Giving Real Opportunities to Widen participation in STEM with novel approaches and partnerships

Ireland has developed many avenues over the past decades to address educational disadvantage. These efforts include providing schools within disadvantaged communities with additional resources, as well as the development of strong Youth Work sector. While strides have been made, gaps remain around science identity and interest. Resources remain a major barrier. Non-formal science education is a critical aspect of building science identity and science capital. Hands-on, tailored and authentic experiences offer young people diverse and unique opportunities to engage in science.

Through collaborations with the Youth Work sector and schools, we found a way to widen participation and reach communities often left out. We developed two activities, an Escape Room and Youth Science Club, designed to Give Real Opportunity to Widen participation in STEM in these contexts. The design of these activities as well preliminary findings on the evaluation will be presented.

Deja Lusk, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Promoting STEM Gender Equity: Challenges and Pathways for Change

There is a current international political focus on increasing and widening participation in STEM. One of the leading arguments for positively impacting on STEM participation is addressing STEM identity, attitudes and aspirations. Leading research in the field conducted by the ASPIRES project (2012, 2020) evidences addressing three areas of impact that contribute to the agentic development of STEM identity, attitudes and aspirations. In an effort to understand effective strategies addressing gender equity in Scottish STEM, a study was conducted which highlighted ways in which to promote STEM gender equity. This Horizon Talk highlights the findings from this study, primarily, the challenges and pathways for change in STEM gender equity.

Jackie Gorman, Midland Science & Craig Slattery, University College Dublin, Ireland

Sharing Science – making science communications accessible

As the world becomes more complex, it is vital that science communications is as accessible as possible. Accessibility ensures that science is reflective of society as it responds to society. Midlands Science has been working with the support of the Medtronic Foundation to develop practices that will make science communications more accessible and this work is currently in progress. It will culminate in a guide to accessible science communications and training based on research and practice work using strategies such as science capital, universal design for learning, key practices from adult literacy education and also design tools that respond to dyslexia, dyscalculia etc. The session will present a real-time review of the research undertaken to date, progress to date on developing an accessibility guide and training and anticipated outcomes from this work including a theory of change overview and an emerging community of practice in making science communications accessible.

Eugenia Covernton, Lecturers Without Borders, France

Lecturers Without Borders: removing barriers to science outreach

The learning of STEM from an early age is very important to empower a new generation to face the challenges of the 21st century. Teachers around the world do their best to motivate students in the learning of STEM subjects, and most academic institutions try to contribute by organising outreach activities. However, there’s big inequalities in access to STEM outreach. Schools that are in close proximity to academic institutions and that have more economic resources have a much easier time joining outreach events, while scientists and schools from underrepresented communities and/or with lower resources tend to have less opportunities to participate in them.

Lecturers Without Borders aims to contribute to lowering the barriers for both schools and scientists, by organising visits of scientists to schools around the world. This creates new possibilities for science engagement in unprivileged communities and gives visibility to work done by scientists all around the world.

Heribert Insam, University of Innsbruck, Austria

MicrobeX – a science center featuring microorganisms

The upcoming MicrobeX-Science Center in Zirl, Austria, shall focus on microorganisms governing our daily life. The storyline will be crossing atmospheric microbiology related to climate change, food microbiology and environmental biotechnology. Visitors will appreciate living microorganisms doing their job in wastewater purification, biogas, food and pharmaceuticals production. A most central role will have matter cycles, starting from deadwood decomposition, soil dwelling microbes and those associated with plants, supplying them with nutrients and making organic agriculture possible. Aesthetically pleasant staging will attract the visitors’ eye, giving unforgettable impressions on luminescent bacteria, unicellulars like the Physarum polycephalum or novel, mycelium-based building materials. Algal and other microbe-based facades will show how future cities may eventually become greener.

Parallels Sessions I – 1.1 Horizon Talks
2023-05-03 11:30 - 13:00 | Auditorium
Julia Brink, Public & Science, SwedenCitizen Science to help the environment

Plastic pollution in nature is one of today’s major global environmental problems. The production, use and waste management of plastic products leads to environmental impacts affecting humans, plants and animals. To inform, engage and empower people regarding this challenge, VA (Public & Science) coordinates the Plastic Experiment as one part of the science festival European Researchers’ Night.Citizens from across Sweden are involved in collecting and analysing plastic waste in nature. The Experiment is divided into a collection part for everyone and a voluntary analysis part for senior pupils. The participants select one of six types of natural environment and collect the plastic litter found in a 100-meter-long area. The litter is then weighed and sorted into different categories of plastic. The results are submitted using an app. In the Plastic Experiment they also learn about the environment and why we need to keep it clean, at the same time as actually picking up litter.

David Gruber, Museum of Nature South Tyrol, ItalyNachtlichtbühne – we count lights because the night matters

Light pollution is the superposition of natural light by artificial light and the resulting artificial brightening of the night. This particular type of pollution not only affects astronomers, but also has many negative impacts on humans, flora and fauna.

In September and October 2021 the “Museum of Nature South Tyrol” and the “Planetarium South Tyrol” coordinated a local measurement campaign within the international Citizen Science project “Nachtlicht BüHNE”. The goal of this project is to collect data on artificial light sources on the ground using a smartphone application and compare these data to satellite data which show a worldwide increase in artificial lightning.

In my presentation, I will talk about the challenges and experiences made before, during, and after the measurement campaign with local citizen scientists in Bolzano

Mar Escarrabill, Science for Change, SpainHOOP Trainers: Shaping the circular bioeconomy through play and co-creation

Advancement towards circularity needs a wide range of interconnected expertises working together. Enter Citizen Science (CS): the involvement of citizens in research through multiple roles. The CS gamified intervention “HOOP trainers” -designed within the circular bioeconomy EU project HOOP- aims to introduce key scientific concepts and optimise the separate collection of the organic fraction in 8 cities through a bottom-up approach.

The web-based game (co-designed and adapted for each HOOP city) is based on an avatar’s training with a mission: convert organic waste into useful products. User’s decisions along the game will be analysed to better understand the perception of biowaste separation, the social acceptance of bioproducts, and the citizen’s needs and recommendations to build a more circular city. In parallel, participants are able to discuss offline the results obtained in the Biowaste Clubs, an open platform to co-create circular strategies among quadruple helix stakeholders.

Hélène Doerflinger, Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, UK“Made the same way” podcast series: When young artists dialogue with scientists and sing their thoughts

We are all different, but we all start as fertilised eggs – we’re made the same way. Human developmental biology is an emotive area – miscarriage, fertility, abortion and use of human embryos in research – and scientists are often worried about engaging with the public and accidentally provoking backlashes against their research. The “Made the same way” podcast series is a collaboration between young artists and scientists in partnership with Reform Radio to embrace the difficult conversations about this research and its ethical, legal and social implications. Each episode encourages thinking and discussion about using human cells in labs. Each artist has reflected on their conversation with a scientist by creating an original song or poem to echo their feelings and stimulate curiosity about research in human developmental biology amongst their peers and explore how it might contribute positively to society.

Marlene Dattoli, University of MaltaCo-creation card game to drive environmental justice

Transitioning to a low-carbon economy in the next several decades will be necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change. In this regard, this interactive workshop will create a space using creative tools and processes for participants to explore their role as enablers of a just and sustainable future.

Co-design, co-creation, citizen science, open innovation have become buzzwords used in the public engagement with research. Through a card game called CourseKit, based on design thinking processes. Participants will co-design ideas to bring policy makers, regional bodies, citizens and researchers together for impactful participatory science engagement activities to address Nature-based solutions (NbS) for the ‘wicked problems’ of climate change and biodiversity loss based on the principle of the right to ecological spaces. This talk is inspired by the EU-funded projects, Varcities (H2020), JUSTNature (H2020) and SciCultureD (ERasmus+).

Coffee break
2023-05-03 11:00 - 11:30

Keynote Marc Zebisch
2023-05-03 10:30 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Climate Change: Communicating Complexity

Marc Zebisch holds a PhD from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the TU-Berlin and has been conducting climate impact research and climate risk assessments for more than 15 years. At Eurac Research, he focuses on the impacts of climate change in South Tyrol and climate risks in other regions and mountain areas. He is the lead author of the Eurac Research Climate Report. Since 2005, he has been a key contributor to climate risk assessments for the Federal Republic of Germany, and is a member of the European Environment Agency’s Climate Change and Adaptation Topic Center (EEA-ETC_CCA), the Steering Committee of the Austrian Climate Research Program (ACRP), and the Climate Council of the Alpine Convention (ACB).

Conference Opening
2023-05-03 10:00 - 10:30
Welcome and Introduction by EUSEA President Cissi Askwall and EURAC President Roland Psenner.

#EUSEA2023 Bolzano, Italy
2023-05-03 09:00 - 2023-05-04 17:30 | Eurac Research Headquarters, Viale Druso Drususallee, 1, Bolzano, Italy
On the 3rd and 4th of May 2023 we will meet in the Tyrolean city of Bolzano in Italy. Get ready for a swirling programme with exciting keynotes, mind-opening workshops and challenging debates! #EUSEA23 will be held at Eurac Research Headquarters in partnership with EUSEA and the team from Eurac Research Communication!

Make sure to arrive the day before the main programme to enjoy an exclusive EUSEA-visit to the famous Ötzi Museum – see the social program!

Pathfinders on a Mission!

Exploring Engagement in a Complex World

Why did we choose this motto for our conference?

We live in a world in which challenges seem to be increasingly complex and where solutions can only be found in interconnected ecosystems. Communicating this complexity is key when it comes to stimulating curiosity, engagement and trust in research and innovation processes.

But in times of rapid transformation and multiple disruptions, we need more than a translation of research results to “the public”. We need new partnerships, new skills and new methodologies to involve citizens and stakeholders, researchers and policy makers in active co-creation processes.

How best can we embrace change, discover innovative pathways and create new relationships inside and outside academia? These will be questions addressed at #EUSEA23 in Bolzano.

Don’t miss the social program of #EUSEA23!

Tuesday 02.05. 18:00Visit Ötzi the Iceman @ South Tyrol Archeology Museum

More than 5,000 years ago, a man ascended the icy heights of the Ötztal Alps and died there. In 1991, his remains – together with his clothing and equipment, mummified and frozen – were discovered by chance. This archaeological sensation has since provided a unique glimpse into the life of a Chalcolithic man traveling at high altitudes.

After many years of investigation by highly-specialized research teams, the mummy recovered from the glacier and the accompanying artifacts is now housed at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Coming face to face with Ötzi the Iceman we are not only fascinated, and astonished, but also moved by this encounter with the past. Research has revealed the fate of this individual bringing his story to our imaginations.

© South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology/Ochsenreiter

Tuesday 02.05. 20:00Pizza & Beer @ Eurac Research

Meet and greet the day before the conference in the Eurac Research garden Over beer and pizza, get to know the conference location, and network in a relaxed atmosphere, you can also register for the conference.

Wednesday 03.05. 18:30South Tyrol’s Autonomy – Guided city tour @ Waltherplatz

We invite you to join us on a very special walk through Bolzano/Bozen to discover the mechanisms behind South Tyrol’s autonomy. Find out how our territorial autonomy came about and the special features and influences it has on everyday life in South Tyrol. Our colleagues from the Center for Autonomy Experience will be your guides.

Duration: 1.5 h.Start: Waltherplatz/Piazza WaltherEnd: Conference Dinner @ Mareccio Castle

Wednesday 03.05. 20:00Conference Dinner @ Mareccio Castle

Close to the centre of the historic town of Bolzano and nevertheless in the heart of nature, lies Castle Mareccio/Maretsch. The castle dates back to the 12th century and will be the setting for our conference dinner. During dinner, we will learn how to yodel together in a short workshop with Markus Prieth.

Welcome Coffee & Registration
2023-05-03 09:00 - 10:00
Let’s get ready for the exploration!

Get yourself energized with a cup of coffee, a snack and some friendly chats with your fellow pathfinders! Strengthen yourself for two days filled with intense and mutual learning, networking, and entertainment!

Pizza & Beer
2023-05-02 20:00 | Eurac Research Headquarters, Viale Druso Drususallee, 1, Bolzano, Italy
Meet and greet the day before the conference in the Eurac Research garden Over beer and pizza, get to know the conference location, and network in a relaxed atmosphere, you can also register for the conference.
