Blue-connect - Reconnect Science with the Blue Society

Project number: 101061595

Program: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

Project budget: 314074.00 EUR

Start date: 01.05.2022.

End date: 31.10.2023.

COORDINATOR: University of Split

PARTNERS: University of Zadar, Institute of Oceanography and fisheries Split, Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences (MedILS) Split, Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karts Reclamation Split, University of Dubrovnik, University of Pula, University of Rijeka

ABOUT PROJECT: Blue-connect gathers partners from five main coastal cities of the Mediterranean part of Croatia, whose research is greatly characterized by natural, biomedical, environmental, social, and economic aspects of the sea.  Composed of five working packages that reflect the overall objectives, project will implement activities that promote research and science in an understandable and comprehensible way and encourage engagement of the general public and youth with science to jointly act on relevant problems facing the Mediterranean.

THE MAIN OBJECTIVE: The main objective of Blue-connect is to reconnect science with society by bringing research and researchers closer to the public, boosting public recognition of science and research education, and building trust and understanding of science and its impact on the blue society in the region.

The European Researchers' Night takes place every year, on the last Friday of September. The European Researchers’ Night targets the general public, addressing and attracting people regardless of the level of their scientific background, with a special focus on families, pupils and students, and notably those who do not have easy access to, and thus are less inclined to engage in STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) or research activities.

Activities during the NIGHT will allow the public and youth to participate in experiments that will help them understand research and science. To ensure the activities are achieving desired impact, methodology and tools for evaluating the impact of project activities and the perception of the general public and youth will be developed and implemented. Successful implementation of the project will ultimately increase trust in research and science by the general public and youth in Croatia.