On European Researchers’ Night, which took place on 27 September, the Pavilion of Knowledge opened its doors after hours for citizens to have access to a different kind of evening, with a wide range of research projects from various fields. The NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH) joined this initiative and shared some of its projects with the thousands of citizens who passed by, through videos, games and other dynamics that brought science closer to everyone.
Does the configuration of spaces influence our health? What about the design of public spaces? These were two of the main questions that guided NOVA NSPH’s participation in this European Researchers’ Night. By watching short videos and taking part in quizzes, a group of NOVA NSPH researchers (Carolina Santos, Louise Hoffmeister, Maria José Diniz and Patrícia Sousa Paulo) explored the attributes of healthy communities and how living environments influence the incidence of disease and the sustainability of life on the planet.
Through a memory game, the younger ones had the chance to realise the impact that plastic is having on the world and on our bodies. For the older ones, a quiz challenged their knowledge of the organisation of cities, the impact of mobility and many other issues. There was also the chance to present videos and messages from other projects related to different areas, from women’s health to patient safety and the quality of healthcare.
NOVA NSPH’s participation followed an invitation from the Ciência Viva Agency. This year’s theme was ‘Science for Global Challenges’. The European Research Night is being celebrated in more and more places and is an event that aims to bring science closer to society, bringing it to the most diverse audiences in a simple, fun and captivating way.
The first European Researchers’ Night took place in 2005, organised by the European Commission. The event now takes place in 26 countries and more than 300 cities, with a different theme every year.