On April 30, nearly 80 researchers from across Europe and the Mediterranean came together online for a dynamic and interactive training workshop aimed at preparing them to participate in MEDNIGHT 2025 – the Mediterranean Researchers’ Night. This EU-funded initiative brings science to the streets and schools, making research more accessible to the public, particularly young audiences.
The training was structured to help researchers effectively convey their work to non-expert audiences, especially school students. Participants received a certificate of participation following the event.
Watch the training video in this link
Workshop Highlights
The two-hour session featured a combination of presentations and hands-on activities:
Ricardo Dominguez Jover (El Caleidoscopio) opened the session by introducing the scope of MEDNIGHT and how researchers can get involved in outreach activities across Europe.
Myrtani Pieri (University of Nicosia) inspired participants with practical advice on transforming lab-based research into hands-on school activities.
Marie Pequignot (Genopolys) led an hour-long interactive segment focused on simplifying complex scientific language. Researchers worked in breakout groups to translate technical terms into accessible language for school students.
The last part of the training was especially engaging. Researchers were divided into small breakout rooms where they interacted closely, explaining their research to one another and jointly brainstorming how to simplify technical terms for a younger or general audience.
These peer-to-peer exchanges encouraged collaboration across disciplines and helped participants better understand how their work could be communicated clearly and meaningfully outside of academia.
Diverse and Engaged Audience
According to the registrations and a follow-up survey:
- Participants came from around 20 countries: Spain, France, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Poland, India, Tunisia, Malta, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, Nigeria, Portugal, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- The group included young researchers, university faculty, and professionals in scientific outreach.
- More than 60% of participants identified as female, reflecting a strong representation of women in MEDNIGHT.
High Satisfaction and Valuable Impact
Feedback from the 33 researchers who responded to the survey showed high satisfaction:
- 85% rated the training 4 or 5 out of 5 for improving their communication skills.
- A similar percentage found the session valuable for engaging with students and citizens.
- Interaction with public authorities was rated slightly lower, highlighting an area for future development.
Looking Ahead
The training played a key role in preparing researchers for their involvement in MEDNIGHT 2025, while also strengthening their ability to communicate science clearly and effectively. Based on the feedback received, the organisers are working to refine and enhance future workshops.
