Open Exchange on European Researchers’ Night
On October 29, EUSEA hosted the first session in a new season of our Public Engagement Hotpots — an online space for community members to exchange ideas, share challenges, and discuss emerging issues in science communication and public engagement.
For this opening session, we revisited a theme first explored nearly a year ago: the experiences of those involved in the 2025 edition of the European Researchers’ Night — an annual, Europe-wide initiative funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) that brings researchers and the public together through interactive activities, showcasing the value of science in everyday life and inspiring future generations.
This time, we were joined by Sybille Luhmann, Policy Officer at MSCA, and it was also a great opportunity for EUSEA’s new Director, Jörg Weiss, to introduce himself to the community — almost face-to-face.
Keeping with the food theme- as always- here are some of the “takeaways” from this discussion:
European Researchers’ Night Discussion
The meeting focused on the European Researchers’ Night (ERN), its history, funding, and future. Jörg, the new director of EUSEA, emphasised the importance of continuing the event while remaining open to improvements. Sybille from the European Commission outlined recent funding changes and encouraged participants to share experiences via a collaborative Miro board.
European Researchers’ Night Evolution
Celebrating ERN’s 20th anniversary, Sybille highlighted its growth, increased budgets, and the success of the Researchers at Schools Initiative, which reached 350,000 pupils. Participants discussed the diversity of activities across Europe and the importance of large-scale events for visibility and impact.
European Researchers’ Nights Collaboration Updates
EUSEA President -Kenneth Skelton – underscored the value of collaboration among ERNs, with examples of cross-country campaigns achieving wide reach. Sybille announced updates to the MSC and Citizens Call, including a higher minimum budget (€350,000) and a two-step evaluation process. The record number of 240 applications from 42 countries reflected growing interest in ERN partnerships.
Enhancing Researchers’ Night Impact
Participants shared best practices and challenges. András Merza, from RCISD, described Hungary’s success with 60+ participating cities, while Ricardo Domínguez (MEDNIGHT) suggested coordinated international campaigns. Jörg noted timing difficulties in Germany, and Sílvia Simon Rabasseda (Universitat de Girona) and Sybil shared that in Catalonia, ERN serves as a launchpad for year-round school projects.
Researchers’ Night Timing Challenges
Edward Duca and Karen Fiorini from the University of Malta, and the Malta Chamber of Scientists, noted challenges with early September events due to storms and school schedules. Sybille announced that future calls will open earlier (March–June) to allow more preparation time.
European Researchers’ Night Strategic Evolution
Discussions centred on evolving strategies, hybrid formats, and industry engagement. András described Hungary’s inclusion of new partners and extensive programming. Sílvia observed increasing public diversity and engagement, while Karen emphasised ethical partnerships. Ahmed Maalel (MSCA-GLOPOL) shared experiences from Tunisia, highlighting collaboration with civil society organisations.
European Researchers’ Night Working Groups
Participants proposed establishing working groups to support ERN organisers, share evaluation methodologies, and foster joint communication initiatives. Edward suggested building comparable data sets for academic publication, while Jörg stressed collaboration and multilingual resources.
European Researchers’ Night Impact Assessment
Sybille outlined evaluation procedures and future improvements to the ERN website, including a more interactive map and success stories. The group discussed creating a community-driven working group to sustain exchange between members, with Christopher offering to compile and share meeting notes via the EUSEA website.
EUSEA Conference and Events Update
The upcoming #EUSEA26 conference in Luxembourg (May 19–21, 2024) will celebrate its 25th anniversary. EUSEA project officer -Chris Styles- announced the open call for contributions (deadline: December 1) and introduced the new “EUSEA Market Stalls” format for sharing tools and resources. The next Hotpot event, “Under the Influence: Harnessing Social Media for Science” (November 26), will explore evolving digital communication strategies. Jörg encouraged new members to join and contribute to EUSEA’s growing community.
