Over 1 million people including more than 7,000 scientists and researchers come together to explore, discover and discuss their dreams in 360 cities across Europe for Researchers’ Night (RN). This European Commission initiative challenges science communicators at over 2,000 organisations across the continent, including many science centres and museums, to dream, innovate and evolve new methodologies to strengthen relationships between scientists, science, innovation and wider society. As a programme Researchers’ Night enables local approaches for local audiences to combine on a continental scale.

A rich poster session will display case-specific examples and innovation from a range of countries across the EU with the intention of promoting wider discussion of the benefits of scale and local innovation as well as the challenges of implementing a central concept across a diverse social landscape. With aspirations to better integrate science into local communities and culture, the project dreams to raise appreciation and aspiration. The project also strives to measure the impact of these interventions, some of this impact and approaches used to measure impact will also be shared.

In a summary discussion inviting wider perspectives we will share dreams that have been realised, explore differences and similarities, successes and learning from what may be Europe’s largest science communication event.

All posters and the discussion will be guided by the following intended outcomes:

(1) Participants will reflect on their own practice in the light of diverse approaches from across the EU. (2) Participants’ own creativity will be stimulated through seeing other creative approaches to public engagement with science/scientists. (3) Increased awareness of similarities and differences in science communication interventions and impact assessment across diverse cultural landscapes. (4) Participants will take away ideas for innovation within other programmes and settings.