The Athena Research Center at the Mediterranean Researchers' Night - MEDNIGHT 2024
A Celebration of Science and Innovation with a Mediterranean Flair
23-07-2024
The Athena Research Center is participating in the pan-European Researchers' Night MEDNIGHT 2024 (www.mednight.eu) with a grand celebration in Xanthi on September 27, 2024.
The 5th edition of the "Mediterranean Researchers' Night," or MEDNIGHT, is a project funded by the European Union (Marie Curie Actions) aimed at presenting the friendlier side of science conducted in Mediterranean countries to both young people and adults.
In collaboration with partner organizations, Athena will create a series of unique events as part of the celebration of the Mediterranean Researchers' Night in Xanthi. Specifically, there will take place exhibitions, workshops, talks, games, discussions, and competitions related to research, intended for different audiences, to highlight the value of Mediterranean science. These events will take place at Athena's facilities and other locations around the city.
What is MEDNIGHT?
MEDNIGHT aspires to spread the concept of Mediterranean Science worldwide, a journey through knowledge exchange networks, shared scientific practices, and the utilization of citizens' experiences, while highlighting the contributions of women researchers. It aims to showcase the importance of Mediterranean science and the need for sustainable solutions to common problems faced by Mediterranean countries.
Special emphasis will be given to the contribution of women researchers, making their efforts visible and recognized, and encouraging the participation of young women and girls in science.
In 2024, MEDNIGHT partners will implement activities in schools and joint dissemination actions of Mediterranean science, culminating on September 27 with events taking place not only in Xanthi but also in the following cities: Messina (Sicily), Lesvos, Nicosia, Istanbul, Brussels, Monastir (Tunisia), Montpellier, Toulouse, Madrid, Almeria, Orihuela, and Alicante.
It's not just a Researchers' Night!
As part of the program, two additional initiatives aim to bring researchers closer to the student community and collaborate with them to communicate their science in public and accessible spaces. The "Researchers Back to School" initiative offers students the opportunity to interact directly with researchers from various scientific fields through 60-minute meetings. Additionally, researchers, research centers, and universities are invited to collaborate and bring their research to the public in beaches, squares, schools, and public spaces. The initiative aims to share Mediterranean Science with everyone, strengthening the connection between science and society. More information at www.mednight.eu.
Coordinates
The MEDNIGHT team consists of Genopolys, a mixed science dissemination center of the French CNRS, INSERM, and the University of Montpellier, the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse (CHUT), the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA), the Athena Research Center, SciCo Greece and SciCo Cyprus, the Science Palace in Monastir, Tunisia, the European Association of Women Rectors, Kadir Has University in Istanbul, the Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), the Museo Didáctico Interactivo de Ciencias de la Vega Baja – Jesús Carnicer (MUDIC), and the organization El Caleidoscopio.