Setting the Stage in Portugal: researchers and public come together through theatre (SettingTheStage)

Researchers' Night 2009 - Grant Agreement Nº 245061

Coordenador
Ana Godinho (Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal)

Coordenador no CAUP
Filipe A. L. Pires

In order to provide researchers and the general public with an opportunity to meet and know each other, SettingTheStage brings together research centres, universities, an SME, a science museum and theatre groups from four major cities in Portugal, to create multiple spaces where scientists and the public can discover each other, and improve their mutual understanding while enjoying high level art performances and celebrating two important scientific dates: the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first use of the telescope, and the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth.

At the core of this proposal is a series of theatre performances, to be specifically produced for Researchers’ Night 2009, designed to stimulate reflection, discussion and debate on topics related to researchers and their everyday lives: power and limits of their research, scientists' excitements and disappointments, decisions they face, impact of their research in society.

Emphasis will be placed on empowering both researchers and public to express their views on the issues being raised. Researchers and theatre performers will work together to produce several performances, aimed at different age groups. A range of interactive activities will complement the performances, including hands-on activities, "speed-dating" with scientists and sci-art installations.

Researchers will be involved in all activities: they will conduct and accompany the interactive activities, co-author scripts, and play in the performances. In such a context, several workshops and briefings have been undertaken to identify the relevant researchers willing to participate and to optimize their involvement.

An intensive awareness campaign has been planned, well in advance of the event, bringing together the expertise and resources of all partners and of external supporters: a dedicated blog, supported by a leading national newspaper, a profile on Facebook and appearance in national media. This campaign will be reinforced by the common national campaign that will be undertaken with the other Portuguese funded Researchers' Night project (ScientistsAcrossPortugal 09). SettingTheStage gathers a large number of partners, and thus should mobilize a large number of researchers willing to take part in the activities, and gather a large audience across the country.


List of Participants:
- Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian - Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (FCG-IGC) - coordinator
- Instituto de Tacnologia Química e Biológica - Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB)
-Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM)
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC)
- Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto (CAUP)
- Universidade do Porto Inovação - Universidade do Porto (UPIN)
- Centro Regional de Inovação do Algarve - Universidade do Algarve (CRIA)
- Natura Algarve
- Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra (UC)
- MIAU Associação Cultural (MIAU)

Instituição financiadora
European Commission

Início: 1 maio 2009
Fim: 30 novembro 2009