REFRESH · REFRESH - Relate, Experience, Find Research Everywhere and SHare

REFRESH (Relate, Experience, Find Research Everywhere and SHare) is a 20-month project led by Centre for Research & Analysis with 20 partners and 27 associates. The Consortium includes 14 academic institutions, Bulgaria’s only tech park, a chamber of industry and commerce, the local office of a pan-European organisation, education entrepreneurships and a media outlet. The main ideas on which the proposal relies are coordinated, multi-city and international series events under a single, recognisable brand, with similar (familiar) formats but with fresh (and well communicated) content, led by central multidisciplinary themes in 2018 (European Year of Cultural Heritage) and sport (European Capital of Sport Sofia), and culture (European Capital of Culture Plovdiv 2019). Building on the Consortium’s existing understanding, developed through previous local initiatives including Researchers Night, and addressing findings of research (Special Eurobarometer 401, the MASIS report , the in-depth Education and Training Monitor 2017 for Bulgaria , the recently published Communication on Strengthening the European Identity through Education and Culture , REFRESH focusses on enhancing the public understanding of and engagement with science, encouraging children especially girls, to study STEM subjects. The participatory events will reach 3.6 mln, and engage 80,000 in least 14 cities/towns with live-streaming, face-to-face events at schools, libraries, museums, city venues and public transport, science talks and shows; hands-on experiments, lab visits and citizen science. The activities of the first year will allow learning to accrue from a thorough evaluation. The project will strengthen the capabilities of the partners in organising events for a general audience in open access format, and for underserved audiences, including girls and young people at risk of school drop-out, as well as young people with special needs.