How does moving public engagement with research online change audience diversity? Comparing inclusion indicators for 2019 & 2020 European Researchers? night events
Citation:
Jensen, A. M., Jensen, E. A., Duca, E., Daly, J., Mundow, N., & Roche, J., How does moving public engagement with research online change audience diversity? Comparing inclusion indicators for 2019 & 2020 European Researchers? night events, PLoS ONE, 17, 3, 2022, 1 - 11Download Item:
Abstract:
Taking place annually in more than 400 cities, European Researchers’ Night is a pan- European synchronized event that aims to bring researchers closer to the public. In this paper
audience profiles are compared from events in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, face-to-face events
reached an estimated 1.6 million attendees, while in 2020, events shifted online due to the
COVID-19 pandemic and reached an estimated 2.3 million attendees. Focusing on social
inclusion metrics, survey data is analyzed across two national contexts (Ireland and Malta)
in 2019 (n = 656) and 2020 (n = 506). The results from this exploratory, descriptive study
shed light on how moving public engagement with research online shifted audience profiles.
Based on prior research about the digital divide in access and use of online media, hypotheses were proposed that online European Researchers’ Night events would attract audiences
with higher educational attainment levels and greater self-reported, subjective economic
well-being. While changes were observed from 2019 to 2020, results for each hypothesis
show a mixed picture. The first hypothesis was upheld for the highest education levels but
failed for the lowest levels suggesting that the pivot to online events simultaneously
attracted participants with no formal education and those with postgraduate qualifications,
while attracting less of those with undergraduate or lower levels of education. The second
hypothesis was not upheld, with online European Researchers’ Night events attracting audiences with slightly higher levels of economic well-being compared to face-to-face events.
The findings of this study indicate that European Researchers’ Night events present a clear
opportunity to measure the effects of the digital divide in relation to public engagement with
research across Europe.
Sponsor
Grant Number
European Commission
824634
European Commission
817914
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/rochej9Description:
PUBLISHED
Author: Roche, Joseph
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections
Series/Report no:
PLoS ONE;17;
3;
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
European Researchers' Night, Public outreach of science and research, Scientific engagementSubject (TCD):
European Researchers' Night , Informal Science Education , Informal Science Learning , Non-formal Science Education , Non-formal Science Learning , Public Engagement , Public Engagement in Science , Public Engagement with Science , SCIENCE COMMUNICATION , Science EducationDOI:
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262834Metadata
Show full item recordLicences: