Showcasing amazing science across Sweden at ForskarFredag 2021

Thousands of pupils and members of the public will be meeting researchers across Sweden at this year’s Swedish European Researchers’ Night, known as ‘ForskarFredag’, running 20-25 September. The programme features a mix of free online and physical activities, from science shows and stand up comedy to science cafes and hands-on experiments. Coordinated nationally by VA, ForskarFredag is Sweden’s most widespread science festival.

VA launches new portal to help counter myths against Covid vaccination

How do you have a constructive conversation with someone who doesn’t want to be vaccinated against Covid-19? VA has developed a new web portal to help ordinary people address myths and misconceptions about the vaccines using evidence-based advice and support. It is currently available in Swedish and English, with Arabic and Somali versions coming shortly.

Forthcoming activities

ORION Open Science Final Conference (27–28 Sept)
Are you interested in how Open Science is being embedded at an institutional, national and European level? Learn about the achievements and lessons learned throughout the ORION Open Science project and discuss the future national and international implications of Open Science and RRI with 23 speakers from 10 countries at the online ORION final conference on 27-28 September. Last chance to register to attend (registration closes on 23 September).
 
How accessible is Swedish housing? Pupils and senior citizens join forces to investigate
During September and October, Swedish school pupils and senior citizens will help researchers at Lund University to investigate the barriers that can be found in Swedish housing. To assist them, they will be using a measuring tape and mobile app. The Housing Experiment is a citizen science project coordinated by VA as part of ForskarFredag, Swedish European Researchers’ Night activities. Read more.

Vote for the winner of the Researchers’ Grand Prix Digital (20–24 Sept)
Public voting to decide which of five contestants will win the online heat of the Researchers’ Grand Prix will take place during this year’s ForskarFredag. Following individual coaching, the contestants’ 4 minute recorded presentations about their research are live online until 24 September. The public votes along with those of an expert jury will determine which two contestants will advance to the national final in Stockholm on 25 November. Read more.

Science Cafe on the Future of European cities – challenges and solutions
Join four researchers from different countries to explore the changes and challenges, such as climate change, that are starting to affect our cities in an online science cafe taking place in English on 24 September at 15:00 CET as part of ForskarFredag, Swedish European Researchers’ Night. Read more.

YouCount youth citizen science webinar
In the EU YouCount project, young people and researchers are working together to explore and find solutions to problems preventing the younger generation from being included in society. If you are interested in youth citizen science, you are invited to register for a webinar exploring ‘How to open up research & innovation to young people?’ on 24 September. Read more.

VA’s recent activities

ORION project shares tips and tricks on co-creation and engagement
​​Over the past four years, the ORION Open Science project has been developing and testing a wide range of innovative methods and activities for engaging the public in science. Some of these were presented at a session at the Future of SciComm conference on 25 June, attended by over 900 actors from research and the practice of science communication. Read more.

VA’s recent publications and resources available in English

VA Barometer 2020/2021: An annual survey into the Swedish public’s general attitudes towards science and researchers.

VA information folder 2021: Information about VA and its members.

VA’s definition guides to science communication, citizen science, open science and responsible research and innovation

VA in social media