At the Western University of Timișoara, on November 27, the Night of European Researchers delighted the public with science, through crazy experiments, curious phenomena, behind-the-scenes images of research, captivating conferences, games and contests with attractive prizes, participation in all activities being free.
Organized annually, on the same day, in over 350 European cities, to celebrate knowledge, discoveries and the benefits of research, this event is funded by the European Union, through the Horizon 2020 program, won this year by a consortium of 15 Universities and Prestigious research institutes in Romania, together with the West University of Timișoara through the Faculty of Physics.
Suggestively titled WE WANT IT, this edition was part of the series of dedicated activities International Year of Sound, a global initiative designed to foster understanding of the important role sound plays in all aspects of society, from sound science and related technologies to speech, music and creative sounds.
At the level of the European Union, the Night of European Researchers is part of the series Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions from the Horizon 2020 framework project. Promoted by the European Commission, in Romania the DOREMI-RO project is coordinated by the "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University in Iași and will be organized simultaneously in more than 30 cities, including Timișoara, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca , Constanta, Craiova, Iasi, Sibiu, Suceava.
In Timișoara, the "Researchers' Night" event was organized by the Faculty of Physics of UVT, with the support of the Department for Relations with the Pre-University Environment, the Department of Communication, Image and Institutional Marketing, in partnership with ExperimentariumTM, the Faculty of Chemistry, Biology and Geography, the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports and the Faculty of Music and Theatre. Media partners of the event were UVT-TV and TVR Timișoara.
This year, Western University's guests of honor were Dumitru Prunariu, the first Romanian cosmonaut, Honorary President of the Romanian Space Agency, Marius-Ioan Piso, President of the Romanian Space Agency - both being Doctor Honoris Causa of the Western University of Timișoara, as well as the representatives ELI-NP Research Center, Bucharest, Măgurele.
The program was supported by researchers, inventors and explorers in an interactive, educational and fun way and appealed to curious minds of all ages. In a special context, this year the events took place online, between 15:00 and 21:00.
Research does not go into isolation in 2020, so for this edition's program as well, research teams, organizations and companies have prepared activities dedicated to the public, among which we mention: The official opening, in which the Rector of UVT, Prof. Univ. dr. Marilen Gabriel Pirtea, addressed a welcome message to the participants, the musical moment of the students from the Faculty of Music, Lectures by some scientific personalities from Romania (Dumitru Prunariu, Marius-Ioan Piso, Ioan Dăncus, Cătălin Ticos), Presentations from on the part of UVT Faculties (Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports), SCIENCE CAFÉs with specialists from the Faculty of Physics (Dumitru Vulcanov, Daniel Vizman, Paul Gravila), Premiere of the essay, drawing and photography contest with a scientific theme, but also a Raffle with prizes.
The event could be watched online on November 27, from 15:00, on the stream: https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/db686ff3-1c8c-4daa-83dc-f11336ede087?fbclid=IwAR0sKL6ZTnyqYc7qHdH8g_asrQ0ey2a9vblxyWjXOjbKi5ArRILR43pyKrQ
