Abstract:

Associazione Frascati Scienza has long been committed to advancing scientific literacy and fostering dialogue between researchers and society. For the past 20 years, its flagship initiative—the European Researchers’ Night (ERN)—has engaged diverse audiences across Italy through accessible and interactive scientific outreach. Since 2021, the ERN project coordinated by Frascati Scienza, under the name LEAF (heaL thE plAnet’s Future), has placed particular emphasis on STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and on the priority areas of the EU Green Deal, including Farm to Fork, Biodiversity, Circular Economy, Zero Pollution, Health & Wellbeing, Energy Efficiency, and Sustainable Mobility.

This contribution presents the impact achieved over the five-year LEAF project, highlighting both outcomes and lessons learned to enhance future editions. The analysis draws on a comprehensive set of evaluation tools—including ex ante and ex post surveys, children’s questionnaires, interactive quizzes, and role-playing activities—implemented across more than 20 Italian cities. The mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative feedback from dedicated events with over 3,000 quantitative questionnaire responses per year, provides a robust overview of the project’s effectiveness.

In alignment with European Commission guidelines, the initiative focused on making science approachable, engaging, and relevant for non-experts. Activities were designed for multiple target groups—children, young people, adults—and tailored for schools as well as the general public. Results show a measurable increase in participants’ understanding of research processes, appreciation of researchers’ societal role, and awareness of challenges related to climate change and sustainability.

Overall, the LEAF project demonstrates the value of structured impact assessment in strengthening outreach strategies and confirms the potential of large-scale public engagement events to support a more scientifically informed and environmentally conscious society.

Keywords:

European Researchers’ Night, Science Communication, Public Engagement, Research Outreach, Impact Assessment, Green Deal.