From November 27^th to December 4^th, 2020, I had the chance to take part in the 15^th edition of the European Researchers’ Night. The event turned completely digital this year, in line with the current politics of distance learning, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s theme was labelled ‘Little Nocturnal Secrets’ –« Petits secrets nocturnes »– and surveyed diverse cultural interests and activities, stemming from a shared interest in research and critical thinking.

         Indeed, the European Researchers’ Night first took place in 2005. This initiative was primarily launched thanks to the valuable contributions of scholars and of Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for the Education, Culture, Youth and Sport European Commission. Its primary goal consists in “bring[ing] science and researchers closer to the general public and to stimulate interest in research careers – particularly among young people.”[1] The European Researchers’ Night is a Europe-wide public event, funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions, which attracted 1.6 million visitors[2] in 400 cities in 2019.

        As far as I am concerned, I have been highly convinced by this online format since I did not only find it convenient – to take part in as many virtual activities as possible – but also remarkably stimulating, thought-inspiring, and captivating. Moreover, the event was both informative and entertaining. Although I have a marked literary streak, I enjoyed discovering scholars whose interests are more geared towards molecular sciences, artificial intelligence robotics, or renewable energies, in keeping with current environmental issues and the climate change crisis.

       I was able to follow Dr Reynes, my thesis supervisor, who is specialised in North American Modernist Literature, including European transatlantic cultural transfers, and American writers from the first half of the 20^th century. An active participant in the European Researchers’ Night 2020 edition, Dr Reynes was asked to write “A Letter to her Research Object,” in which she retraced the evolution of her scientific and research interests, from the beginning of her career to the present day. Moreover, Dr Reynes has recently been involved in the European project ‘Transitive Modernities, Modernisms in Transit’ – as part of the new CIVIS Consortium of European Universities – which partly justifies why she took part in this year’s edition.

       The 2020 edition of the European Researchers’ Night was a moment of relaxed and intimate sharing, which offered valuable insight into innovating research. I mainly discovered scholars conducting research in environmental sciences, racing against infectious diseases and leading clinical trials; disciplines which are vital to preserve global health currently. These fields of research are very different to mine but were worth exploring. This is the whole point of this event which allowed me, in substance, to discover first-hand testimonies from scholars who are conducting emerging, but necessary research. The uniqueness of this research night lies in its opportunity to investigate the lives of researchers,[3] allowing visitors to familiarise themselves with laboratories and learn about the exciting, and beneficial activities of scholars.

Photo credits: Image site Pxhere.com, licence CC0

[1] & 2 Stable URL: https://eu-pearl.eu/european-researchers-night-27-november/, accessed 06/12/20.

3 “10^th Anniversary of the European Researchers’ Night – Science is wonderful! event” – Stable Web URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6bnXmRW4Zk&list=PLvpwIjZTs-LipXfZlh964n7cdMXWMIUO J&index=15&t=0s&app= desktop, accessed 06/12/20.