U*Night – The UNITA Researchers’ Night
U*Night – The UNITA Researchers’ Night is an EU-funded project that brings research closer to people, bridging the gap between researchers and society. It is part of the wider European Researchers’ Night initiative, which every year in September invites citizens of all ages to explore the impact of science on everyday life.
What makes U*Night unique is its commitment to inclusion. The project expands its outreach to rural, semi-rural, and mountain communities, often excluded from traditional scientific dissemination. By aligning with the Horizon Europe Missions, U*Night transforms major societal challenges—such as climate change, health, and food security—into tangible experiences and goals that connect directly with people’s lives.
A Living Laboratory for Science Communication
UNight aims to become an open and dynamic laboratory for innovative communication and public engagement. Through hundreds of immersive activities—science cafés, exhibitions, open museums, prototype demonstrations, live experiments, performances, and games for all ages—UNight fosters:
- Meaningful dialogue between researchers and society, highlighting the real and potential impact of scientific work on daily life;
- Public engagement in the research process, showing how greater citizen participation can generate new insights and societal benefits;
- Collaboration among citizens, policymakers, and scientists, by co-creating events and conversations focused on finding solutions to local and global challenges.
By connecting people with science in a participatory and accessible way, U*Night helps advance research that is bold, relevant, and impactful—designed to improve our lives and address the key challenges facing both humanity and the planet.
Discover more about the last edition of The European Night of researchers.
