Those who visit the courtyard of the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NRF) on Thursday 5 July 2018 (09.30-16.00) will have the opportunity to participate in an open information activity entitled “Stories of Contemporary Scientific Research”. During this action, the results of European Research Council (ERC) research projects studying the relationship between science and the senses and their potential impact on our lives will be waiting for visitors to discover them through interactive experiments. The action is organised in the framework of the European project ERC=Science², by the Hellenic-Germanic Education, which is the project partner for Greece, and by the National Documentation Centre (EKT).

How humans perceive the world is probably more complex than we think. Have you ever wondered if we could “see” with our ears, “feel” sound or explore new avenues of perception that would change our everyday experience? For example, could we train our “internal” compass and in what way, so that we can find our orientation more easily? Would it be possible for man to acquire new… senses? “Yes”, is the answer from the researchers at the European Research Council, who have been working on this issue for years. They unravel the mysteries of our senses, helping us to “see” with our ears, feel sound and explore new avenues of perception. Their knowledge is already being used in many applications, such as robotics, wearable technologies and shows supported by 9-dimensional applications (e.g. 9D TVs and theatre).

During the action in a specially designed space in the courtyard of the Hellenic Institute of Technology (48 Vas. Konstantinou Street, Athens), visitors will have the opportunity to experiment with perception games, or discover which parts of our brain are connected to which senses. In addition, EKT staff, which is the National Contact Point for the European Research Council Horizon 2020 programme (the EU’s funding programme for the period 2014-2020), will inform visitors about the funding opportunities that the ERC offers to Greek researchers for cutting-edge research.

The information event at the EIE is open to the public, free of charge, and is aimed at adults, families and children over 10 years old. More information about the event: Aliki Giannakopoulou, Greek-German Education, email: giannakopoulou@ea.gr.

ERC=Science² project highlights the results of scientific research

The information action is supported by the ERC=Science² project, which is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and coordinated in Greece by the Hellenic-Germanic Agogi. During the course of ERC=Science², more than 75 storytelling events are planned in many different countries and languages. Science and natural history museums, universities, schools and research organisations in Europe host these events.

The pan-European communication campaign for the ERC aims to raise public interest in science, highlight the scientific research funded by the programme, strengthen the ERC as a scientific force, stimulate political and social support for the ERC and encourage applications for grants from a new generation of researchers, particularly in under-represented countries.

The project is coordinated across Europe by Science Business. Prestigious organisations, universities, science museums and media institutions in 37 European countries are also involved. Among the participating organisations are the European Network of Museums and Science Dissemination Centres (Ecsite), the Network of Science Dissemination Centres of Portugal Ciéncia Viva, the University of Zagreb and University College Cork. In Greece, the actions of the programme are implemented by the Hellenic-Germanic Education.

It is noted that the National Documentation Centre acts as the National Contact Point for Horizon 2020(http://innovation.ekt.gr/horizon2020) and for a number of its individual programmes (such as the ERC programme), supporting the Greek academic, research and business community to participate. Covering all stages of research projects, from proposal preparation to implementation and exploitation of research results, EKT services include: Information and Advisory Services, Operation of a Support Office, Development and distribution of information material, Organisation of events and seminars, Identification of partners for the formation of consortia and joint submission of proposals, Recording of national participation and publication of statistics and performance indicators.