EUROPEAN COMMISSION - PRESS RELEASE
EU Researchers' Night: Discover how scientists
solve a murder mystery - and climb like Spiderman
Brussels, 22 September 2011 – As every fan of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot
and Lisbeth Salander knows, it takes painstaking detective work to solve a murder
mystery. During this year's sixth EU Researchers' Night, which takes place in more
than 320 European cities on 23 September, would-be sleuths will have the chance
to team up with forensic scientists in Krakow (Poland) to crack a murder 'whodunit'
puzzle with the aid of DNA testing and psychological profiling. Other highlights this
year include a presentation by scientists in Nicosia (Cyprus) who will show how
Spiderman's ability to scale vertical walls can be achieved in real life by using
'nanomaterial' particle technology. In Rome, meanwhile, visitors to the Planetarium
will have the chance to whip up small tornadoes to understand how such natural
phenomena occur. Hundreds of researchers from different scientific disciplines will
showcase their work to the public and illustrate the importance of research and
innovation in our daily lives. Researchers' Night is funded through the EU Marie
Curie Actions, which promote the mobility, training and career development of
researchers. The initiative attracted 600 000 visitors to events held last year.
"Researchers' Night gives scientists the chance to connect with the public and the
public to experience the world of science. During this one evening, anyone can be a
scientist. I can think of no better way to get young people excited about science and
interested in the possibility of a research career," said Androulla Vassiliou,
European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.
In many cases, visitors to Researchers' Night events will have the chance to
discover research facilities which are not usually open to public, including
laboratories and research centres, to use the most recent technologies and
instruments with the guidance of scientists, to participate in experiments,
competitions and quizzes, and to watch demonstrations and simulations.
Hundreds of events are taking place all across Europe – see Appendix 1 for more
highlights or click here to find an event near you.
The added value that research and innovation bring to society and to the economy
has long been recognised by the EU, which is investing more than €50 billion on
research over the 2007-2013 period. The Commission recently proposed to allocate
€80 billion for research projects in 2014-2020 in order to boost job creation and
make Europe more competitive.
IP/11/1061
Background
What is Researchers' Night?
Researchers' Night is one of the EU's most popular initiatives, aimed at the general
public - especially families, young people and those who might not see themselves
as science fans. The idea is to experience science in an entertaining way.
The EU has invested €16.5 million in support for Researchers' Night since 2005.
The events have attracted 1.5 million visitors over 5 years and reached several
million more people through awareness campaigns. The EU contributed €4 million
towards the 2010 Researchers' Night, which brought 600 000 people to sciencerelated events, and will provide a similar sum this year.
What is the link with research?
Between 2007 and 2013 the EU is spending more than €50 billion on research
through the Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7). €4.7 billion of this is
dedicated to the Marie Curie Actions and €309 million to the European Institute for
Innovation and Technology. In 2012 the European Union will allocate €7 billion in
support for research.
Under the Europe 2020 Strategy, Member States have committed themselves to
spending 3% of their GDP on research by 2020 (1% from public funding and 2%
from business investment). Further increases will be necessary if the EU is to meet
this target, which would create up to 3.7 million jobs and nearly €800 billion in
additional annual GDP.
How much will Europe spend on research in the coming years?
As part of the Europe 2020 growth and jobs strategy, Europe will continue to invest
more in research. For the next spending period (2014-2020), the Commission is
proposing a 46% increase in funding to €80 billion compared to €55 billion for 200713. Under this proposal the share of research and innovation in the EU budget
would increase to about 8.5%, compared to 6.7% in 2013.
Later this year, the European Commission will present more detailed proposals for
its new research and innovation programme, "Horizon 2020", which will include the
Marie Curie Actions and the European Institute for Innovation and Technology.
More information on the Marie Curie website and the Participant Portal:
http://ec.europa.eu/mariecurieactions
http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal
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Appendix 1 – City highlights
London (UK)
A fictitious murder will take place at the Natural History Museum. Researchers and
public attending the event will collect evidence at the crime scene and will
participate in a research exercise similar to that performed by forensic scientists in
their daily work. Fingerprint and other identification techniques will help solve the
murder.
Rome (Italy)
A two-metre high cylindrical machine especially built for Researchers' Night will
allow visitors to the Planetarium to generate small tornadoes and to understand
how these and other natural phenomena occur. DNA analysis similar to that
conducted in real police investigations will also be demonstrated.
Brest (France)
The Brest Aquarium will host a police investigation into the alleged kidnapping of an
animal. Visitors will help the scientific investigation bureau to solve the mystery.
They will work on the basis of pieces of evidence and will be able to handle
sophisticated research equipment. 80 researchers will take part in the event.
Hamburg (Germany)
Researchers Night in Hamburg will call for action against climate change. A pavilion
made from recycled wood will be set up by the city hall and, with the aid
of impressive audiovisual effects, scientists will present futuristic scenarios based
on the latest data on climate change.
Krakow (Poland)
Fans of whodunit puzzles will have the opportunity to become intrepid detectives.
Scientists from the Institute of Forensic Research will demonstrate fingerprint
identification, DNA testing and analysis relating to wounds and bone damage
caused by firearms. What at first appears to be a suicide will turn out to be a
murder!
Brussels (Belgium)
Visitors to the Museum of Fine Arts will be able to enjoy their favourite sci-fi movies
on a three-dimensional screen. Gauguin's admirers will be also able to contemplate
The Portrait of Suzanne Bambridge and, thanks to the latest digital imaging
techniques, understand how experts restore art works.
Nicosia (Cyprus)
Researchers will explain the scientific basis for Spiderman's gravity-defying powers
as well as those of other popular superheroes.
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Appendix 2
Gross domestic expenditure on R&D % of GDP
Year
2007
2008
2009
European Union (27 countries)
1,85
1,92
Euro area (16 countries)
1,88
1,96
Belgium
1,9
1,96
Bulgaria
0,45
0,47
Czech Republic
1,54
1,47
Denmark
2,58
2,87
Germany
2,53
2,68
Estonia
1,1
1,29
Ireland
1,29
1,45
Greece
0,58
Spain
1,27
1,35
France
2,07
2,11
Italy
1,18
1,23
Cyprus
0,44
0,42
Latvia
0,59
0,61
Lithuania
0,81
0,8
Luxembourg
1,58
1,51
Hungary
0,97
1
Malta
0,58
0,57
Netherlands
1,81
1,76
Austria
2,52
2,67
Poland
0,57
0,6
Portugal
1,17
1,5
Romania
0,52
0,58
Slovenia
1,45
1,65
Slovakia
0,46
0,47
Finland
3,47
3,72
Sweden
3,4
3,7
United Kingdom
1,78
1,77
Eurostat figures
Contacts :
Dennis Abbott (+32 2 295 92 58)
Dina Avraam (+32 2 295 96 67)
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2,01
2,05
1,96
0,53
1,53
3,02
2,82
1,42
1,77
1,38
2,21
1,27
0,46
0,46
0,84
1,68
1,15
0,54
1,84
2,75
0,68
1,66
0,47
1,86
0,48
3,96
3,62
1,87