Funder: European Union

Project leaders: Dr. Jasmina Nestorović Živković, Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade

Period: 2023-2025.

Team members from IBISS:

Dr. Milica Milutinović, Department of Plant Physiology
Dr. Marija Rajičić, Department of Genetic Research
Katarina Hočevar, Department of Evolutionary Biology
Dr. Maja Raković, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection
Dr. Jelena Đuknić, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection
Dr. Jovana Rajić, Department of Molecular Biology
Dr. Bojana Mićić, Department of Biochemistry
Dr. Branislav Šiler, Department of Plant Physiology

External advisors:
Centre for the Promotion of Science
Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš
University of Kragujevac

Abstract

The ReFocuS FLOW project aims at broadening citizens' awareness of why R&I are important to the community by bringing the researchers into the focus of the general public. Following the trends and guidelines of both the EU and UNESCO, all activities of ReFocuS FLOW will highlight the EU Green Deal and EU missions as the most urgent challenges the modern humans are faced with, following clear and time-bound goals to offer solutions for these important issues. Special attention will be paid on raising the awareness that citizens must take the initiative to achieve the goals set. European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools activities with the 2024’s theme “The FLOW of Knowledge” will focus on defining the problems facing our planet and society, familiarizing citizens with the EU missions, raising their awareness that only together researchers, citizens, industry, local and regional authorities, with the aid of knowledge flows, should work towards successfully fulfilling the EU missions. European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools 2025’s activities with the theme “The FLOW of People” will offer citizens concrete solutions to achieve challenging but achievable goals by showcasing successful results and ongoing progress of existing EU missions and highlight the EU's selfless commitment to shaping a sustainable and prosperous future for its citizens. To this end, the indispensable role of the flow of knowledge, information, and ideas created by the flow of people is emphasized. Activities are planned to be carried out from the capital and larger cities to smaller towns and rural areas of Serbia. Through popular formats in public places, we will show citizens that R&I are designed for all and together we can create the Europe with climate-neutral cities and retain clean water, healthy soil, and food for current and future generations.