ReFocuS Art (Road to Friday of Science and Art) project aims to substantially raise public awareness about the importance and positive role of science for and in society by bringing the researchers into the focus of the general public. The 2020 year demonstrated the necessity for the state of the art of science in everyday life and large creativity in the research process to respond to contemporary challenges. Skills, such as creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking will be fundamental for the carriers of today's generations. We argue the same skills are crucial for the researcher career, and instrumental in art as well. Science and art may have different subjects and different audiences but share the investigative spirit, motivation and skills. Both artists and researchers strive to see the world in new ways, and when they succeed in those endeavours, the general public acquires a novel perspective and new knowledge. Both are based on the process which can lead to encouraging to use creativity and critical thinking, and questioning the world around us. This year, by using Science is art as an overall theme, we want to promote the creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills of researchers and artists as an imperative for the development of science and society. In this way, we want to inspire and stimulate young people to be innovative and to seek creative solutions to different problems and challenges. The activities will take place in the 14 cities and 46 diverse venues through Serbia, including research institutes, old streets and houses, museums, archaeological sites, fortress, science clubs, shopping malls, city parks and libraries. Some of the activities will be exclusively online, allowing reaching the public outside proposed cities. The diversity of partners in the project, both cultural and scientific institutions, will expand the general image of how and why science and researchers are important for society.

Funder: European Commision

Project ID: 101061356

Call: HORIZON-MSCA-2022-CITIZENS-01

Programme: HORIZON

Coordinator: Center for the Promotion of Science

Participants:

• Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade
• Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš
• Zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture Kragujevac

Prroject leader in IBISS: Dr. Jovana Rajić