reSEArch-EU - European University of the Seas

Date: September 29, 2023
Location: The square of Arenal in Jerez de la Frontera
Event: European Night of Investigators: https://www.uca.es/noticia/la-noche-europea-de-lsinvestigadors-
esta-tarde-en-la-plaza-del-arenal-de-jerez/
Attendees: citizens, students, researchers, and organizers.
Presenters: M. Laura Martín Díaz, Beatriz Díaz Garduño, and Mariia Iamkovaia

Description

The concept of a “Science Shop” resonates with a community-engaged approach to research and
problem-solving. Science Shops are initiatives that promote partnerships between universities or
research institutes and the local community. The primary goal is to address the difficulties and
concerns that local communities face by harnessing the expertise and resources available at
academic institutions.

An activitiy in the science shop usually goes

• Citizen input: Residents voice their worries, complaints, or inquiries to the science shop. These issues can vary from environmental concerns to social and health concerns, and they are frequently anchored in community members’ daily experiences.
• Analysis and research: After the science shop, the organizers examine the concerns of citizens and identify potential research questions. They may collaborate with university specialists or researchers to explore these issues more deeply.
• Collaboration with scientists: Research is conducted in collaboration with the community and academic investigators to explore issues that have been recognized. There are many ways that this study can be conducted, including surveys, experiments, data analysis, and relevant approaches.
• Knowledge exchange: The study findings should be made available to the public through reports, workshops, and public presentations. This gives local citizens significant knowledge and understanding of the problems they raised.
• Policy actions: The findings can be utilized to guide policy decisions, lobby for change, or launch community-led initiatives to address the issues.

In this case, the University of Cadiz acts as a partner in the process, giving academic skills and
resources to help the community discover solutions to their daily issues. This strategy establishes
a mutually beneficial partnership between the institution and local communities by allowing
relevant research while addressing real-world community challenges.

Overall, Science Shops are important in bridging the gap between academics and the community,
encouraging citizen participation in research, and tackling local challenges through scientific
exploration and collaboration.

Results