By Raquel Aparicio Terrés (Artsoundscapes project PhD Researcher)
The Nit de la Recerca (European Research Night) is an awe-inspiring scientific outreach initiative brought to life by the European Commission under the distinguished Horizon 2020 program and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions. Held worldwide on the last Friday of September, this event is a celebration of knowledge that beckons people of all ages and backgrounds. Over the years, Catalonia has offered enlightening activities as part of this grand event. And this year, I had the distinct honor of being invited to be a part of this extraordinary celebration of research and discovery.
Let us start from the beginning of the story. Carles Escera, head of the Brainlab – Neuroscience Research Group, and a senior researcher in the ERC Artsoundscapes project, found himself holding the golden ticket to participate in this year’s Nit de la Recerca. The University of Barcelona, and specifically the Vice-Rectorate for Research and the Vice-Rectorate for Heritage and Cultural Activities, made a distinct request: to plan a ‘Neuroconcert,’ a concept where scientific research focused in neuroscience would be presented alongside musical performances. Excitement buzzed as he reached out to a handful of colleagues, including me, for a very needed brainstorming session. The mission? Crafting an engaging event for the upcoming Nit de la Recerca, a challenge we embraced with enthusiasm.
While our creative sparks flew, one thing was already set in stone: our activity would revolve around sound. This choice was not just a random pick; it resonates deeply with the research focus of the Brainlab, which dives into the intricate ways our brains process acoustic stimuli. More than that, we all know the magic of sound – how it moves hearts, how it connects people from diverse backgrounds, and how it bridges gaps between generations. Moreover, it perfectly complemented the concept of the Neuroconcert. However, time was not on our side. It was the final days of June, and the Nit de la Recerca was rapidly approaching, set, as every year, for the last Friday of September. This left us with a mere handful of weeks to turn our sound-centered vision into a reality.
Soon, a revelation would add an extra layer of urgency to our endeavor: our activity was to be hosted in none other than the Paranymph of the Edifici Històric at the University of Barcelona. The Edifici Històric, a name that directly translates from Catalan as ‘Historic Building,’ is far from just another run-of-the-mill historical structure in Barcelona, despite the somewhat amusingly straightforward name. From the year its construction began in 1863, it is a magnificent structure that witnessed the birth of numerous faculties and university schools in Catalonia.
Figure 1: The iconic historic building of the University of Barcelona, a place where knowledge and tradition meet. Photograph: Retrieved from the University of Barcelona webpage [http://www.ub.edu/visitavirtual/visitavirtualEH/index.php/ca/coneix-l-edifici-sala-x-sala/facana-principal-i-torres].
The Paranymph, nestled within this grand edifice, serves as a hallowed space where the most distinguished academic gatherings unfold. The architect of the Edifici Històric, Elies Rogent, held the Paranymph in high regard as the symbol of “the idea of the university”. This is why the Paranymph is strategically placed at the center of the building. It was, without a doubt, the perfect stage to share our scientific insights with the city.
Here is the kicker – the Paranymph can accommodate up to 300 individuals. This realization added a strong sense of responsibility, as we recognized that 300 eager minds would invest their valuable time to hear about our research, which, in a way, belongs to them too. Given that our work is made possible by public funding, it was the audience’s entitlement to learn and grasp the intricacies of our research. And when the decision came through that I was going to be one of the three speakers headlining the activity, I was both humbled and excited to have the privilege of sharing our findings on that prestigious stage.
The format for the activity we came up with was quite straightforward: three scientists from the Brainlab, including myself as an early-stage researcher, would each present a 10-minute talk. The evening’s program was designed to keep the audience engaged, with the three science talks interspersed with captivating musical performances by talented professors and students from the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC). And so, the journey to craft my speech began.
I had a mere 10 minutes to unveil the essence of my years of research within the Brainlab and the Artsoundscapes project. It might sound deceptively simple, but the challenge was quite the opposite. You see, after immersing oneself in a particular research topic for an extended period, you become well-acquainted with every nook and cranny, every intricate line of code that powers your experiments, every technical detail involved in your investigations. However, when the audience is not comprised of fellow researchers but the general public, you find yourself in the delicate art of simplification. The focus shifts from the intricacies to the core concepts that make your research relevant to us, humans. It is about distilling the complex into the comprehensible, and that is precisely what I set out to do. I must add that this process of simplification not only benefits the audience but serves as a valuable practice for a scientist, ensuring we stay grounded and focused on the essence of our research.
Let us fast-forward to the day of the event. We had received word that the activity was fully-booked, so an eager crowd of 300 people would be there to hear what my colleagues and I had to share. I arrived early, catching a glimpse of the bustling organizers preparing the lights, sound, and visuals. Even though I had set foot in the Paranymph on a previous occasion, its grandeur did not fail to captivate me once again. It exuded an air of formality and institutional significance that is hard to put into words. The photo below, snapped just moments after I arrived, hardly does it justice.
Figure 2: Entering the magnificent Paranymph at the Nit de la Recerca event. Photograph: Raquel Aparicio Terrés.
Some of the talented musicians had already arrived, tuning up and practicing their performances. As they played, I could not help but notice the Paranymph’s remarkable acoustics. It added a tangible depth and emotional resonance to the musical pieces, filling the entire room. I found myself taking a seat, simply listening in awe. What is noteworthy is that it was not just my bias as an Artsoundscapes project researcher – even the technicians and musicians themselves remarked on the room’s acoustic qualities, how it enhanced their performances and amplified the auditory feedback due to its expansive reverberation.
As the clock ticked closer to the event, people began forming a line at the entrance. They were our audience, a diverse mix of individuals, each experiencing their unique blend of anticipation and jitters. The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and nerves. I was about to add my voice to a place where profound academic ideas had been shared for generations. And so I did.
Figure 3: Sharing insights during my speech at the Nit de la Recerca event, a moment to connect with the audience. Photograph: Siham Ijjou Kadiri.
Of course, like any live event, it had its share of timing hiccups and technical problems. The room’s remarkable acoustics, which had lent such power to the music, posed a challenge when it came to spoken words. The extended reverberation in the room made clear speech delivery a bit tricky, so during my speech I tried to slow down. But despite the imperfections, the event unfolded beautifully, and I truly believe our speeches ‘resonated’ with the audience.
As I was in the Paranymph, listening to my colleagues disseminate their research, it dawned on me once again just how vital outreach activities are in the realm of science. These events are not just about delivering data or research findings; they serve as bridges between the scientific community and the wider world. Engaging with the public in this manner is invaluable. It is not only about sharing knowledge but also about fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world we live in. These interactions can inspire the next generation of scientists, encouraging them to explore the depths of their own interests and embark on their scientific journeys. Outreach activities also play a significant role in demystifying science, making it accessible to people from various backgrounds, and dispelling the notion that it is a realm reserved for the privileged few.
In the Artsoundscapes project, we are particularly passionate about connecting with the public. Our efforts extend beyond traditional research dissemination, embracing various avenues to reach a diverse audience. In addition to our more than twenty blogs, where we delve into not just our scientific findings but also our personal experiences and emotions related to our work, we also utilize platforms like Facebook to engage with an international community. Our journey has revealed the immense potential of social media, especially Facebook, in disseminating and communicating archaeological knowledge (Coltofean-Arizancu et al., 2022). It is a dynamic space where our project has found a vibrant global community eager to learn, share, and engage.
One of our cherished annual traditions is participating in the Festa de la Ciència at the University of Barcelona. This event specifically targets young students from schools, inviting them to explore the wonders of science. It is an opportunity to ignite the spark of curiosity in the minds of future scientists. Ultimately, we aim to showcase that science is not confined to dusty textbooks but is alive, vibrant, and filled with endless possibilities.
Figure 4: Engaging with young minds at the Festa de la Ciència 2023, sharing the wonders of the Artsoundscapes project. Photograph: Samantha López-Mochales.
These outreach activities extend beyond mere information sharing; they are an act of giving back. The Nit de la Recerca, with its diverse audience, vibrant atmosphere, and the fusion of science and art, exemplifies the beauty of such outreach events. It is a reminder that we are all connected, each one of us capable of contributing to the grand tapestry of knowledge and understanding.
References
Coltofean-Arizancu, L., Mattioli, T., & Díaz-Andreu, M. (2022). Communicating and Disseminating Rock Art Research on Facebook: The ERC Artsoundscapes Project Goes Public. Heritage & society, 15(2), 113–139. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159032X.2022.2098653