Mass experiment
Young people in Sweden, Spain, Ireland and the UK help researchers successfully test new method for measuring light pollution
In 2019 and early 2020, school pupils, teachers, scout groups, astronomers and interested members of the public in Sweden, Spain, the UK and Ireland went out to count stars in the night sky. The objective was to help researchers to test a new method for measuring light pollution. Researchers have analysed the results and these have now been published.
Swedish pupils to participate in research to reduce food waste
Can more information result in less food being wasted? Researchers will be investigating this together with pupils and teachers across the whole of Sweden in the Food Waste Experiment. To assist them, they will be using an artificial intelligence app and the world’s largest food sustainability database. Läs mer
How to use light in the best way?
Research has shown that light pollution causes problems for both wildlife and humans. In the Star-Spotting Experiment we also want to learn more about what we can do to reduce light pollution and use light in an optimal way. At Jönköping University in Sweden researchers are working with these questions. Myriam Aries is a Professor in Lighting Science, and we asked her to answer a few of our questions.
Star-Spotting Experiment shortlisted for international science engagement prize
The Star-Spotting Experiment, VA’s 2019 citizen science project to investigate light pollution, was shortlisted for the 2019 Falling Walls Science Engagement of the Year competition. Project manager, Lena Söderström was invited to Berlin in November to present the project in the final of the competition at the Falling Walls Conference. Here we talk to her about the experience.
Discovering the wonders of science: European Researchers’ Night in Sweden 2019
This year’s European Researchers’ Night, known as ForskarFredag in Sweden, took place in 30 cities across the country. Participants engaged in the Swedish events included 17,122 visitors, and 550 researchers and PhD students.
Sparking interest in science in over 370 cities across Europe: European Researchers’ Night invites everyone to get involved!
This weekend, thousands of researchers across Europe will be inspiring the public by showcasing the fascinating world of science at this year’s European Researchers’ Night.
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The Star-Spotting Experiment takes off around Europe
This year’s Swedish Researchers’ Night mass experiment – the Star-Spotting Experiment – is to be run in Ireland, Spain, the UK and Sweden this coming autumn and winter.
Swedish Star-Spotting Experiment off to a sparkling start
The Star-Spotting Experiment, this year’s citizen science project in connection with the European Researchers’ Night events in Sweden, is now well underway. Members of the public across Sweden are helping scientists to measure light pollution by counting stars in the sky and recording the data in a specially-designed app. Here we catch up with Lena Söderström, Project Manager at VA (Public & Science), who is coordinating the Star-Spotting Experiment, to find out how the project is progressing.
Mass star-spotting experiment to investigate light pollution in Sweden
Street lamps, illuminated signs and buildings – lights at night improve safety and make cities more attractive, but have also been shown to have negative effects for humans and animals. The more light there is, the fewer stars you can see in the night sky. In this year’s mass experiment, more than 11,000 pupils, families and other members of the public will help scientists measure light pollution by counting stars in the sky.
Swedish citizen science initiative combines ladybird monitoring with artificial intelligence
Biodiversity is under threat. Can an app that recognises different species of ladybirds help provide a solution? Pupils and members of the public from across Sweden are being invited to get involved in real research to find out in a mass experiment being run as part of the 2018 Researchers’ Night in Sweden. The Ladybird Experiment is joint initiative between the Swedish Museum of Natural History and the civil society organisation VA (Public & Science).
Swedish mass experiment investigates credibility of teenagers’ news feeds
Press Release 24 October 2017
How credible do teenagers think the news in their digital news feeds is? And where do they get their news from? Around 6,000 pupils have been helping researchers to investigate these questions in a citizen science project involving schools across the whole of Sweden.
Swedish pupils’ buried tea bags help to advance climate research
In 2015, Swedish school pupils helped scientists to bury over three thousand tea bags in the countryside. The Tea Bag Experiment is a mass experiment to investigate soil decomposition rates in different parts of the country and how the process is being affected by climate change. The results have now been published and show that the first phase of decomposition is particularly affected by a warmer climate.
CARROTS AND APPLES ON TOP AS SWEDISH PUPILS HELP SCIENTISTS MAP THEIR EATING HABITS
Press release 29 May 2015.
Swedish children and teenagers are pretty diligent at eating fruit and vegetables, according to the results of a mass experiment organised as part of Researchers’ Night. In the Vegetable Experiment, scientists at the Swedish National Food Agency enlisted the help of over 5500 pupils, who acted as research assistants for a day. Carrots and apples top the list of most eaten vegetables and fruit.
Swedish children to help climate scientists by burying tea bags
Press release 9 February 2015.
Is it possible to read the future in tea leaves? This is what scientists at Umeå University are hoping to find out and they are now looking for school classes across Sweden to participate in a mass experiment that will help to inform climate change research. The so-called ‘Tea Bag Experiment’ is part of the European science festival, Researchers’ Night.
Swedish researchers seek pupils to help map eating habits
Press Release 13 May 2014
How much fruit and vegetables do children and teenagers consume in Sweden? The Swedish National Food Agency is looking for investigative pupils who want to be research assistants for a day. This mass experiment is part of the science festival, Researchers’ Night.
10,000 pupils assist Swedish scientists with climate research
Press release 11 April 2014.
Spring is now here and it arrives earlier each year. A warmer climate means an earlier spring and a later autumn. But how is the delayed onset of autumn affecting the Swedish ecosystem? A mass experiment involving over 10,000 pupils across Sweden is helping scientists to study the effect of climate change on deciduous trees in autumn. Läs mer
Children to help researchers map climate change
Press release 20 May 2013
Is climate change leading to a delay in when leaves turn colour in the autumn? Pupils from across Sweden will be helping researchers determine how the climate is affecting the growing season of plants and the onset of autumn. This mass experiment is part of the science festival Researchers’ Night.
Children’s photographs reveal dangerous environments
Press release 18 March 2013
The places that children perceive to be the most risky are roads, buildings, the outdoors, their homes and playgrounds. These are the findings of an analysis of photographs taken by children from across the whole of Sweden.
Research by young people reveals that we refrigerate our food at too high a temperature
Press Release 16th Jan 2012
