UNIVERSITY OF GASTRONOMIC SCIENCES

Understanding the logics of obtaining, managing and perceiving of local natural resources, particularly plants, is crucial for ensuring sustainability of human life, as the use of plants is a key for survival of humans. The proposed research will create an advanced understanding of the mechanisms of changes in ethnobotanical knowledge experienced by traditional societies/minor ethnic groups when dominating group try to unify and/or erode this practical knowledge. It will also evaluate the effects of the sudden cease to existence of such centralization and following impact of the trial of revival of discontinued traditional etnobotanical knowledge. Research will evaluate the effect of several social and cultural factors on the evolution of ethnobotanical knowledge of four compact, but divided ethnic minorities that had experienced for shorter (25 years) or longer (70 years) period different influences affecting their plant use and very different social conditions (including welfare and economy). As a long-term outcome, based on the result of present and consequent studies scientists will be able to predict the extent and depth of the changes occurring in the ethnobotanical knowledge and as a applied outcome learn to direct and educate people in the way that the knowledge necessary for sustainable maintenance and utilization of local plant resources will be constantly evolving in the way supporting health and well-being of different populations.

The European Researchers’ Night (ERN) has become an annual tradition in Piedmont thanks to an extraordinary 10 years experience that has made citizens of all ages eagerly awaiting this appointment with the scientific vocation of our district and the European Commission. The CLOSER project will involve all the 8 provinces of Piedmont and the major city of the Aosta Valley (who recently joined the project), treasuring the capitalized experience of the past editions: it will build on the results achieved along this thrilling journey and move forward, also on the basis of the European agenda defined by H2020 in relation to the science and society issues. The acronym CLOSER reflects the whole thread of this proposal, which aims at establishing an alliance between researchers and the various societal actors by bringing them closer to one another, using the RRI approach to encourage them to take responsibility and work together to design a sustainable, ethically acceptable and socially desirable future. For this purpose, specific actions will be devised to actively engage citizens, schools and young people, policy makers and industries, who won’t be just the audience but the protagonists of each of the proposed action. A special programme will particularly target young people to foster their interest in scientific careers. In addition, CLOSER aims at strengthening the European citizenship feeling of the public involved as well as increasing their awareness of the importance of the European dimension in research through specific activities such as the ‘European Stage for Research and Innovation’, ‘A talk with young research!’ and ‘The Human Face of Research’. To realise such an ambitious programme, the engagement of a large, trans-disciplinary, gender-balanced community of researchers committed to public engagement will be vital: CLOSER will provide them with innovative, creative formats of communication that will strengthen their capability of communicating their research.

The Researchers’ Night has been for the eight past editions a regular appointment for researchers and for the different publics of science in Piedmont. The opportunity to organize two subsequent editions of the Night allows an active involvement of the stakeholders in the co-production of the event to increase their engagement and mutual awareness. Researchers, young people, citizens and, for the first time, industries will participate together to create a unique event. In addition, the 2015 edition will be the 10th anniversary of the Night in Piedmont and in Europe, a milestone to assess the impact of the event. The acronym TRACKS intends to represent the scientific method that researchers use in their work, the way that science and technology are making within society and the need for society to get involved into science and technology, the route that young people can take for their future and the track that policy makers and citizens can choose to address in an innovative and democratic way the challenges of our time, as pointed out by Horizon 2020. In terms of communication and impact, the novelty introduced in 2013 “The human face of research” will allow public and researchers to meet before and after the Night on the web and through the new media to represent the impact that the Night has had in its first 10 years on the society. For this reason we suggest to extend this project to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event throughout the EU and we have the intention to cooperate with the EU Commission in such context. Needless to say, the best traditional activities of the previous editions will continue in all venues but especially the European Coffee corner for science, a very appealing space where the public can get in touch with researchers and learn about the European dimension of science. The Night in Piedmont will also be an opportunity to promote in 2014 an active participation in the International Year of Light 2015 and of course in the EXPO2015.