“Science on the move - from lab to streets & school” (ScienceSCool) is a two-year project to be organized around the theme "Life in a science bulb (2022)/Life outside the science bulb (2023)" by the Faculty of Physical Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering in 12 cities and several rural areas in Serbia. The objective of the project is to point out the importance of science for everyday life and to break the prejudice related to researchers by enabling direct contact between participants and researchers through attractive program that combines science and entertainment. At the same time, researchers’ awareness of the public’s concerns related to their work will be raised. The main topic of the project would be climate changes in accordance with the both EU and UN missions and goals, with special attention directed towards young audience in accordance with 2022 being the Year of European Youth. The pre/post-event activities to be organized will include Science Vans – mobile teams of researchers dispatched to rural areas to perform hands on experiments with participants. The event activities will include Treasure Hunt (a set of hands on experiments whose successful completion leads to a scientific award), and Open Day/Lab, that became “trademarks” of the SCIMFONICOM project during the years. New activities such as SCI-Circus and Fascination by Innovation will also be organised. Furthermore, a special activity will be organized giving opportunities for successful researchers of Serbia that won grants within highly competitive European calls to present their projects and their research. Cultural and educational institutions including Belgrade City Library, Center for Talents and Institute Servantes, are supporting the project.

SCIMFONICOM 2020 is a seven-month organized by the Faculty of Physical Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade. Within this project, Researchers’ Night event will be organized around the theme "Lighten up your mind" in 12 cities and 3 rural communities in Serbia. The project is supported by prominent educational institutions such as Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and Regional Centre for Talents. The program planned to be organized on September 25 and 26, 2020 is envisaged to include a range of highly interesting and stimulating activities, from Power up the World (series of interactive demonstrations in the area of physical sciences); Power of life (series of interactive demonstrations in the area of life sciences); Power of mind (series of interactive demonstrations and workshops in the area of social sciences); Treasure Hunt (win an award by completing hands-on experiments); Science Up (short lectures and demonstrations regarding the scientific principles behind the things we use in our daily lives); Open Lab (visit to a research laboratory with opportunity to see researchers in action); Around the World in 60 days (interactive digital media workshop) and 10 most exciting scientific experiments (interactive lectures); European Corners (interactive display of EU projects in Serbia and trivia game challenging visitors knowledge) to Science Vans (mobile researchers’ teams in rural areas). SCIMFONICOM 2020 is expected to continue contributing to the raising of public awareness about research (both in the area of natural and social sciences) and to bring researchers closer to the visitors by offering new activities and locations while obtaining greater support of educational institutions and other organizations towards RN main ideas. The project will take part in the regional RN network, bringing greater synergy at the regional and European level and emphasizing European character of RN.

Europe’s horticultural production systems face 3 main sustainability problems: i) continued reliance on peat growing media, and drawbacks of current peat alternatives; ii) inefficient or inappropriate use of agricultural inputs; iii) suboptimal soil health due to unsustainable management practices. The multi-actor project Hort2thefuture will address these 3 challenges over 4 years with research, supplier, retail, and grower partners representing 11 European countries. Activities are divided between 7 Work Packages corresponding to the project's key objectives, together with project management. The objectives are to: (1) develop a methodological framework and tools for effective sustainability/Life Cycle Assessment analysis, (2) create and foster the commercial uptake of relatively low-cost, reliable, scalable growing media in horticulture, using EU-sourced raw materials, having substantially lower carbon and environmental footprints than peat, (3) develop and commercialise novel products and production systems that reduce input use in horticulture, (4) develop and commercialise novel products that improve soil structure and mitigate soil compaction in horticulture, (5) facilitate behavioural change to more sustainable practices through Living Labs and policy measures, and (6) communicate, disseminate & exploit project results effectively to 7 stakeholder audiences, raising soil literacy. The project will deliver outputs at TRL5-7 for Decision Support and LCA tools, an in planta nitrate monitoring electrode, new peat-free alternatives being commercialised, based on wood fibre, nano/micro-irrigation products developed to improve irrigation efficiency and soil health, as well as commercialised biological, chemical and mechanical solutions to reduce/prevent soil compaction, restore compacted soils and improve soil structure. These outcomes will help realise Mission: Soil health objectives, involving stakeholders along the whole agri-food chain and cooperation with FAO.