The European Researchers’ Night in Armenia has kicked off in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor under the slogans “Science for Citizens, Citizens for Science: Meeting Challenges, Shaping Futures” and “Bringing Science Closer.”
The two-day event, taking place on September 25–26, also marks the culmination of the ‘Science Week: Armenia 2026’ program, implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.
ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan and EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos attended the science festival organized at the National Academy of Sciences as part of the event. Accompanied by Ashot Saghyan, President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, they visited the exhibition stands and spoke with school students attending the event and representatives of participating organizations.
“Among the priorities set out in the 2026–2030 Strategic Program for the Development of Science in the Republic of Armenia, approved earlier this year, are the popularization of science and making scientific processes more accessible to school-age children, bringing the world of science closer to them. Such events are precisely aimed at achieving that goal. I am confident that they can have a significant impact on our children’s career orientation, their understanding and learning of natural sciences, their willingness to learn, and the development of their curiosity,” Minister Zhanna Andreasyan said, emphasizing that these efforts should be ongoing. She also highlighted the importance of cooperation among different partners, viewing the event as an additional platform for strengthening international ties.
“I hope this event will encourage school students and young people to focus their efforts on education and research and bring them closer to the academic community,” EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos marked.
More than 50 organizations are participating in the science festival. They are offering visitors interactive scientific and educational activities, laboratory demonstrations and panel discussions covering a wide range of fields, including biotechnology, chemistry, physics, biology, artificial intelligence, space science, engineering, environmental protection, digital innovation, as well as the humanities and social sciences.
A particularly important component of the program is ‘Researchers in Schools’. Designed as a year-round initiative: it brings scientists together with school students to answer their questions and jointly explore and test ideas.
Every year, European Researchers’ Night is held simultaneously in hundreds of cities across Europe and beyond. This year marks the first time that the event is being held in Armenia.
The project submitted by the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia is being implemented within the “Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions” under the European Union’s ‘Horizon Europe’ program, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and other institutions. ‘Gituzh’ Initiative is a partner organization.
The European Researchers’ Night will become an annual event in Armenia, with the next edition scheduled to take place in 2027.