On September 25, our partners from SHINE 2Europe represented the TRACE project at the European Researchers’ Night across four Portuguese cities: Coimbra, Braga, Lisbon, and Porto. The activities focused on inclusion, citizen participation, and literacy around cancer prevention and treatment. Throughout the event, team members engaged directly with more than 300 participants through two main interactive activities: the Prevention Wheel and the Interactive Map.
European Researchers Night – Braga
The Prevention Wheel facilitated informal discussions on various cancer prevention factors. Meanwhile, the Interactive Map allowed visitors to indicate where they prefer to receive cancer awareness information and which locations would capture their attention most effectively. The Interactive Map also proved to be a practical tool for both public engagement and data collection. Beyond gathering specific responses, the dynamics opened direct dialogues with citizens on the importance of involving the public when defining health strategies and communication solutions.
European Researchers Night – Coimbra
Across all four locations, participants most frequently selected universities, schools, health centers, and hospitals as their preferred channels for receiving health information. Leisure spaces, mobile phones, supermarkets, and workplaces were also commonly highlighted. The collected data revealed notable differences across regional profiles and age groups, which will be detailed in an upcoming project report.
European Researchers Night – Lisboa
For TRACE, these contributions provide a baseline understanding of how the Portuguese population prefers to receive cancer prevention messaging. The gathered insights will help inform and adapt future awareness actions within the project’s regional ecosystems. Overall, the initiative offered an effective test for simple participatory methodologies that can be replicated in future project activities.
European Researchers Night – Porto
Photos courtesy of our colleagues from SHINE 2Europe.
