To highlight Mediterranean science, the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) and 11 of the most representative entities for scientific research and dissemination from the Valencian Community and Region of Murcia have joined forces to celebrate ‘Mednight,’ the inaugural Mediterranean Researchers’ Night. The activities designed by the UMH are supported by the Vice Rectorate for Student Affairs and Coordination and the Board of Trustees, in conjunction with the vice rectorates for Research, Knowledge Transfer and Exchange, and that of International Relations.

Various formats and topics have been proposed for students and researchers to demonstrate the impact of science upon society. The Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Healthcare Biotechnology of Elche (IDiBE) at the UMH is organizing, within the framework of European Night activities, a new session of ‘Science with Tapas’ at the Alicante Fnac to take place on November 5, albeit on this occasion with a reduced audience and electronic streaming.

Another initiative led by the UMH is a virtual encounter on social media with scientific communicators taking place on November 24. Participants here include mathematician, Santi García Cremades (@santigarciacc); paleontologist, Francesc Gascó (@dinozoic); and biotechnologist, Lucía Almagro (@diariodeunacientifica), and these will stream a three-way conversation on why it is important for society to be aware of science. Moreover, the editors of UMH scientific journal, Sapiens, are giving an online seminar with guidance on how to talk about science, taking place November 26, beginning at 5 p.m.

MUDIC, the Didactic and Interactive Science Museum of the Vega Baja, is also joining the European Researchers’ Night, and offering numerous activities in promotion of science to commemorate the museum’s 12th anniversary. Throughout the month of November, it is also making a repository available to the public wherein informative material for people of all ages will be published, including workshops, experiments, and scientific tidbits to take advantage of ‘Science from your Living Room.’ Details about the remaining activities will be provided in upcoming weeks.

All the information about the Mediterranean Researchers’ Night is available on its website. On it, the participating entities report on their activities, publish news, and disseminate some of the recent research ongoing within their laboratories, linked to different subjects of this event. Included among these are geology & biodiversity, sea & pollution, climate & clean energy, diet & food, life & health, history & culture, pioneering & future scientists.

Mednight was born out of collaboration by a consortium of 12 entities: the UMH, University of Murcia, Technical University of Cartagena, University of Alicante, University of Valencia, Universitat Politècnica de València, Universitat Jaume I, Fisabio Foundation, Seneca Foundation – Science and Technology Agency in the Region of Murcia, INCLIVA, and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), coordinated by El Caleidoscopio, and sponsored by the Generalitat Valenciana through the Valencian Community Foundation for the Promotion of Higher Education (FFES).

The Mednight project is an event associated with the European Researchers’ Night initiative by the European Union. It receives funding through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, with call identifier H2020-MSCA-NIGHT-2020.