Widening collaborations and deepening strategies seems to be an answer to engage the public in Science. How can we develop cooperation within the Academic community? How can we create opportunities with city stakeholders? The communication and management of science face growing challenges to respond to the needs of improving the performance of researchers, their research centers and, above all, the way in which the results of their studies and work are made known to the community and the general public. The Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (UC), has been reducing the gap between research and the community through the organization of diverse public engagement events all over the city. To achieve that goal, we encouraged researchers to embrace new science communication challenges, to strengthen their skills and to increase their commitment to the institution and the community. Some of the best examples come from actions and projects, such as: the promotion and organization of strategic transversal and interdisciplinary initiatives, addressing challenges on Gender, Open Access, Research Integrity, and many others, while strengthening the support for R&D centers through the implementation of a network of research managers and science communication managers coming from these centers. This strategy allows the development of soft skills, the learning of pedagogical innovation techniques, the best science communication practices, and also to enroll different research centers and scientific areas in the same events. However, to come off the university walls the active participation of policymakers, associations and local merchants are crucial to open the city to receive the researchers and its Science. In the last two years, events were organized in collaboration with more than 500 researchers, a network of around 40 science managers, the Coimbra Downtown Promotion Agency, more than 50 local merchants, one shopping and the support of the municipality. The European Researchers’ Night at Coimbra (ERN) is the best example of this collaboration. Organized with a secondary goal to help to rejuvenate Coimbra´s Downtown, the Science Route of the ERN had a fulcral role of the Coimbra Downtown Promotion Agency and its Local merchants and artists to engage the public in this night activity at the city. Almost 400 researchers from 30 research centers presented their research to the community. Another example is “Researching at UC", an exhibition that takes place at one of the most emblematic shopping centers in Coimbra, CoimbraShopping. During seven months, 14 UC Research Centers shared their most important scientific projects with the community, using images, videos and objects. Close by the food court, the public can explore the knowledge developed in the university research centers. SoapBox Science Coimbra is an event that challenges 12 women from different career stages and diverse scientific areas to climb on a box, and without a microphone, presenting their research in a simple and understandable way through the streets of Coimbra, from University to Coimbra Downtown. Invite all aboard has been the key of success to promote more effective and innovative public engagement events in our community.
