Overview
The Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) has opened a call for expressions of interest for researchers who wish to participate in the “Researchers in Schools” programme for the 2026–2027 school year. The programme invites researchers to take part in visits to schools in Primary Education, Secondary Education, and Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training across Cyprus.
First launched during the 2022–2023 school year, the programme aims to increase direct contact and interaction between students, teachers and researchers from different research fields in Cyprus. Its wider goal is to strengthen students’ interest in science, research and innovation, while also showing the relevance of research to everyday life and future career choices.
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Programme Objectives
Through school visits, researchers will be invited to present their work to students in an engaging way. RIF encourages the use of creative and interactive presentation methods where possible, as well as equipment or tools that can be transported to schools for demonstration purposes.
For the 2026–2027 initiative, it will also be possible to arrange school visits to research organisations, giving students direct exposure to research environments.
Themes
Presentations should be linked to the STEAM educational approach, covering Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
Visit Schedule
Visits by researchers to schools, and/or visits by schools to research organisations, will be organised around international days connected to the STEAM fields.
The planned visit periods are:
- Science: 9–13 November 2026, linked to World Science Day on 10 November 2026
- Engineering: 1–5 March 2027, linked to World Engineering Day on 4 March 2027
- Mathematics: 15–19 March 2027, linked to World Mathematics Day on 14 March 2027
- Arts: 12–16 April 2027, linked to World Art Day on 15 April 2027
- Technology: 17–21 May 2027, linked to World Technology Day on 17 May 2027
Who Can Participate
The call is addressed to researchers interested in visiting schools and presenting their work to students as part of the programme. Participating schools may come from almost all districts of Cyprus, including semi-mountainous, mountainous and remote areas.
After the expression-of-interest stage, RIF will contact researchers to inform them about schools that have expressed interest in hosting researcher visits or organising visits to research organisations. Specific arrangements for each researcher will be made three to four weeks before the relevant visit period.
RIF will select the school based on the researcher’s preferences and availability, as well as the priority order of schools’ expressions of interest. If an issue arises, an alternative arrangement may be made in consultation with the responsible RIF officer.
Support
RIF may, upon request, cover part of researchers’ expenses for travel and the transport of relevant equipment to schools.
How To Apply
Researchers who wish to participate must declare their availability through the online form by 30 September 2026.
About The Programme
The “Researchers in Schools” programme is implemented as part of the European project “CELEBRATE 2.0 – TWO DECADES OF STEAM-POWERED INSPIRATION”, funded by the European Commission under the EU Horizon Europe research and innovation programme for 2021–2027.
