Assessor of School and Education, Mrs. Annamaria Palmieri, has signed the adhesion of the City of Naples to the PLACES Declaration on the European City of Scientific Culture.

The FP7 project Platform of Local Authorities and Communicators Engaged in Science (PLACES) resulted in EU-level blueprints for the European City of Scientific Culture. The essence of a European City of Scientific Culture is that it supports science-informed strategies in cities involving society’s major drivers for economic growth, innovation and structural change. Main partners of the project were Ecsite, the European network of science centres and museums (coordinator), European Science

Events Association (Eusea), European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN) and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF).

The project involved

City Partnerships facilitating knowledge exchange among local stakeholders to develop locally-relevant and effective science communication policies.
Local Action Plans targeting key challenges in cities based on science-informed solutions.
Pilot Activities that tested innovative approaches to science communication.
Annual Conferences, Science Cities Workshops, training opportunities and Thematic Working Groups bringing PLACES stakeholders together in a united effort.
The PLACES Stakeholders Assembly offered expert insight and analysis on project outputs at the European level.

This Declaration will help to establish and further develop the concept of the European City of Scientific Culture, drawing on knowledge developed by PLACES participants who strongly believe that the concept can and will contribute to transparent, informed and smart decision-making processes at the local, regional and European levels. The PLACES Declaration is based on the project outcomes which have been documented as definitions, recommendations, and criteria for Cities of Scientific Culture. The Declaration was approved by the PLACES Executive Committee on 1 October 2013 and was then disseminated among PLACES partners who identified local authorities in support of its tenets.

The text of PLACES Declaration