The ASIMOV Prize for scientific publishing -- HEP researchers trigger young people toward science

TL;DR

The ASIMOV Prize aims to engage young people in scientific culture through critical reading of popular science books, involving students actively and demonstrating success in Italy and Brazil.

Contribution

This paper introduces the ASIMOV Prize, a novel public engagement initiative that actively involves students in science literacy through book reviews and voting.

Findings

12,000 students participated in Italy

Successful replication in Brazil with positive results

Active student involvement enhances science engagement

Abstract

This work presents the ASIMOV Prize for scientific publishing, which was launched in Italy in 2016. The prize aims to bring the young generations closer to scientific culture, through the critical reading of popular science books. The books are selected by a committee that includes scientists, professors, Ph.D. and Ph.D. students, writers, journalists and friends of culture, and most importantly, over 800 school teachers. Students are actively involved in the prize, according to the best practices of public engagement: they read, review the books and vote for them, choosing the winner. The experience is quite successful: 12,000 students from 270 schools all over Italy participated in the last edition. The possibility of replicating this experience in other countries is indicated, as was done in Brazil in 2020 with more than encouraging results.