The European Research Council (ERC) will celebrate the eight winners of its 2026 Public Engagement with Research Award (PERA) at a special session during the European Research and Innovation Days in Brussels. From music and cardiovascular health to climate-adaptive forests, tickling and neuroscience, women’s rights, the human microbiome, artificial intelligence in healthcare, platform workers and theatre, the winning projects demonstrate the many ways researchers can open up their work to society. In a dialogue with the 2026 PERA winners, hear what they have tried, what they have learnt and what makes public engagement work. Among the eight PERA winners are two researchers affiliated with Flemish universities: Valeria Pulignano from KU Leuven and Sarah Lebeer from Universiteit Antwerpen. Read more about the eight winning projects in the ERC press release. The discussion will be moderated by Luke O’Neill, member of the ERC Scientific Council and Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin, and Mirko Bischofberger, founder of Science Studios.

The online joining link will be available on the R&I Days platform, where you can also explore the full programme and attend other sessions. All information related to this event is also available in the announcement on the ERC website.