Looking back on Roots and Recipes 2026
On 25 and 26 September, the European Researchers’ Night took place across Europe. This annual event promotes scientific research, encourages young people to take an interest in science, and highlights the role that research plays in our everyday lives. Scivil also took part through the project Roots and Recipes.
Scivil, the AfricaMuseum, Meise Botanic Garden, The FoodBridge, and KU Leuven joined forces for Roots and Recipes, a project showcasing African food cultures. During the European Researchers’ Night, visitors explored the role that science plays in food, identity, and cultural belonging.
On Friday, participants attended a screening of the documentary Roots and Plates by Roger Dushime, followed by a panel discussion and informal networking over an African buffet. The evening offered an inspiring celebration of the richness and diversity of African diaspora cuisines in Belgium.
On Saturday, citizen science took centre stage during the Citizen Science African Food Fair. No fewer than 21 research projects from Belgium and beyond presented their work on food and nutrition through engaging demonstrations, interactive activities, and hands-on workshops.
The first edition of Roots and Recipes can be considered a success. Over the course of the two-day event, Scivil conducted surveys among visitors to measure its impact, and feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Interest in food science increased, visitors felt more motivated to contribute to scientific research, and perceptions of the richness of African cuisine became more positive.
The European Researchers’ Night takes place over two consecutive years. Those who were unable to attend this year will have another opportunity to discover Roots and Recipes next year.
As for the citizen science methodology, this is actually something we have always done within our organisation as members of the African diaspora. We continuously involve members of the diaspora in our activities and research. We just didn’t have a name for it. We didn’t know it existed. It was therefore incredibly valuable to be able to name this approach and to receive funding for it. It allowed us to build on the work we were already doing and strengthen it further. That was very important to me.
De eerste editie van Roots and Recipes kan een succes genoemd worden. Twee dagen lang deed Scivil bevragingen bij de bezoeker om de impact van het event te meten, en de reacties waren over de hele lijn positief. De interesse in voedingswetenschap verhoogde, mensen kregen meer zin om bij te dragen aan wetenschappelijk onderzoek, en de perceptie over de rijkheid van de Afrikaanse keuken evolueerde in de positieve zin.
De European Researchers’ Night vindt 2 jaar op rij plaats. Wie er dit jaar niet bij kon zijn, kan volgend jaar Roots and Recipes komen ontdekken.
