Carbon emissions of a public engagement event: the case of Sharper European Researchers' Night

Aiming to set sustainability benchmarks for university events, this research assesses the carbon footprint of an annual academic initiative in Italy, quantifying the impact of connecting science and society through Life Cycle Assessment. Primary data were collected on organization management, participant travel, and waste from the "European Researchers’ Night - Sharper" in Perugia. Transportation accounted for 85% of total greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to individual displacement, while energy and materials contributed minimally. The Sharper has a low-carbon-emissions profile compared to events explored in literature. Findings highlight the importance of travel management in a context where infrastructure and cultural habits impacts on local mobility, possible benefits of centralized or hybrid formats, although energy use for large-scale digital participation remains a consideration. Recommendations include integrating better policies for public transportation and sharing mobility to reduce impacts and using energy-efficient digital tools. This work contributes to sustainable event management and encourages academic institutions to adopt green practices in their public engagement activities, advancing beyond sustainable campus initiatives, supporting a transition towards low-carbon events. • University third mission aims to connect society and promote education • University actions must follow sustainable event management frameworks • Data collection assessed all departments activities of a University initiative • Decentralized event transportation contributes the most to GHG emissions • Findings highlight benefits of centralized or hybrid formats