Hands-on exhibit at European Researchers’ Night

“Life is Science – in a world turned upside-down!” That was the motto of European Researchers’ Night 2024 in Graz, Austria.

On Friday, 27 September 2024 BNN joined researchers across Europe for simultaneous public science events in dozens of European cities. In Graz we joined ERN at the University of Graz RESOWI center – a dynamic venue on the campus of the main university of Graz.

This dynamic event presents engaging, hands-on activities suitable for people of all ages, from children to students to adults, offering them a glimpse into the daily activities of several research institutions on the topics of Earth Explorers, Health Enthusiasts, Tech Pioneers and Science Reporters.  

A total of 650 people visit the exhibitions, including the BNN booth “Wie nano ist unsere Welt?” (How nano is our world?) At the BNN exhibit, students and adults were able to match microscopic images of nanomaterials to their real-life applications. Young visitors learned about nanostructures in nature, such as butterfly wings, the pearling of the Lotus Effect, or the dentine in our teeth! Even the youngest visitors loved using a pipette to create large and small water droplets on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces! 

We were able to show participants a sample of a biomaterial developed by NABIHEAL partner University of Maribor and explain NABIHEAL’s goal of developing a novel wound-healing material that is metal-free and safe for the environment.