Researchers' Night celebrates 20 years. BUT reveals the riches hidden in science and innovation
Modern technologies, research, and innovations enrich our society and move it forward. Wealth itself is the theme of the 20th edition of the Researchers’ Night, which will take place on Friday, September 26, with experts from the Brno University of Technology traditionally joining in. Visitors can look forward to a night full of science shows, workshops, games, popular science lectures, and fascinating experiments.
Scientists from BUT will reveal treasures hidden in ancient thinkers, nuclear physics, virtual reality, business ideas, art, or even sports technologies. A unique program is being prepared at eight faculties and four institutes. Activities will start at 5:00 p.m. and continue until late evening. “Researchers’ Night is a great opportunity for us to open the university gates and show how science and research can change everyday life. We are pleased to inspire young people to study technical and natural sciences while sharing our work with the wider public,” said event coordinator at BUT, Lenka Svobodová.
What kind of wealth is connected with science and technology?
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will present wealth in all its forms this year—from technology to scientific knowledge. Visitors can enjoy science shows, lab tours, and professional discussions about motorsport or even gold production in space. Highlights will also include demo rides of the student formula car, flight simulators, a view of Brno from the 19th floor, and a model of the Sun right in front of the faculty! Researchers’ Night will also mark the culmination of the 125th anniversary celebrations of FME, so the program will be truly packed!
At the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, visitors will dive into the world of chips, nuclear energy, batteries, diagnostics, and biomedicine. They will uncover the wealth of physical phenomena and learn what technologies help protect cultural heritage. The fun “Elektrikárium” for kids will also be open. And of course, there will be drones, a Mars rover model, and several-meter-long lightning bolts striking from a musical Tesla coil. A ŠKODA EDU.Lab will also be stationed in front of the faculty building.
The Faculty of Information Technology will showcase artificial intelligence, its security risks, and how it impacts biometrics. Visitors will also discover insights into cryptocurrencies, cyber threats, or historical IT treasures in the Museum of Computing. They will design a model to be printed on a 3D printer, try flying a drone in augmented reality, and experience transformations of fear through a virtual reality trauma simulation. They can also look forward to a unique fire show and a guided tour of the historic faculty campus.
Researchers from the Faculty of Chemistry have prepared a mysterious journey full of experiments and chemical reactions for young explorers, ending with a small treasure. They will also investigate various materials, microorganisms, and molecular wealth—and, of course, the legendary Chemical Show full of colors, fire, and explosions will not be missing.
A fun path also awaits at the CEITEC BUT research center. The labyrinth of scientific discoveries will reveal the wealth of ancient physics—from Pythagoras’ geometry to Archimedes’ mosaics to Hippocrates’ art of healing. Visitors will see that ancient thinkers laid the foundations of physics and science still built upon today. Science fans will also have their nerves measured, learn about lasers and CT scans, and take a unique tour of laboratory spaces cleaner than an operating room.
The Faculty of Business and Management will focus on the wealth of ideas, advising how to build a successful project and a functional team. Visitors will test eye-tracking technology, explore the role of voice in communication, discuss fair trade, or join an escape room to save a collapsing study system.
At the Faculty of Civil Engineering, visitors will discover the wealth hidden in water and geological data. They will become builders, constructors, or even architects, experiment with thermal cameras and building materials, and learn how nature can enrich construction and make it more sustainable.
Experts from the Faculty of Architecture will showcase both wealth and poverty in architecture. People can walk through a polar station, see the best bachelor’s and master’s projects, or build their own interactive city. For a moment, they will also become amateur architects, redrawing iconic Brno buildings.
Artists at the Faculty of Fine Arts will take visitors to Treasure Island, presenting a wide range of original works in art and design. The creative hub KUMST will feature a video showcase of thesis projects and a selection from the faculty’s studios.
The Institute of Forensic Engineering will demonstrate how damage is assessed on crashed vehicles. Visitors will also tour a fire truck, learn what to do in emergencies, and, using special goggles, experience how human perception changes under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
And at the Sports Activities Center, visitors will try modern equipment and sports technologies, analyze their movements, practice fencing, evaluate fatigue, and test their reaction time by catching falling banknotes. They will also learn about the activities of the Alfons BUT counseling center, play sign-language memory games, or learn basic technical terms in sign language.
The Researchers’ Night program is suitable for families with children, school pupils, students, and the general public. Admission to all activities is free, although registration is recommended in some cases. To make moving around Brno easier, as last year, a special free bus line will operate along the route University Campus Bohunice – Česká – Technology Park – and back. Buses will run from 6:00 p.m. until midnight.
The mission of Researchers’ Night, held in the Czech Republic since 2005, is to show people that science is not boring. For one evening each year, universities, research institutes, and laboratories across Europe open their doors to the public, offering free tours, lectures, workshops, experiments, and science shows.
The detailed program of Researchers’ Night at BUT is available on the event website.
Source: vut.cz/en
| Responsible person | Ing. Zdeňka Koubová |
|---|---|
| Date of publication |