FEEC BUT at the Brno Science and Technology Festival

From 4 to 6 September, the Brno Exhibition Centre came alive with science and technology. FEEC BUT was part of it – with three days of robots, chips, 3D printing and hand-built Crazy Bugs. And children were not there just to watch. They could experiment, build and create for themselves.

FEEC BUT at the Brno Science and Technology Festival 2026. | Photo: Václav Koníček

Organised by the Brno Observatory and Planetarium, the Brno Science and Technology Festival attracts up to 10,000 visitors every year. The free event takes place in Pavilion A at the Brno Exhibition Centre and offers a programme for all ages, from young children to adults. More than a hundred scientific and technological institutions, schools and companies take part each year. Alongside FEEC, Brno University of Technology was represented this year by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry and CEITEC BUT.

Our goal was simple: to give children a chance to experience science and technology in a playful, hands-on way. To show them that technology is something they can touch, take apart, build and programme – and, above all, understand. Throughout the festival, our team was there to explain, demonstrate, answer questions and help young visitors discover things for themselves.

Bringing a robot to life – together

In the gaming lab, children could find out what it takes to bring a robot to life. Instead of simply demonstrating a finished product, our team programmed Tobbie 2 together with them, step by step. Visitors could also play games on a console built around the popular micro. The gaming lab was run by Pavel Šteffan and Adriana Šteffanová from the Department of Microelectronics (UMEL).

ELEDU and Elabrix kits

The ELEDU project brought its Elabrix educational kits to the festival. Designed for hands-on learning, the kits help students develop an intuitive understanding of electronics through experimentation and discovery. For teachers, they provide a reliable classroom tool that can be used throughout the school year with minimal preparation and maintenance. Veronika Junasová and Pavel Tomíček represented ELEDU and guided visitors through the activities.

FEEC BUT at the Brno Science and Technology Festival 2026. | Photo: Václav Koníček

InMoov and Crazy Bugs

With Honza Toman, children built their own Crazy Bugs – small robots powered by a battery. Keeping them company was InMoov, a life-size humanoid robot. Students Lukáš Gajdík and Matěj Hromek were also there to guide visitors and answer their questions.

FEEC BUT at the Brno Science and Technology Festival 2026. | Photo: Václav Koníček

Toy Factory: 3D printing in action

The 3D printing stand barely stopped all weekend. Visitors could see what our student-built 3D printers can produce – from toys to functional components – and watch the printing process in real time. The Department of Electrical and Electronic Technology (UETE) was represented by Robert Bayer, Kamil Jaššo, Jan Netušil and Tomáš Batelka.

Cognitive Tic-Tac-Toe: more than just strategy

Tic-tac-toe, but not quite as you know it. As well as strategy, this version tested attention and the ability to respond to additional tasks appearing during the game. Oto Janoušek from the Department of Biomedical Engineering (UBMI) challenged children to play while explaining what was happening and why.

Similar principles of cognitive testing are also used in our research involving pilots and astronauts – situations where the ability to react quickly and accurately really matters.

The Journey of a Chip

How is a chip made? Where can we find chips in everyday life? And why would the modern world struggle to function without them?

The Journey of a Chip exhibit answered these questions and showed visitors what lies behind one of the key technologies of our time. The exhibit was presented by members of the SPICE BUT student association – Lenka Kopřivová, Jan Vymazal, Oldřich Příklenk, Damián Hofernica, Tibor Kokoška and Matěj Tománek – with the support of the Czech Semiconductor Centre.

Into space with YSpace and the KOSTKA satellite

Space technology was represented by the YSpace student team. Visitors to their stand could try soldering for themselves and learn about KOSTKA – a satellite that is currently orbiting the Earth.

And for the students behind the project, launching the satellite was not the end of the story. They continue to track and control KOSTKA from a ground station right here at FEEC.

Elektrikárium: electricity you can play with

At Elektrikárium, visitors could watch glowing electrical discharges inside a plasma globe, find out how much energy was left in a battery or build their own electronic circuit. Younger children experimented with a magnetic construction set, while anyone looking for a festival souvenir could design and make their own FEEC badge.

Elektrikárium was run by Marie Cmíralová, Vojtěch Velebný and Tomáš Uhlíř from SPS.

FEEC BUT at the Brno Science and Technology Festival 2026. | Photo: Václav Koníček

A new FEEC chill-out zone

New this year was the FEEC chill-out zone – a place to sit down, take a break and recharge before heading off to explore more of the festival. Its design brought together BUT red and FEEC blue.

BUT also took the spotlight in the evening

On Friday evening, festival organisers came together for an afterparty. Guests included the rectors of Mendel University in Brno, Brno University of Technology and Masaryk University, representatives of the South Moravian Region, and Jakub Rybář, the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Commissioner for Science Popularisation and Talent Development.

And BUT had another reason to celebrate: its representatives swept all three top spots in the knowledge quiz. First place went to FEEC – congratulations to Pavel Tomíček from UMEL on taking the win!

A big thank you to all our colleagues and students who spent the three days sharing their knowledge, enthusiasm and time with visitors.

See you at the festival again next year!