From June 6 to 8, the fifth annual Science Fair of the Czech Academy of Sciences took place at the exhibition grounds in Letňany, Prague. Over 30,000 visitors, more than 100 exhibitors on an area of 8,000 square meters, institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences, universities from across the country, and dozens of companies engaged in innovation. The fair was organized by the Czech Academy of Sciences, and admission to the event was free throughout. Once again this year, the ÚFE exhibition was a big hit with visitors.
This year, we presented two of our research teams at our stand. Scientists from the Synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials team gave visitors a glimpse into the nanoworld in which they work every day. They prepared a comparison for visitors showing how a sample on a glass slide can be seen with the naked eye, under an optical microscope, and under an electron microscope. In addition, they connected several times in real time with a remote specialized nanolaboratory, where samples with nanometer dimensions are worked on. At an electron microscope five kilometers away, visitors could observe zinc oxide nanorods, which are tens to hundreds of nanometers in size.
The other half of the ÚFE stand was occupied by scientists from the Fiber Lasers and Non-linear Optics research team, who presented equally interesting demonstrations. Visitors could touch a glass preform used in the production of optical fibers, test the strength and mechanical resistance of optical fibers, or observe total light reflection in a glass rod using a laser beam. There was also an engaging explanation of the manufacturing process and illustrative video demonstrations.
This year, we also introduced a new feature—3D virtual tours of laboratories, which could be viewed either on a computer or directly through special virtual reality glasses.
A competition for a Day in the Lab was held at the stand, and the winner will be drawn in the coming days.
This year’s event welcomed the largest number of visitors to date, took place in the largest venue, and featured most of the 54 workplaces of the Czech Academy of Sciences. And it was these workplaces that presented visitors with an incredible spectacle – whether it was interactive exhibitions, experiments, lectures, workshops, carefully selected exhibits, or science shows.
photo: Petra Palečková
