On September 27, 2024, over two hundred enthusiastic scientists, teachers and students prepared 62 stands on the theme ‘Transformations in the natural sciences and mathematics’, attracting more than 4,500 visitors to both SCI MUNI campuses.
The theme of this year’s national Scientists Night, “Transformation”, attracted more than 4,500 visitors to both campuses of the SCI MUNI Faculty of Science, with 1,200 at the Kotlářská campus and over 3,300 at the University Campus.
The topic was applied across a wide range of scientific fields, whether transformation of plants, animals, insects, water, microorganisms, cells or molecules, or transformations in chemical substances, compounds, enzymes or viruses. As always, young and not-so-young ‘researchers’ could enjoy experimental demonstrations by chemists or informative lectures in the University Campus auditorium on a wide range of topics, such as cell aging. The National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Bioskop and RECETOX also gave demonstrations at their own interactive stands.
At the Kotlářská Campus, visitors could handle and identify rocks and minerals, examine maps or watch films showing how the Earth and our immediate surroundings are changing, based on satellite images, or changes across the entire Universe, using image projection and animation. Alternatively, visitors could view the microworld in 3D, see practical demonstrations of plasma transformation or learn about the impact of semi-conductor transformers and nano-technology on the world. Participants in the Czech Antarctic Research Program presented their discoveries related to climate change in Antarctica, while our mathematicians both revealed how symphonies and equations are related and told everyone about the Digital City Lab MUNI and its Data Analytics educational program. Visitors could also take home a handmade 3D keychain or see examples of plant and insect transformations, prepared by the Central Control and Testing Institute for Agriculture, while touring the Botanical Garden greenhouses.
Photos: Martin Indruch and Tomáš Hájek
On September 24, a group of graduates from the teacher training program in mathematics and physics visited us. They completed their studies in 1970, so we gave them a tour to show how the faculty has changed since then.
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