Outreach Events

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The Science Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre is a one-day science dissemination event  and one of the most important outdoor science festivals in Europe, covering an area of more than 40,000 sqm.

Based on an idea from Prof. Łukasz Turski, Robert Firmhofer and Krystyna Kępska-Michalska, the first edition of this fun and lively event took place in 1997 in the New Town Square in Warsaw, Poland. Attracting thousands of visitors — schools, scientists and the public at large — the Warsaw Science Picnic has become a hallmark of today’s European goal to bring science to society.

More than 200 institutions from all over the world contribute to the festival with fun, hands-on activities and demonstrations to explore the challenges and power of scientific discoveries in ways accessible to visitors of all ages and interests. Characterized by its multidisciplinary setup, the Science Picnic promotes synergy between the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, providing an ideal backdrop to present science as intriguing and exciting, and to encourage young students to take up the challenge and passion of a scientific career. In 2005, the European Commission identified the Warsaw Science Picnic as one of the top 10 model European projects in the Science and Society field.

The main theme of this 14^th Edition of the Science Picnic was "The Great MicroWorld".

Together with the Italian Cultural Institute in Warsaw, ELLS presented "microBEgood", a selection of hands-on activities which take a look at the microbial world, and  the power of modern sequencing techniques and the new approach of metagenomics.
In a simulated laboratory, catchy and accessible hands-on experiments followed by real-time microscopy observations, allowed participants of all ages to explore and learn about fundamental features of microbial life.

Over the past few years, the methodologies adopted by scientists to study microorganisms have radically changed, boosted by the power of advanced DNA sequencing technology and by the new approach of metagenomics.  With the help of visual interactives, "microBegood" provided a glimpse of the technologies and strategies that scientists use to look at microbial communities and harness them for the good of the community to improve our lives. These advancements are already happening, and pose ethical questions and demand informed decisions not only by scientists but by society as a whole.

Sequencing the entire genome of any individual in 15 minutes or building a living cell starting from a digital code are two scenarios that have long left the realms of science fiction and have now entered the horizons of reality!
The friendly and open environment at our stand facilitated discussion on such topics, to stress the importance that public awareness of science has on the future of our societies.