Outreach events

The first ever FZU Theater Days were part of the Open Days at the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences at Slovanka. Over the course of two days, five performances of various genres were presented, demonstrating that events combining science and art have the potential to appeal to audiences of all ages, from experts to the general public. 

In addition to a wide range of tours, lectures, and workshops for schools and the public, the Open Days at the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences also brought something new in the form of the Institute of Physics Theater Days. 

On the last Friday in September, Researchers' Night attracted more than 1,400 physics enthusiasts of all ages to the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

For the ninth time, we met science enthusiasts from schools and the general public at the Czech Academy of Sciences' Science Fair, the largest popular science event in the Czech Republic. At the FZU exhibition, people could play sunrays in the photovoltaic tent, see the spectrum of visible light with their own eyes, build molecules from Lego, read new physics-themed comics and short stories, and also see a real magnetic sputtering machine, observe the martensitic transformation of alloys under a microscope, and other important physical instruments and phenomena.

As part of the Week of the Academy of Sciences the staff of the Institute of Physics present groundbreaking research to students and the curious public. This year was no exception. The opportunity to get a glimpse into the world of scientific experiments and cutting-edge technologies that scientists work with on a daily basis has been taken by 1348 visitors. 

Did you know that the displays of the future could be brighter and more colourful, yet more energy efficient? This technological advancement is made possible by quantum dots – objects so small that they behave according to the laws of quantum physics that govern the behaviour of the microworld.

This year's Researchers‘ Night at the Institute of Physics, although rainy and gloomy, attracted 494 visitors to the premises of the Institute of Physics, who overcame the bad weather to immerse themselves in the world of science. Participants were impressed by the beauties of the microworld, the starry sky in the mobile planetarium, scintillating crystals and followed the tracks of invisible particles in the fog chamber. Physics enthusiasts could attend a panel discussion with leading scientists. Yet the evening was not only about science. The program also featured the Sleeping Lion drama group with a two-act comedy from the period of the First Republic and a screening of photo contest images. The contest winner announcement ended the night's program.

Even neighbourhood festivals are influenced by fashion trends. On the third Saturday in September, a part of Cukrovarnická Street was traditionally transformed into a friendly and sunny neighbourhood space. This year's Zažít město jinak (Experience the City Differently) event ran along the lines of the circular economy – clothes and books were exchanged, photovoltaic devices were demonstrated and there was also positive chemistry.