On Friday, September 30, the most visited science event for the general public took place in our institute – Researchers’ Night 2022. To give an idea of an "average solid-state physicist" and the topics studied in the institute on a daily basis, visitors could walk through all the floors, talk to the scientists, observe experiments, and test their knowledge in a quiz.
On the first floor, guests of the event had the opportunity to experience the daily life of a cleanroom scientist, put on a special outfit, and take an hour-long tour through the cleanrooms. Scientists from the Laboratory of Micro and Nanodevices demonstrated "freezing" experiments and the capabilities of cleanroom suits. Colleagues from the Materize unit explained how to sell science or a scientific invention and offered to compete with solar-powered vehicle models. Visitors also had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the capabilities of the most powerful SEM electron microscope in the Baltic States.
On the second floor, researchers from the EXAFS laboratory demonstrated 3D holograms and explained how to create them at home, while radiation physics scientists demonstrated hologram recordings. Visitors could capture themselves at the photo wall where all prominent institute guests usually take official photos. On the second floor, researchers from the Laboratory of Materials for Energy Harvesting and Storage explained to the visitors how hydrogen could be produced from aluminum waste. At the Alchemists' stand, scientists explained the age-old question that has occupied the minds of alchemists for several millennia - is it possible to turn copper into gold?
In the third-floor lobby, the Researchers’ Night guests could get into an electron’s shoes and find out what it feels like to be under a microscope. This event section was prepared by the young researchers of the Laboratory of Microscopy, under whose leadership the visitors could participate in an electron fitness class.
On the fourth floor, the Laboratory of Optical Materials team had taken care of an Instagram-worthy photo filter and introduced other “photo things” entitled – analog, nice, and physical, not angry and digital.
On the fifth floor, guests could see scientific laboratories and equipment, learn about batteries, and watch luminescence experiments. On this floor, visitors' questions were answered by the friendly teams of the Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Laboratory of Materials for Energy Harvesting and Storage, Laboratory of Chemical technologies, and Laboratory of Microscopy. A special interactive stand, "Illuminate me," was created for children. All visitors could take part in the quiz "Can you guess what the enlarged object is?"
The most adventurous participants of the Researchers’ Night could participate in a secret mission – a photo orientation competition. By guessing the secret password hidden in the QR codes around the institute premises, participants could get prizes with the institute’s logo.
More than 600 people visited the institute and participated in various activities. Visitors’ ages range from very young juniors (only months old) to seniors 75+. Among the participants were groups of kindergarteners and school classes from Baloži, Limbaži, and Jelgava. There have also been spontaneous visits from the neighborhood residents to see why so many people gather at the institute. Children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends of the institute employees were also introduced to our work and scientific "miracles.” The last guests left the institute at 21:48.
The Researchers’ Night was a challenge for employees who participated in it for the first time and for colleagues who already had experience with several Researcher’s Night events. The visitors, as always, were demanding. Some of them wanted to find out about experiments, demonstrations or equipment units in simple words, while the others were eager to develop almost scientific discussions, requiring the knowledge and experience of our employees in explaining experiments and processes and answering the questions about the chances of winning a Nobel Prize in the future.
Finally, this was also a great event for employees to get to know each other, get together, and work together to maintain and strengthen the institute's good reputation as an excellent place to engage in science and innovation.
See you all next year!
