The Prague Science Fair Once Again Showed That Science Can Inspire
From June 4 to 6, 2026, the PVA Expo Prague exhibition centre in Letňany was transformed into a bustling hub of scientific discovery. The Science Fair, organised by the Czech Academy of Sciences, featured more than 100 interactive exhibits, scientific demonstrations, laboratories, workshops, and quizzes for schools, the general public, and fellow researchers across two exhibition halls. This year, the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS) was represented by the Institute of Virology and the Institute of Experimental Endocrinology of the Biomedical Research Center SAS, the Institute of Molecular Biology SAS, and the Ľudovít Štúr Institute of Linguistics SAS. The SAS leadership was represented at the event by Presidium members Pavol Siman and Martin Nosko.
Visitors to the SAS exhibition area could explore the “social networks” of microorganisms presented by the Institute of Molecular Biology SAS, and learn how bacteria communicate through chemical signals in a process known as quorum sensing. The Biomedical Research Center SAS showcased research on cancer cells, mosquito-borne viruses, and the role of physical activity in protecting health. The Ľudovít Štúr Institute of Linguistics SAS presented an interactive dialect map. At the same time, visitors also enjoyed Czech-Slovak language quizzes and highly popular picture games featuring Czech-Slovak word pairs. SAS was also represented in the accompanying programme, where Viktória Sunyík from the Institute of Experimental Psychology of the Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences SAS, participated in a panel discussion on disinformation.
The largest crowds gathered on Thursday and Friday mornings, when schools arrived in large numbers, while afternoons attracted entire families. Visitors were drawn not only to robots and robotic dogs, but also to giant stick insects, interactive experiments, hands-on demonstrations, large-scale exhibits, and presentations from other institutions and universities operating in the Czech Republic.
As part of SAS’s participation in the Science Fair, coordinators and science communicators from SAS institutes and centres also met with Czech colleagues involved in science outreach. They exchanged experiences regarding science communication activities at their institutions, discussed systems for promoting science to the public, and shared approaches to rewarding outreach efforts within their organisations.
Science is anything but boring. The Prague Science Fair once again demonstrated that science can be inspiring, engaging, and great fun.
Edited by: Andrea Nozdrovická
Photo: Katarína Gáliková and Martin Bystriansky