Program of the Researcher’s Night 2024 in Rijeka

Fruit flies are often uninvited guests in our homes or in a glass of wine, but did you know that various diseases related to aging, dementia or even addictions have been studied on them for years? Although physically very different and tiny, scientists who have been working on this model for many years will bring their work on flies closer together in an interactive way. Considering the age, everyone will be able to find something for themselves, and they can ask us all about it, or if they even want to learn more. We look forward to sharing our knowledge and work experience. 

Related projects:: HRZZ projekt IP-2022-10-1281, Potpora Sveučilišta u Rijeci uniri-iskusni-biomed-23-206-8513 
 

Light is a well-known phenomenon, as is the fact that some substances and animals glow in the dark. The release of light is called luminescence, and especially interesting is the fluorescence that we can find in everyday life, and we also use it in medicine, for example in the diagnosis of cancer. Light is also important for our experience of different colours, and its spectrum can be seen when we see a rainbow. We will show you how to separate one colour into several of them with a thin-layer chromatography experiment. With the use of UV lamp, we will explain what are the fluorescent colors in markers, favorite drinks, effervescent tablets, in forensics and how those in light sticks and the like are formed. You will be able to try a lot yourself and make drawings that become even more magical under our lamp. We will try to answer questions such as: What is the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, what wavelengths does it consist of, and how can it be related to the colours we see? How does light emission occur and what are the processes? We will tell you something about our research and preparation of dyes that after illumination transfer energy to oxygen molecules, which then become very reactive and can be used to destroy various pathogens and tumor cells. 

Related projects:  Projekt Sveučilišta u Rijeci: Priprema lipidnih konjugata piridilporfirina, njihova karakterizacija i fotodinamička aktivnost. 

Did you ever wonder how AI works? Visit us and we’ll show you the engineering that’s hidden behind user interfaces that make AI look like magic. We’ll reveal the magic trick behind the autocomplete feature, which you probably use daily on your phone. Then we’ll show you how computers can interact with humans in natural language by converting text to speech and speech to text. Finally you’ll have a chance to test the most recent AI advances in the fields of large language models and generative AI. Don’t miss the chance to test ChatGPT yourself and see how it can help you! 

We will present educational experiments of some atmospheric phenomena. In the first experiment, we will show the mechanism of formation of cyclones and anticyclones as a result of uneven heating of the Earth at the Equator and poles. In the second experiment, we will demonstrate the importance of the presence of condensation nuclei for cloud formation in the atmosphere.  
links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzqvGIAWHOk 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G70y90BVes4

Muons are elementary particles that are 200 times heavier than electrons. They are invisible, yet they constantly pass through us and our bodies! They are created in violent collisions at the top of the atmosphere, and some of them travel all the way to Earth. Through a simple experiment, we can see their tracks. We will set up a cloud chamber (a hermetically sealed glass container filled with alcohol, placed on a base cooled by dry ice), darken it with covers, and illuminate it with lamps. After a few minutes, the first traces of muons will become visible in the alcohol vapor. Detection can take a long time, but observing them takes only a few minutes per visitor. The target audience is people of all ages, from young children to older adults, regardless of prior knowledge. Every visitor will have what is happening explained to them in an understandable way. 

Are magnets stupid? They certainly don’t know how to think, but they still know their job…magnetism is a very attractive (!) force and we can use it in many ways to make our lives easier. After all, we live on a giant magnet. Come learn about magnetism and make your own magnet with physicists from FIZRI.

At the station, simple experiments and examples from STEM fields will be presented. Visitors will, for example, discover why heavy ships float on water, how clouds form in the sky, why things look bigger under a magnifying glass, how shadows are formed, how a rainbow appears in the sky, how a hot air balloon works, why a parachutist falls slowly, why a candle goes out if there’s no fresh air, how the shape of a paper airplane affects its speed… The experiments will be designed so that children can try experimenting and exploring on their own, reaching certain conclusions. In addition to the experiments primarily aimed at children, other visitors will have the opportunity to participate in STEM quizzes. The main goals of our station’s activities are to introduce elementary school students (and other visitors) to the world of STEM and to enable them to experiment independently or in teams, drawing conclusions to stimulate motivation and interest in STEM fields. 

Crystals in nature are analysed and described by the mathematical theory of groups, i.e. symmetries and crystallographic groups. In mathematics, the process by which a crystal is formed is called space filling. The filling of two-dimensional space is called tiling of the plane. There are many types of tiling: regular, Archimedean, Penrose,… At this station, visitors can playfully find out how crystals are formed and how the plane can be tiled in different ways. 

Related projects: SciMaG, Programme: Erasmus+, Action Type: KA220-SCH – Cooperation partnerships in school education, Project Reference: 023-1-HR01-KA220-SCH-000165485 

In nature we can find many procedures and processes that can be used to create new algorithms that we can use in science. The process of optimizing or searching for the minimum of a function is mostly a very demanding mathematical task, and algorithms inspired by evolution, the movement of ants, swarms, heat spread, etc. can be used to solve such a task. At this station, you can observe and participate in activities that demonstrate the use of such algorithms. 

Related projects: SciMaG, Programme: Erasmus+, Action Type: KA220-SCH – Cooperation partnerships in school education, Project Reference: 023-1-HR01-KA220-SCH-000165485 

What is mathematics to you? What is artificial intelligence for you? How do you perceive them? Using artificial intelligence, at this station every visitor can create a picture that describes mathematics and the world around us. The images created during the Researchers Night will be displayed in a virtual exhibition during the Night and after the Night. 

The station will offer various ways to measure the personal carbon footprint of specific daily activities, such as tourist trips, daily trips to school, work, or college, and footprints for everyday heating, cooling, illumination… In interaction with visitors, the station’s content will be age-appropriate and designed to be understandable and applicable to examples from everyday life. 

Related projects: 1) „Obrasci mobilnosti studenata i njihov utjecaj na opterećenje okolišam ugljikova otiska“ ZIP-FMTU-024-5-2023; 2) „Određivanje utjecaja turizma na okoliš izdvajanjem ugljikova otiska velikih objekata cestovne infrastrukture u prirodnim zaštićenim područjima“ ZIP-FMTU-007-03-2022; 3) „The Carbon Footprint of Active Sport Event Tourists: The Case of Trail Runners“, ZIP-UNIRI-116-2-19 

Visitors will have the opportunity to assemble their own construction model, which will then “shake” on the shaking platform. 

Tastes and smells are our window to the world, and especially determine our overall experience of food. Physiologically speaking, they represent completely two separate organs. The sense of taste is something that is genetically conditioned and we are born with it. Five basic taste modalities are generally accepted: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami. On the other hand, it is possible to recognize smells through the sense of smell, because we learn them experientially. In addition, our nose is not really limited as far as the range of smells is concerned. People generally do not notice how important the sense of smell is in everyday life and are not aware that it plays an extremely important role when consuming food. Does the smell of popcorn remind us of the cinema? Or does the smell of roasted chestnuts remind us of autumn and cooler days? If we ate with a blocked nose, most food would seem tasteless, and the best evidence for this is situations like a cold when our nose is blocked. The reason for this lies in the fact that the combination of smell and taste evokes the aroma of food. The aroma of food is not something that we actually feel, but it is created in our brain based on what we taste through our taste buds and smell through our sense of smell. At this workshop, participants will be able to examine the primary modalities of taste and determine their positions on the surface of the tongue. Furthermore, we will use different substances to test the sense of smell that can cause pleasure or even be unpleasant for the participants. 

Visitors will be able to familiarize themselves with the composition of human blood, especially with the distinguishing and functional characteristics of individual blood cells, presented on educational posters. Using a microscope, they will be able to independently look at blood cells on pre-prepared blood smears. The procedure for preparing a blood smear by extracting blood from the finger will also be demonstrated. Furthermore, a quiz on the recognition of blood cells and their functions in the body will be organized. 
 

In this activity, we will teach the role of DNA in our body. We will explain that the DNA is different between plants, animals and people and is the very reason why we are different from bananas. We will teach that our DNA contains all the information that makes us unique. More than that, we will teach that our DNA contains the information that makes our skin function as our skin, our lungs as our lungs and our eyes as our eyes.  
We will do this in three ways: 
1. We will print educational material on posters to help us explain what DNA is and how it distinguishes us from bananas. 
2. Our research team will perform some demonstrations using DNA in colorful experiments.  
3. People will be able to isolate DNA themselves from bananas. We will do this using basic materials, including bananas, kitchen salt and alcohol. The practical part will be oriented towards children in the age of 6-12 years. 

Related projects: HRZZ IP-2022-10-3414 

We will make invisible bacteria visible by growing them on suitable nutrient media. Each bacteria, depending on the nutrient medium on which it is grown, gives a different color. We will make “live” images using different bacteria and fungi on different feeding grounds and show the splendor of their colors and shapes. Students will get to know the good and bad sides of microorganisms, their shapes and colors in a fun and creative way. The exhibition will bring science closer to them, guide them towards learning and research, and encourage them to think, communicate and collaborate. They will experience a microbiology laboratory and actively participate in the discovery of microorganisms that are all around us. 

The poster will explain the concept of logistics and interesting facts from everyday life in which it appears. Participants can test their knowledge of logistics through a quiz similar to the popular “Millionaire” quiz. In addition, a game similar to the game “Alias” will be prepared, where the basic concepts from the poster will be listed, which the participants will have to explain in the shortest possible time. 

Related projects: 1. UNIRI PROJEKT MLADIH ZNANSTVENIKA 2022: Morske luke i regionalno gospodarstvo: ekonomski učinci, održivi razvoj i istraživanje i razvoj [uniri-mladi-drustv-22-10] 
2. ZIP UNIRI PROJEKT: Logistički i ekonomski aspekti razvoja regionalnih gospodarstava u obalnom području [UNIRI-ZIP-2103-5-22]
3. ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME: GREENPORT Alliances, [101139879] 

The activity begins with a brief yet informative lecture aimed at refreshing and expanding participants’ knowledge about marine pollution issues. During this segment, participants will learn about different types of marine litter commonly found on the seabed, including plastics, glass, metal, and other materials. The impact of various types of marine litter on the marine ecosystem and the importance of ocean conservation will be explained. Next, participants will be introduced to the tools and techniques used by real marine researchers. This includes equipment such as underwater drones and diving gear, with an explanation of how they are used for exploring and monitoring the condition of the seabed. The following segment involves watching video footage captured by an underwater drone, which shows the actual state of the seabed in the Northern Adriatic. These videos will provide a visual understanding of the problem and the real state of the underwater environment. Finally, participants will take part in an interactive quiz about marine litter, testing their knowledge on types of litter and ecological solutions. 

Related projects: Utjecaj plovila nautičkog turizma na onečišćenje morskog dna u Primorsko-goranskoj županiji, UNIRI ZIP, 2023-2026. 

The activities will be centered around ESP (English for Specific Purposes) terminology from the Maritime English domain. Focus will be placed on terms used for various types of vessels ranging from dinghy boats and sailboats to large OBO carriers and cruise ships. Activities will be custom tailored to fit the learning patterns of the youngest of visitors as well as high school-level students. At the station the following activities will be offered, depending on the age of the visitors: puzzles, drawing by numbers, origami activities, maze games, etc. The goal of each activity is to familiarize children with specific vocabulary used to describe the vessel included in the activity the were asked to complete (e.g. ‘dinghy’ in the maze sheet or ‘container ship’ in the drawing-by-numbers activity). The visitors are thus offered an opportunity to further develop their vocabulary through a guided and highly-creative activities. The station will also feature model-sized vessels and vessel equipment (e.g. ‘anchor’ and ‘oar’) to incite the imagination of the youngest of visitors. Each successfully completed activity will be rewarded with a sweet treat and a certificate of completion.

This description pertains to an interactive workshop or presentation titled “Resilience of Port Clusters,” which explores key aspects of building and maintaining the resilience of port clusters against various threats and disasters. The workshop is designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of the importance of resilience in the context of modern business, particularly in globally significant port clusters. 
Key topics covered in the workshop: 
1. Resilience of port infrastructure: Key components and risks are examined, along with ways to build resilient infrastructure. 
2. Contingency planning: Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and cyber threats are analyzed, as well as strategies for damage reduction and rapid recovery. 
3. Safety and security: Focus is placed on the development and implementation of advanced technologies and protocols for the protection of port clusters. 
4. Business continuity: Emphasis is on planning for business continuity to ensure minimal disruption during crisis situations. 
5. Collaboration and coordination: The importance of international and interorganizational cooperation to enhance the resilience of port infrastructure is highlighted. 
Expected outcomes of the workshop: 
1. A deep understanding of the resilience of port clusters to various threats. 
2. Identification of best practices for planning and responding to crisis situations. 
3. Increased awareness of the importance of continuous investment in the security of port infrastructure. 
4. Promotion of collaboration among stakeholders to build a resilient port system. 
The workshop aims to bring together interested visitors to explore current trends and approaches in strengthening the resilience of port clusters, thereby ensuring their vital role in the global supply chain. 

Related projects: Horizon Europe – ATLANTIS, Innovation Action, Start Date: October 2022 – End Date: September 2025 – 38 Partners – 11 CI Operators, 6 CI Authorities – 10 Countries – 12.7 MEUR – Total Cost 12.7M EUR 

A computer-generated digital environment, accessible through a fully immersive virtual reality, provides the user with a realistic feeling or perception of physical presence, where users can interact with virtual objects and determine what happens in it through their actions. As gaining experience is an integral part of learning that takes place in the teaching process through the use of real systems on board and specialized simulators, a computer simulation of the marine engine room was developed using immersive virtual reality technology. The dynamic nature of virtual environments requires the active participation of individual users. This leads to increased engagement, motivation and interest generated through direct interaction and challenges within a computer-generated digital environment. Users will try out the VR equipment and walk through a 3D model of the marine engine room, inspecting and operating the main propulsion engines, generators, compressors, pumps and various auxiliary equipment. They will also try out various scenarios, such as the starting and extinguishing of fires (based on CFD models), flooding of the engine room and sudden power failure (blackout). 

Related projects: Horizon Europe – INNO2MARE projekt, ID:101087348, ZIP UNIRI, ID:UNIRI-ZIP-2103-11-22, Interreg VI A Italy – Croatia – projekt BEST4.0, ID:ITHR0200326

With the development of artificial intelligence, its use has been extended to the judiciary in some legal systems. The application of artificial intelligence in the judiciary raises a number of questions – from legal challenges of interpreting and applying laws, as well as protecting human rights, to reconsidering the role of the judiciary in modern society and political systems, and finally to ethical questions concerning the relationship between humans and machines. The PRAVRI courtroom, through a simplified simulation, aims to present some of these dilemmas and allow participants to discuss various perspectives, in order to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence at its current stage of development. 

Related projects: Transparentnost i pravičnost u digitalnom okruženju / Transparency and Fairness in the Digital Environment (uniri-iskusni-drustv-23-101) 

The research activities of our team are mainly focused on precision engineering, macro-, on meso- and the micro- and nanoscale characterisation of devices and materials and, for the last 20 years, on the study of energy harvesting (EH) principles (collection, conversion and utilization of low-level energy from the environment) and their application in a wide range of areas, from wearable technologies to automotive and environmental remote sensors. Our latest research studies the use of the EH principles in beekeeping by utilizing the waste heat generated by the colony to power an autonomous system, able to monitor the state of the colony during winter, and communicate essential data or alarms to the beekeeper, thus facilitating timely intervention and possibly the prevention of colony losses. The station will provide an opportunity to the audience to see, understand and try to use our EH devices based on several different physical principles. 

Related projects: UNIRI projekt uniri-iskusni-tehnic-23-64 “Autonomni sustav praćenja stanja pčelinje zajednice napajan otpadnom toplinom košnice”. COST akcija CA22105 “BEekeeping products valorization and biomonitoring for the SAFEty of BEEs and HONEY (BeSafeBeeHoney)” 

The station will cover 2 topics: electrical machines and protective relays for power networks. Electrical machines are essential devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and vice versa. They come in various forms, including motors, generators, and transformers. Theay are used in industry (motors drive everything from conveyor belts and pumps to fans and compressors), transportation (from electric cars and trains to trams and even airplanes, offering a more efficient and cleaner alternative to traditional combustion engines) and household Appliances (such as washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners). The station will display three phase and single phase asynchronous (induction) motors.

Protective relays are critical components in power systems that help ensure the safety and reliability of electrical networks. They play a vital role in maintaining the safety and efficiency of power systems by detecting faults, isolating problems, and protecting critical infrastructure. The old electromechanical relays that were first used are simpler and rely on physical movements, while new and advanced numerical relays use digital technology and software Also, numerical relays provide more precise control and faster response to faults, improving system reliability and efficiency. The station will diplay both electromechanical and numerical relays and some basic functions will be demonstrated. 

Related projects: New energy competence system and technology for WB energy stability system curriculum reform (NEST4WB), Coordinatinbg institution: AKADEMIJA STRUKOVNIH STUDIJA KOSOVSKO METOHIJSKA LEPOSAVIĆ, Reference number: 101129321— ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE, Project duration: 2023 – 2026, Project website: https://nest4wb.akademijakm.edu.rs/ 

The workshop ‘Solar and Wind Energy: Sustainable Energy of the Future’ is intended for students and their parents with the aim of introducing them to the basics of renewable energy sources. Through interactive models of a solar power plant and a wind turbine, participants will learn how these systems work and why they are crucial for our future. Students will have the opportunity to assemble system components, see how energy is stored and used, and understand the importance of sustainable energy in protecting our planet. 

Bats are the only mammals that fly, for which they need numerous adaptations in the structure and functioning of the body. They are not blind, they are active at night, they do well in the dark, while they sleep in shelters during the day. In our country, bats spend the winter, an unfavorable time of the year, sleeping in a real winter sleep and hanging upside down, while some species migrate to warmer regions. Small, dark, softly furred, with big ears and sometimes a strange nose, bats are more closely related to us evolutionarily than to mice. With its 34 bat species recorded so far, the Republic of Croatia is one of the countries with the richest bat fauna in Europe. All species of bats in Croatia are strictly protected by law, and any disturbance of them is prohibited, and 17 species are included in the “Red Book of Endangered Mammals of Croatia”. So what exactly are bats, nocturnal explorers, and are they dangerous? Come and learn more about these fantastic living creatures!

People have always been inspired by nature, recognizing that it offers solutions to many challenges and complex situations. Being a part of nature ourselves, we realized that it is a source of creativity and innovation, and its study and imitation enabled us to develop many revolutionary technologies and designs that have improved our life and work. Bio-inspired science is an area where scientists get inspiration from nature to solve complex human problems and to obtain improvements and innovations in technology. As part of the exhibition, we present examples of bioinspiration in various scientific fields that University of Rijeka scientists deal with. 

The FASIH project focuses on the interdisciplinary artistic-scientific research of industrial and cultural heritage through the discovery, research and evaluation of those architectural achievements and immaterial processes that have shaped the modern history of three cities: Belgrade, Rijeka and Trbovlje. At this station, you can explore the area of the city of Rijeka where Hartera was located with the help of a 3D model of Hartera and hear interesting stories about why we chose Hartera as the heritage that we will explore as part of the project. The 3D model of Hartera was created by Dario Jakovljević and Dragan Valković from Propylon d.o.o. in cooperation with the Center for the Popularization and Promotion of Science and the Center for Industrial Heritage of the University of Rijeka. 

Informacije o projektu: Future Art and Science Industrial Heritage (FASIH) europski je projekt odobren za financiranje u okviru programa Kreativna Europa – Kultura. Koordinator projekta je Centar za promociju nauke iz Srbije. Uz Sveučilište u Rijeci i Akademija primijenjenih umjetnosti Sveučilišta u Rijeci, kao partneri na projektu uključeni su i Prirodoslovni muzej iz Rijeke, Muzej nauke i tehnike iz Beograda (Srbija) te Zavod za kulturo Delavski dom iz Trbovlje (Slovenija). Aktivnosti Sveučilišta u Rijeci koordinira Centar za popularizaciju i promociju znanosti, a u provedbi aktivnosti sudjeluje i Centar za industrijsku baštinu. 

Presentation of activities and research results of the Laboratory for Pattern Recognition and Soft Computing (VisionLab) of the Faculty of Informatics and Digital Technologies within the INNO2MARE project. Within this project, we are participating in the development of smart solutions for automatic detection of obstacles in maritime traffic and autonomous navigation using machine learning and computer vision. Research related to the detection of the state of the sea based on images of the sea surface from the ship will be presented, as well as research related to the detection of small objects on the sea surface using computer vision. 
In addition to research on the INNO2MARE project, other areas of research of the Laboratory in the field of image and video analysis will be presented. 

Informacije o projektu: HORIZON-CSA – INNO2MARE 
Jačanje kapaciteta slovenskog i hrvatskog inovativnog ekosustava za izvrsnost u istraživanjima i inovacijama i njihovo pretvaranje u inovativne poslovne prilike
https://www.inno2mare.eu/

The main goal of the SciMaG project is to design and develop educational games for children and youth that develop mathematical, scientific and digital literacy. In the Researcher’s Night, you will have the opportunity to play some of our mathematical games, but also to try your hand at designing tasks for games. Come and play Prepare and play Sudoku and Pi treasure hunt. 

Informacije o projektu: SciMaG – Science&Math educational games from preschool to university (Erasmus+ projekt) je projekt Sveučilišta u Rijeci čiju provedbu koordinira Fakultet za matematiku (voditelj:Vedrana Mikulić Crnković). Partnerske organizacije na projektu su: Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, Univerza na Primorskem, Centar tehničke kulture Rijeka, Gimnazija Jovan Jovanović Novi Sad, Osnovna škola heroja Janeza Hribarja Stari trg pri Ložu, Prva sušačka hrvatska gimnazija u Rijeci, Osnovna škola “Sveti Matej” Viškovo. 

Sveučilište u Rijeci i istaknuti znanstvenici – Nenad Ban, Ivan Đikić, Stipan Jonjić, Ivana Novak Nakir, Igor Rudan, Igor Štagljar, Iva Tolić i Adrijana Vinter – organiziraju simpozij CROSCIENCE 2024, koji će se održati 27.-28. rujna 2024. godine, s vizijom da započnu novu tradiciju godišnjih okupljanja istaknutih hrvatskih znanstvenika i znanstvenica, afirmirajući suradnju akademske zajednice u Hrvatskoj i dijaspori. 

Po završetku prvoga dana konferencije svi sudionici konferencije pozvani su na nastavak druženja u Exportdrvu na Delti, gdje se održava ovogodišnje riječko izdanje Europske noći istraživača. Svi posjetitelji imat će priliku zaviriti u tajni svijet znanosti, sudjelovati u edukativnim izložbama i predavanjima, a imat će i priliku razgovarati s našim organizatorima, znanstvenicima superjunacima. 

Umjetničko-znanstveni projekt: „Fraktalne transformacije“ – video i zvučna instalacija 

Tim: Bojan Crnković (animacija fraktala), Damjan Sporčić (Oblik 3, suradnik na projektu, tehnička i kreativna podrška), Marko Mrvoš (umjetnik, glavni urednik portala Kišobran), Ingeborg Fülepp (kustos i koorganizator), Vedrana Mikulić Crnković (organizator)  

Video koristi fraktale koji se transformiraju sliku pomoću umjetne inteligencije. Dvije projekcije se djelomično preklapaju na taj način stvaraju kompleksne forme, koje uz muziku daju znanstveno-umjetničku interpretaciju svijeta izvan našeg opažanja. Projekt je prethodno bio ostvaren u suradnji Astronomskim centrom Rijeka, Andrea Cvitan voditeljica i koorganizator eventa Međunarodni dan svijetlosti, 16.-18. svibnja 2024 

Na EU kutku moći ćete se infromirati o europskim projektima Sveučilišta u Rijeci i njegovih sastavnica te razgovarati sa Srđanom Kerčevićem, članom Predstavništva Europske komisije u Hrvatskoj.