Young and old tried their hand at being environmental scientists at the Researchers' Night

Visitors of all ages also arrived at the Bohunice University Campus buildings to see that science and research are not crystal ball gazing. As early as 6 p.m. on Friday, scientists and employees of Masaryk University were waiting for curious visitors to introduce them to the environment of the laboratories and scientific work. RECETOX was not looking from the sidelines. For children and adults alike, the center's students and scientists had prepared five playful activities where they could experience what it is like to be a scientist investigating the toxic substances around us.

The theme of the event, "With all the senses," brought new dimensions of knowledge to both young and old, where human senses often fail, and scientific research must come to the rescue. Although human senses cannot perceive some pollution, toxic substances surround us constantly. Therefore, each of the RECETOX stations presented one of the senses and a specific situation where our knowledge of the world can be deceptive. In preparing the activities, RECETOX students and staff wanted to show pollution, which is familiar to everyone, and different activities interesting for both young and old visitors.

At the TOUCH station, visitors learned about different types of plastics. From six letters R-E-C-E-T-O-X printed on a 3D printer from other plastic materials, they identified by touch where they used a particular kind of plastic in their everyday life, such as plastic utensils or game pieces. The young children recognized the letters or composed the center's name while the older children and adults, were explained by the scientists at the station RECETOX's research on plastic materials.

Although the human EYE can detect many things, scientists use a microscope for detailed research. Visitors examined samples of clean water and water from the Brno dam with their naked eyes and then used a microscope to examine the seemingly clean water. They also tried to determine whether pure water, acid, or alkali was present in the prepared flasks by looking at them and verifying their guess with litmus papers.

To test out HEARING, the center's researchers recorded everyday noises, from riding a trolley bus to using an ultrasonic bath to flying in an airplane. Each recorded sound included a video of the vehicle's or device’s details to show where the sound originated. Visitors guessed the sound intensity; the younger ones determined where the sound was coming from based on the video.

At the SMELL station, people were introduced to single and multi-ingredient perfumes. They used their olfactory receptors to identify the scents and whether they were familiar to them from everyday life. Single-ingredient scents such as black currant or violets were more challenging for the visitors to recognize. In contrast, multi-ingredient scents, such as blends mimicking roses or white tea, were familiar to all. They also learned what endocrine disruptors are and which volatile organic compounds are used in personal care products.

Visitors also experiment with TASTE, trying to distinguish between a solution of sugar and artificial sweetener. They also found out about calories, why "zero" or "light" drinks are so popular and what artificial sweeteners do to our taste buds.

This year's Researchers' Night was enjoyed not only by visitors but also by the organizers themselves. Seeing curious visitors who ask questions is better than discussing science online, as was the case with the coronavirus pandemic of the last two years. And learning scientific trivia in the setting of an evening-lit campus has its unique charm.

Thanks to all who stopped by the RECETOX station and tested their perceptions. And a big thank you to the RECETOX students and scientists involved in the preparation and the event itself, showing young and old why science "for a healthy future" is so fascinating.