On Friday, 26 September, the Student Dormitory in Dubrovnik hosted the European Researchers’ Night – Blue-Connect 2.0, an event that attracted a large number of children, young people, families, and curious visitors from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Throughout the evening, 18 workshops and interactive activities were held, covering a wide range of topics – from stargazing through telescopes and learning maritime skills, to exploring invasive species and the impact of climate change. The programme also included workshops on basic life support, testing the authenticity of olive oil, financial literacy, green chemistry, and new technologies such as holograms, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

Visitors had the opportunity to learn about science, nature, and society through games, experiments, and hands-on activities. Special attention was drawn to workshops that connected scientific principles with the sea, physics, and ecology, as well as those that encouraged critical thinking and media literacy.

In addition to its educational dimension, the event also offered entertaining content – quizzes, competitions, and creative challenges – further enriching the experience and making research more accessible to all generations.

The European Researchers’ Night once again confirmed the importance of connecting science with the community and bringing research closer to the public in an understandable and inspiring way. The University of Dubrovnik will continue to actively participate in this European initiative and is already looking forward to meeting citizens again at the European Researchers’ Night 2026.