From 23 to 25 September 2026, the Science Garden Festival returned for its second edition, building on the success of its inaugural event at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in 2024. Organized together with Styrian researchers, educational institutions and businesses, the festival celebrated science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) under the motto “ALL EYES ON STEM.”
The festival is part of the Science Garden initiative, coordinated by innoregio styria and its network partners. Over the past two years, the project has provided more than 500 STEM experiences for children and young people aged 3 to 19 throughout Styria via the Science Garden platform. In collaboration with all nine Styrian universities, the Styrian Federation of Industry, the Styrian Chamber of Commerce, the Styrian Business Promotion Agency (SFG), and the Association for Location and Society, the initiative aims to inspire the next generation by making mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology accessible, engaging and fun.
In the facilities of the FH JOANNEUM in Graz, across 5,000 m2 and featuring around 100 interactive stations, the festival welcomed school classes, families and visitors of all ages to explore, experiment and discover the fascinating world of STEM through hands-on experiences. Around 5000 people attended the event.
At the BNN booth, Beatriz Alfaro, Susanne Resch and Matiss Reinfelds transformed research into engaging activities for visitors. Through interactive games and demonstrations, they presented several national projects, including PEROVSCALE and PFESS, as well as European projects such as NABIHEAL, PLANETS, and SSbD4CheM.
The team introduced complex scientific concepts in an accessible and entertaining way, attracting enthusiastic children, students, and families. Visitors learned about topics ranging from Safe-and-sustainable-by-Design (SSbD), child-friendly PTE spoons and microplastic-free face creams to innovative wound-healing materials derived from bacterial processes that convert grape waste into valuable resources.
One of the most popular attractions was the BNN “magic box,” where young participants were invited to identify project-related objects using only their sense of touch. The activity encouraged curiosity and scientific exploration, while sparking conversations about sustainability of advanced materials. Throughout the event, the BNN team demonstrated how scientific research can directly contribute to solving real-world challenges and improving everyday life. The strong interest shown by visitors highlighted the importance of making research accessible and engaging for the wider public. And while conversations with primary school children about advanced materials can take unexpected turns, and statements like “I can eat an entire schnitzel!” are an absolutely normal part of the conversation, they also demonstrate an immense appetite for new knowledge. In an age of never-ending virtual streams of misinformation and disinformation that can lead to growing mistrust in science, it is more important than ever for scientists to be out there, engaging in conversations with children, teenagers, and their parents. BNN was delighted to welcome more than 200 participants to its hands-on activities and to contribute to a festival that successfully connected researchers, innovators and the community through a shared passion for science and discovery.
