European Researchers' Night

25 SEPTEMBER 2026
CASA DA BAÍA

5.30 pm | Opening Session

5.30 pm – 10.30 pm | Science Takes to the Streets

10.30 pm | Closing Ceremony

ATIVITIES:

Exploring the subsurface using electrical resistivity
Find objects buried in the ground, using electrical resistivity, in a miniature environment.  – SDG: 9 | 11 | 15

Prototyping of robotic systems
Activity involving the prototyping of robotic systems using Arduino. – SDG: 9

Transform your space in 3 minutes
Interactive activities that challenge participants to reflect on regional challenges, presenting a number of possible ‘answers’ within the framework of E³UDRES². – SDG: 4 | 16 | 17

CIRCULATE: The Circularity of Wool
In this activity, visitors will be invited to learn about the challenges associated with this renewable natural resource, the production of which far exceeds demand from the textile industry. Visitors will be able to discover innovative solutions for making the most of wool in various sectors, such as agriculture, the construction industry, environmental protection and other sustainable applications. – SDG: 9 | 11 | 13 | 15

Modsala
‘Project approved under the Mar 2030 programme, which forms part of Portugal 2030, and co-financed by the European Union’.

Songs from the Surface
Listen to the music of the Earth’s subsurface, where ground-penetrating radar data creates unique melodies.

From microalgae to oysters: how climate change could affect oyster production
In this activity, visitors can explore the effect of climate change on microalgae – phytoplankton microorganisms that constitute an important food source for many organisms in estuarine ecosystems, including oysters. The demonstration begins with an explanation of microalgae cultivation and how conditions associated with climate change – such as rising temperatures, water acidification and changes in salinity – are simulated in the laboratory. It will also demonstrate how the response of microalgae is assessed, using parameters such as growth rate, cell volume and chlorophyll content; these results will subsequently be used in mathematical models to evaluate how changes in microalgae might affect oyster production in the long term.

IPStartUp
Visitors will be able to find out about IPStartUp, discover the support and incubation opportunities available to those wishing to develop an entrepreneurial idea or project, and make direct contact with some of the entrepreneurs and projects currently being incubated. A space for meeting and sharing, open to the community, where visitors can learn about entrepreneurial projects, exchange experiences and discover how an idea can be turned into a project with a future.

MUSEU DE ARQUEOLOGIA E ETNOGRAFIA DO DISTRITO DE SETÚBAL

Activities

Archaeology and Interdisciplinarity: The Islamic Necropolis on Rua Francisco Augusto Flamengo
This activity explores aspects of human settlement patterns and the historical development of Setúbal through the findings of the archaeological excavation carried out on Rua Francisco Augusto Flamengo, as part of the ‘Preexistências de Setúbal’ Project.

Archaeology for All
In the activity ‘From Excavation to Exhibition’, visitors can learn about the journey of artefacts, from their discovery during an archaeological excavation to their study and dissemination through publications or museum exhibitions.

‘Stratigraphic Profile’
Visitors have the opportunity to understand the relationship between the different archaeological strata and their chronology, by placing artefacts in their respective layers.

“Simulation of an Archaeological Excavation”
Visitors take on the role of an archaeologist, exploring a simulated excavation site and coming into contact with various artefacts.

“Laboratory Work”
This activity involves the observation and analysis of archaeological finds and sediment samples, as well as the sketching and photographic documentation of archaeological finds.

25 SEPTEMBER 2026

5.30 pm – 9.30 pm, Jardim do Tarro

From the field to the data: How technology is helping agriculture to become more sustainable

The activity aims to simulate a small-scale farm, demonstrating how different technologies help us to ‘see’ what is not normally visible to the naked eye: plant vigour, soil variability, the condition of pastures, animal behaviour, or irrigation and fertilisation requirements.

The public is therefore invited to explore, in a simple and interactive way, how precision agriculture and livestock technologies enable the observation and use of data on plants, animals and agricultural machinery. Through demonstrations and a short game, participants will also be able to understand how this data supports more efficient and tailored decision-making in farm management.

SDG:2 | 9 | 12 | 13

Feeling the Effects of Ageing

An interactive experience facilitated by nursing students, aimed at raising community awareness of the physical and sensory changes associated with ageing and fostering empathy towards older people.

Using the Aged Simulation Set, participants are invited to wear equipment that simulates the limitations frequently experienced by older people, and then carry out simple tasks such as sitting down and standing up from a chair, picking up coins or going up and down a step.

SDG: 3 | 4 | 10

Computer Engineering: a showcase of projects

An exhibition of projects carried out by students on the Computer Engineering course.

SDG: 3 | 7 | 9 | 11

Building Bridges

Building spaghetti bridges, using only shop-bought spaghetti and hot glue, with the aim of demonstrating and simulating the behaviour of real structures.

SDG: 4 | 9 

Value yourself! Energy, waste and science in action

Demonstration of the process of recycling waste to produce energy and materials. Exhibition of samples and explanation of the waste recycling process based on the concept of the circular economy.

SDG: 7 | 11 | 12 | 13

Nourishing the Heart – a digital health project

This activity involves a demonstration of the app prototype and a presentation of the project, whilst promoting food literacy through the sharing of healthy recipes designed to help prevent cardiovascular disease. It also includes a health screening, comprising an assessment of nutritional status, blood pressure, quality of life, mental health and adherence to the Mediterranean diet.

SDG: 3 | 4 | 11

Blinded by the brands

Visitors are challenged to recognise different brands using only their sense of touch. Without relying on their sight, they will have the opportunity to handle various packets and try to work out which brand they belong to.

SDG: 4 | 12

Hempvalue – industrial hemp, sustainability and innovation

Exhibition of the different varieties of industrial hemp, both in seed and fibre form; exhibition of food products and animal feed.

SDG: 3 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 17

With patience for science

This project will begin to be rolled out in primary schools in the municipality of Portalegre. The focus of this event is to publicise the project’s mission, methodology and the scientific experiments that will be carried out throughout the school year. Visitors will be able to discover and try out some of the practical activities planned for the participating children, interact directly with the researchers and contribute ideas, questions and challenges related to science, fostering informal conversations between the public and the project team.

SDG: 4 | 10 | 11 | 17

Outdoor laboratory: put your body to the test, discover science!

This activity will enable participants to familiarise themselves with some of the equipment used in the sports laboratory, carrying out simple tests to assess various physical abilities, such as strength, balance and flexibility, amongst others. The activity will be organised into practical stations, where participants will be able to test their physical abilities, record some results and, with the support of the facilitators, understand the significance of the data obtained. This initiative aims to demonstrate how science enables us to study human movement, monitor physical fitness and better understand the relationship between exercise, health and wellbeing. The tests carried out are for demonstration and educational purposes only and are not intended to replace any clinical, medical or specialist assessment.

SDG: 3 | 4

My head feels heavier and heavier… Physiotherapy science explains why

The research team collects data from participants in the activity by measuring the distance between the C7 and C2 vertebrae of the people who will be visiting the space, and subsequently checking whether the values fall within the expected range. The data will be presented in an illustrative graph. Three exercises will be carried out: measuring head forward head posture; gathering information on the number of hours a participant spends using technology, whether they have vision problems, and their age; and, finally, testing head forward head posture behaviour by having participants read very small print, observe their head position whilst using a mobile phone, and lift a weight.

SDG: 3 | 4

Science Night: Experiment, play and discover

The activity combines hands-on experiments in the field of Natural Sciences with interactive games of varying levels of complexity (for children and adults), using programmable robots (Bee-Bots) and a floor projector.

SDG: 4 | 5 | 10 | 11

Coming soon