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As is tradition, the 2024 Sofia Science Festival, which will be held from May 9th to 12th, will feature several presentations in English by leading international science communicators from countries as diverse as the United States, Ukraine, and China.
The venue of the festival is Sofia Tech Park.
May 9th:
From 6:30pm to 7:30pm: What are the chances that an asteroid will ruin your day?
As individuals, we don’t need to worry because the chances of a major asteroid impact in our lifetime are very low. But as a civilization we have to do something. Catastrophic effects (such as the extinction of the dinosaurs) have happened in the past and will happen again if we do nothing.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of international cooperation when it comes to protecting Earth from asteroid impacts. Find answers to these and many other questions with Dr. Humberto Campins, an international expert on asteroids, especially those that can impact the Earth, and a member of his OSIRIS-REx mission at NASA. Let’s explore together.
In cooperation with the US Embassy.
From 8pm to 9pm: Understanding the boar paradox
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 had a major impact on forest ecosystems in Central Europe. After the accident, mushroom consumption was discouraged due to severe radioactive contamination, and wild animal meat was also severely affected for several years.
As expected, contamination in deer and roe deer decreased over time, but radioactivity levels in wild boar meat remained alarmingly high. For more on this paradox, ask Georg Steinhauser, an Austrian professor of applied radiochemistry.
The event, held in partnership with the Austrian Embassy, commemorates the 120th anniversary of the birth of American theoretical physicist Robert Oppenheimer.
May 11th:
From 2:30pm to 3:30pm: DIY Archeology and Work Heritage Preservation
Have you always wanted to be an archaeologist? Do you love learning about the past and exploring material culture? Take part in this DIY Archeology challenge.
How DIY archeology efforts play a vital role in documenting and understanding our past through ethical practices and scientific rigor by emphasizing the importance of citizen engagement and community engagement We discuss the potential for democratizing access to archaeological knowledge and promoting broader archaeological knowledge. A more comprehensive understanding of our common heritage.
By digitally and physically preserving discoveries made through DIY archeology, the legacy of labor is documented and shared in an accessible way for future generations, paying homage to the hard work and contributions of our ancestors. You can also ensure that the lessons of the past are passed on. I learn from everyone and am grateful.
Partnered with the Camões Institute in Bulgaria.
From 3pm to 4pm: Enhancing STEAM education approaches with augmented reality/virtual reality and 3D printing
The rapid evolution of 3D technology has opened up a variety of opportunities to utilize 3D modeling in education in both digital and physical formats.
As industries such as healthcare, construction, and technology design increasingly rely on 3D modeling, its potential applications in education are receiving increasing attention.
This lecture by a university professor. Dr. Zsolt Lavicza on the introduction of Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality and his 3D printing in teacher education in different countries, based on research carried out by his STEAM Education Research Group at Kepler University Linz Graduate School of Education, Austria. We are investigating in detail.
We investigated teacher perceptions, established the educational ecosystem needed for 3D technology, evaluated pedagogical approaches for integrating 3D modeling into the classroom, and incorporated arts and culture to inspire students. I emphasized. Our work extends to creating 3D resources for students with disabilities and students from disadvantaged communities, as well as encouraging girls’ participation in STEM learning through 3D modeling.
A central objective of our research is to empower teachers and students as innovators who leverage these new technologies. Additionally, by extending our research from mathematics to STEAM, introducing a STEAM+X approach, and complementing design-based research (DBR) with user experience (UX) research methodologies to adapt to rapid technological change. Responded to the demand for new theoretical and methodological approaches. .
This talk will discuss exemplary practices from secondary and primary education in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
in conjunction with overgas
From 4pm to 5pm: Space exploration in the age of space exploration telescopes
Over the past century, humans have made tremendous advances in our understanding of the universe. All of our knowledge of the universe stems from a huge explosion 13.7 billion years ago. This explosion was a monumental event that gave birth to the universe full of glowing galaxies that we observe today.
We also know from observations that the universe is far from stationary, and is currently expanding at an accelerating rate.
However, important mysteries remain unsolved, such as the nature of the dark energy that causes this acceleration and the nature of dark matter that controls the evolution of the cosmic structure. The next generation of cosmological research telescopes, such as the Euclid, Rome, and China Space Station telescopes, may hold the key to answering these vital questions.
In this report, Ran Li from the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences provides an overview of our current understanding of the universe and the important role that space exploration telescopes play in advancing the exploration of these profound mysteries.
In partnership with the Chinese Embassy and in cooperation with A1.
From 4:30pm to 5:30pm: Were they just like us?Discover people of the past using archeology
It is difficult to know about past lives. We know very little about what people did and thought, and how they related to each other. Archaeologists use what remains to this day, such as remains of houses, tools, food, and artwork, to find out what happened in prehistoric times before writing was invented.
One of the best ways to get closer to those who lived before us is to look at what was closest to them: their clothing and jewelry. This talk will explore how archaeologists can use often overlooked details in artifacts to uncover previously unknown details of prehistoric life. This research helps us understand the technological, social, and personal identities of worlds far removed from ours, and whether they thought and felt the same things as we do today.
Emma L. Baysal is an archaeologist and educator specializing in the prehistoric archeology of Southwest Asia. As an associate professor of prehistory at Ankara University Turkiye, she studies the ornaments (bracelets, necklaces, labrets, earrings) that ancient groups used on their bodies and how they carried themselves. We’re exploring what they saw and how they related to the people around them. She says the need to define one’s identity is universal and that we have much to learn from the stories of people who were the first to try different materials and techniques to express themselves to others. believe.
Partnership with National Geographic and Partnership with Overgas
From 8:30pm to 9:30pm: On the Origin of Time: My Journey with Stephen Hawking to the Big Bang
Perhaps the biggest question Stephen Hawking sought to answer during his extraordinary career was how the universe was able to create the conditions to welcome life so perfectly. Pondering this mystery led him to study the origins of the Big Bang, but his early research was put in jeopardy when mathematical predictions predicted many Big Bangs producing lifeless universes. did.
Locked up in the Department of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge, Hawking and Thomas Hartog worked side by side for 20 years, developing a new theory of the universe that could explain the emergence of life. Going back into the distant past, they were astonished to discover a deeper level of evolution, where the laws of physics were transformed and simplified until particles, forces, and even time itself disappeared. This led to a revolutionary idea. The laws of physics are not fixed; they emerge and coevolve as the universe they govern takes shape.
On the Origin of Time takes you on a quest to understand questions bigger than the universe. It offers Darwin’s radical new perspective on the birth of the universe, which could significantly change the way we think about our place in the cosmic order.
After the talk, don’t forget to purchase a copy of Thomas Hertog’s book at the festival’s bookstore and get it personally signed by the author.
Partnered with Ciela, partnered with A1.
May 12:
From 4pm to 5pm: How do we track dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs are often hailed as the most successful species to ever roam the Earth. For an astonishing 160 million years, ancient creatures of all sizes and shapes dominated our planet.
They exhibited a wide variety of morphological and habitual characteristics, ranging from towering height to bird-like smallness, from ferocious aggression to gentle demeanor, and from sluggishness to agility.
The hundreds of millions of years of legacy of these dinosaurs has given rise to the fascinating field known as “ichthyology.” The footprints left behind by lucky prehistoric creatures have become the subject of intense research among paleontologists in recent years. Unlike fossil bones, which provide only fragmentary information about dinosaurs after death, footprints offer a glimpse into the daily lives of these interesting creatures.
Chinese paleontologist Lida Xin describes how paleontologists use a variety of technical methods, from mythology and scientific history to ichthyology, ecology, and geology, to track dinosaurs and explore their world. Dig deeper into what you’re reconfiguring. Embark on a journey to hunt these ancient giants together and get ready to challenge your perception of dinosaurs!
From 4:30pm to 5:30pm: Survey of Antarctic clouds and precipitation from Akademyk Vernadsky Station in Ukraine
Polar atmospheric processes are important components of global circulation, are highly sensitive to climate change, and directly influence the formation of weather regimes at low latitudes. However, cloud and precipitation characteristics in polar regions remain understudied due to a lack of in situ, atmospheric, and satellite measurement data.
It is also why the parameterization of clouds and precipitation in climate and forecast models continues to be a source of error, making it impossible to obtain reliable information about the state of polar ecosystems in general and the atmosphere in particular. It’s for a reason.
Therefore, a thorough study of cloud and precipitation formation processes through regional simulations with high spatiotemporal resolution, their validation with measured data, and evaluation of climate projections will improve our understanding of atmospheric processes and their quality in the polar regions. I can. In the future, the possibilities for numerical modeling, including climate modeling, will expand.
Meteorological research on mesoscale and microphysical features of cloud and precipitation processes at the Ukrainian Antarctic research station “Akademik Vernadsky” together with Ukrainian polar researcher Anastasia Chikhareva will help solve these questions Please discover.
Partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine in Sofia
More information about the festival, including tickets and other events, can be found here. Beautiful Science Foundation Website. Sophia Grove is her media partner at the Sofia Science Festival.
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