Do you want to save a life? Jerry needs you! Jerry is no ordinary dog. He is an interactive patient — and today you are the vets. You will listen to him with a stethoscope, identify what is wrong from the sounds, bandage him and examine him like real specialists. But veterinary science does not stop there. You will study real bones from different animals — odd-toed and even-toed ungulates — and discover what the skeleton reveals about the life, movement and evolution of every creature. And for the finale — science meets art. You will pick up a brush and paints and turn the skulls into real works of art. Because a vet does not simply heal. They know life from the inside.

Who takes care of it? Who maintains the balance between people and nature? Who knows how to read forests like a book? The forester. And today you will step into their role. Through forest games and interactive activities in a live natural environment, you will discover the rich diversity of species in our forests, understand the processes that take place within them — and get to know one of the most important professions for the future of our planet. Because forests do not protect themselves. They need people who know them and love them.

Науката крие повече красота, отколкото си мислим — и тя се крие в самите камъни около нас. В света на формите и симетрията на минералите ще се потопите в кристалографията — науката, която изучава структурата и формата на кристалите. Ще откриете основните кристални системи и ще се запознаете отблизо с някои от най-впечатляващите минерали на света — пирит, халит, сяра, родонит, изумруд, циркон, ортоклаз и други — всеки с различна форма, цвят и тайна. А след това идва ред на творчеството. С помощта на цветна хартия, модели и пластелин ще изработите свой вълшебен камък, вдъхновен от каменните цветя, сътворени от природата. Знание, креативност и наука в действие — идеално за млади откриватели, които обичат да учат чрез създаване.

Eggs — but not just any eggs. Fabergé eggs. Immerse yourself in the magical world of precious minerals and discover fascinating facts about the history and creation of Fabergé's legendary jewelled masterpieces — a symbol of beauty, craftsmanship and the science of materials. And then comes your turn to create. You will craft your own precious egg with real semi-precious and decorative stones — and take it home as a memory of an unforgettable day. Because science and art have never been as far apart as we think.

We will explore different types of polymers and their properties. We will experiment with self-contracting polymers. We will mix up slimy slime. We will make squishy slime — the kind you can blow into balloons. We will discover the secret behind nappies and their connection to hydrogels, by creating a rainbow of coloured snow in a test tube and bouncing orbeez balls — and last but not least, we will "melt" polystyrene figures.

Did you know that there is boundless science beneath your feet? Soil is not just mud. It is a living system — full of chemistry, physics and biology. And today you will investigate it yourselves. You will measure the water permeability of the soil — how quickly it absorbs water and why this is a matter of life and death for plants. You will test it for pesticides and sugars — and discover exactly what the earth around us contains. You will plant real plants — and leave your own mark in nature. And for the finale — you will make real seed bombs. Balls of mud with seeds inside, which once thrown far away, will sprout and bloom into new life. Science in action that keeps acting long after you leave. Because the best experiment is the one that leaves a trace.

Do you know that every plant holds a story? Botanists read it from the leaves, stems and flowers — and record it for eternity. A herbarium is not just a collection of dried plants. It is a scientific archive, a chronicle of nature, a frozen moment in the life of a plant. In this workshop you will follow the trail of plants like real botanists. You will learn how plants are collected, pressed and preserved — and you will create your own herbarium. A memory from nature, made with your own hands, that will last for decades. Because nature deserves to be remembered.

Do you know how an LED lights up? Not just why — but exactly how it happens right in your hands? In this workshop you will pick up a soldering iron, solder your own electronic components onto a circuit board and assemble your very own firefly light — a small wonder of metal, solder and electricity that will glow because you built it. Electronics is not magic. It is science you can touch, twist and literally ignite. With ScienceMe UP's workshop you are guaranteed to leave with something that glows — and with new knowledge that sparks.

With drawing tools and the principles of geometry, we will create visual labyrinths and beautiful compositions — to discover that mathematics and art share a common point

What would nature build if it were an architect? Twigs, pebbles, bark and leaves — they are not just materials. They are the inspiration behind the most sustainable constructions of the future. The world's greatest architects and engineers have long learned to read nature — and now it is your turn. You will design and build your own house from natural materials — and in the process discover how nature's shapes, structures and principles lie at the heart of sustainable construction and the architecture of tomorrow. Because the best architecture textbook was written by nature itself.

Do you know what your everyday body cream actually contains? Parabens, preservatives, artificial fragrances — the labels hide more than they reveal. But there is another way. Clean, natural and surprisingly simple. In this workshop you will mix your own fragrant body cream from cocoa butter, coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba and essential oils — ingredients that nature created millions of years before the cosmetics industry. You will discover what each one does, how they interact and why they work so well together. No unnecessary chemicals. No preservatives. Just science, nature and your own hands. And the best part — the cream is yours. You take it home.

Do you actually know what your character is? Psychometry is the science that measures what cannot be seen — personality, thinking, the way you perceive the world around you. No guessing, no intuition — pure science and data. In this workshop you will take an online psychometric test that will measure different aspects of your character. Then the data from all participants will be collected and together we will build live charts — and you will see yourselves side by side. What makes you unique? Where are you similar and where do you differ? How does your character influence your decisions, your relationships and your life? The answers are in the data. Come and read them together.

Is bat researcher a real profession? Yes, absolutely! Dr. Violeta Zhelyazkova has been doing it for almost 20 years — and claims to have one of the most exciting professions in the world. Bats are the only mammals capable of flight, and with remarkable speed and agility at that. They have mastered echolocation to perfection, care devotedly for their young, learn quickly and live exceptionally long lives for mammals of such small size. So long, in fact, that many scientists use them as experimental models in the fight against ageing and the treatment of cancer. Very recently an international team, of which Violeta is a part, discovered a new type of heat-sensitive antibodies in bats. No less fascinating are the places where bats live. Her research has taken her not only to the wildest and most remote corners of Bulgaria, but also to the jungles of Borneo and the lava tubes of the Hawaiian Islands. A lecture that is definitely not to be missed.

The world around us is full of treasures and the only thing that separates us from them is our curiosity. In this presentation you will hear about the adventures of a young biologist, armed with binoculars, an entomological net and a love for the wild world. You will encounter animals that most people have never seen in real life. You will understand why biodiversity is not just a scientific term, but a matter of survival — for them and for us. And perhaps for the first time you will look at the forest, the field or the river around you with different eyes — as a world waiting to be discovered.

13.8 billion years ago everything began from a particle smaller than a dot. Since then physicists have never stopped asking questions. What is matter? What is antimatter? The atom is small — but what is inside it is an entire universe! Protons, neutrons, quarks, bosons — sounds like an alien language? Actually this is the language of nature itself — and it holds the answers to what the world is made of... and you yourself. Come and discover it together!

Imagine: you are 400 kilometres above the Earth. No gravity. No fridge. No delivery. What do you eat? The answer is freeze-drying — the captivating process by which water is extracted from food under conditions of vacuum and extreme cold, while the molecular structure remains intact. The taste, the nutrients, the aroma — all preserved. The weight — almost zero. And do you know who are among the pioneers of this technology? Bulgarian scientists. Bulgaria is the third country in the world to have developed a space menu — a true contribution of Bulgarian science to the exploration of the Universe. Assoc. Prof. Iliana Lazova from the Institute of Cryobiology and Food Technologies will reveal the science behind the food of the future — and beyond the boundaries of our planet. And for the finale — you will find out for yourselves. We will taste freeze-dried ice cream, created especially for this festival. Just like the kind astronauts would enjoy far beyond orbit. Only here. Only on 22 June. Spots are limited — and so is the ice cream.

For millennia bread has been at the heart of human civilisation — and that is no coincidence. Behind every bite lies complex biochemistry that science is only now beginning to fully unravel. From the wheat grain to the plate — the journey of bread is more complex and more fascinating than it appears. Proteins, carbohydrates, fibre, B vitamins, minerals — bread contains more than we think. But its biological value depends on many factors — the wheat variety, the production technology, the degree of milling. Which bread is truly good for you and which is not? Science has something to say. Come and hear it.

Science proves it: the forest heals. And we will find out for ourselves. Leave the laboratory, the experiments and the formulas behind for a while — and join us through the fragrant forests of Osoitsa. The ozone-rich air, the silence and the view from above are an experiment in themselves — on the body and the mind. Recommended dose: at least one deep breath every ten steps.

What would your child do if a stranger spoke to them at the playground? Or if they found colourful pills on the table? Instead of rules and dry lectures — KidEVO offers something different. Interactive visual stories where the child is the main character and makes their own choices. They even have the freedom to make the "wrong" choice — to see the consequences in a fun but clear way. Without real risk. For children — an exciting game. For parents and teachers — a bridge for conversation and a tool for building real safety habits. Come to our stand, test it together with your children — and discover how the digital world can raise safer and more independent kids in the real one.

Water is not just water. It is fuel. It is energy. It is the future.The demonstration stand "Hydrogen — Energy of the Future" by IEES-BAS is dedicated to clean hydrogen energy technologies. Through demonstrations of water electrolysis and the operation of an electrolyser and fuel cell in a model "green energy cycle" system, you will follow the journey of hydrogen — from its production from water to its conversion back into water with the release of electrical energy. In an engaging and accessible way, you will see how scientific ideas find real application in the technologies of the future. You will drive hydrogen toy cars — and alongside that, a real hydrogen electric vehicle used for the research purposes of IEES-BAS and the Centre of Competence "HITMOBIL" will be on display. Parked. Ready. Waiting for you.

Do you really see what you think you see? Light refracts, reflects and splits into colours according to the laws of physics — but the result looks like pure magic. The scientists from the Institute of Optical Technologies will make you doubt your own eyes — and then understand why. And for the final blow — you will see how real objects transform into holograms, as if they have stepped straight out of science fiction. Come and explore light, lasers and optical illusions together!

Specially for our youngest visitors — archaeological excavations in the open air.Specially for our youngest visitors — archaeological excavations in the open air. With spades in hand, the bravest and smallest future archaeologists will uncover mysteries buried in the sand... The lucky ones will discover fragments of clay vessels — will they be able to identify the era...? A fun, unique and dynamic journey through time — right in the school sandpit.

History is not in the textbook. It is in the soil, in the stone, in the fragments of clay waiting to be pieced back together. In this workshop you will step into the role of real archaeologists and restorers. You will "rebuild" the walls of the edicule from the Thracian royal tomb of Sveshtari by assembling the caryatids in their puzzle. You will "restore" replicas of ancient vessels — exact copies of the relics from the Sboryanovo Archaeological Reserve. And once you have brought the past back to life with your hands — you will live it with your whole body, by playing ancient Thracian games. Because history is not read. It is touched, assembled and played.

Interactive exhibition by KREATIVI Art Atelier. Step into a world where science sparks creativity and imagination meets discovery. Explore a collection of artworks created by the children of KREATIVI Art Atelier and take part in hands-on creative experiments inspired by curiosity, observation, and play.

Did you know that the bee colony is one of the most perfect societies in nature? Thousands of years before humans built their cities and institutions, bees created a system that works with remarkable precision — every bee knows its role, every drop of honey is the result of collective effort and precise biochemistry. In this workshop you will immerse yourself in the world of bees up close and live. You will discover how bees clean themselves, how they create honey and what the different bee products are and their power. You will see and test the smoker yourself — the indispensable tool of every beekeeper. You will touch a real honeycomb and wax directly on the frame. You will put on a protective veil — and for a moment feel like a real beekeeper. And for the finale — you will taste fresh honey. Just as nature created it. Because bees do not simply make honey — they keep the world in balance. And it is time we got to know them as they deserve.

Before you raise a wall, you must master the brick and the mortar. Language is architecture — not simply made of words. It is a complete and perfect construction. Carved with precision, bound together by grammar and meaning. Every root — a brick. Every suffix — a tile. Every sentence — a finished wall, cemented by the mud of grammatical rules. Pick up the pickaxe and the trowel. Together we will examine the foundations of the Bulgarian language from its very first stones. We will lay roots. We will place tile upon tile. We will discover how from a single letter and a particle of mud, an entire building of words and meaning grows — a complete and perfect construction of text, poetry even... Because language, like every building, stands tall or crumbles according to how it is built. We are waiting for you — let's build!

Why does Bulgarian music make the body move in a way no other music can? The answer lies in mathematics. Bulgarian asymmetric metres — 7/8, 9/8, 11/16 — are a phenomenon that activates the brain in a unique way. Where Western music counts to four, Bulgarian folklore counts to seven, nine, eleven — and the brain wakes up to keep from getting lost in the rhythm. In this workshop you will hear the science live. You will feel how asymmetric beats affect the body and mind through real instruments and demonstrations. Acoustics, mathematics and neural networks — all of this is hidden behind every horo, every rachenitsa, every folk song. And you will never listen to Bulgarian music the same way again. Because folklore is not just tradition. It is science encoded in rhythm.

Who do you think is smarter — you or the machine? Artificial intelligence does not think like you. It does not feel, does not dream, does not guess. It calculates — at incredible speed, following rules called algorithms. And it is exactly these algorithms that run the world around you — from YouTube recommendations to hospital diagnoses. But what actually happens inside the machine? Today you will find out. You will test and work with real algorithms — challenge them, trick them, make them fail. You will understand how AI learns, how it makes decisions and where its limits are. Because the most important skill of the future is not using AI. It is understanding how it works — and knowing when to trust it... and when not to. Come and test it together.

One unusually colourful and special workshop from the young chemical engineers of Cosmos International School. They will tell you all about spherification. You will have the exceptional chance to perform cross-polymerisation of sodium alginate. And to top it all — you will receive super bright colourful spheres, generously garnished with a portion of gummy worms. Wonderful, isn't it?!

Every young scientist and experimenter, aged 10 to 15, is welcome to present their own scientific project or idea through a poster, model, presentation or scientific demonstration — and will be honored with a special award. There are no restrictions on the topic — what matters is creativity, inspiration, a scientific perspective, and of course the desire to shine. The boldest ideas turn our understanding of the world upside down. So why not let us hear yours? SIGN UP now!

Get ready for a galactic mix of questions and wild challenges, cooked up by Yavor Denchev, DNA, and his students in the science quiz "Brain adventures". Two teams of young scientists, nominated during the festival, will pit their strength and wits against each other in two rounds — theoretical and practical — under extraordinarily high pressure! A burst of elephant toothpaste will punish every wrong answer, or a bucket of oobleck will suddenly — yet gently — shower the contestant. In the practical round, you'll need to recall the principles of capillary water movement and non-Newtonian fluids. To make it successfully to the final, you must stay dry and clean… In other words, without ending up soaking wet and covered head to toe. And at the end, we promise a triumphant finale: a giant soap explosion with liquid nitrogen. So bring your knowledge and… a spare change of clothes. You'll definitely need them!