With great success, the European Researcher’s Night 2025 was held for the second consecutive year at the premises of Ellinogermaniki Agogi in Pallini, welcoming more than 600 visitors of all ages from across Attica. The event was organized in the framework of the PICO project, and offered a unique journey through science — from the quantum world to the cosmos.
Visitors collaborated with researchers, educators, and students in a rich program of presentations and hands-on activities.
The evening featured engaging exhibits and interactive experiences designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding of fundamental physics. Two dedicated topics captivated attendees with timeless experiments: the photoelectric effect, showcasing how light can help us probe the structure of matter using the intense beams of synchrotron radiation facilities, and the double slit experiment, the most beautiful experiment in physics, revealing the dual nature of matter, both wave and particle.
In accordance with the vision of Discovery Space, these concepts were brought to life through Augmented Reality (AR) demonstrations, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the phenomena like never before. Additionally, both the photoelectric effect and the double slit experiment are available as inquiry-based learning scenarios on the Discovery Space educational platform, offering hands-on opportunities to explore these experiments in depth and encouraging learners to engage with the scientific method.
The presentations were led by Dr. Sofoklis Sotiriou, Head of the R&D Department at Ellinogermaniki Agogi, who introduced the double slit experiment and neutrino astronomy, and Dr. Dimitris Koulentianos, also from the R&D department, who guided visitors through the intricacies of the photoelectric effect.
The evening also featured:
- stargazing from the school’s observatory
- planetarium projections
- virtual tours of the Solar System
- exploration of space technology and analog astronaut missions
- AR/VR student projects on Martian habitats and space vehicles
- astronaut training simulations with the humanoid robot Nao
- satellite Earth observation and gravitational wave/neutrino astronomy
- exoplanet research and extreme environment studies
- neuroscience experiments, data sonification, and sustainable living systems
This event exemplifies the close relationship between PICO and Discovery Space, two European projects that share a common mission: to foster scientific literacy, promote inquiry-based learning, and empower educators and students through innovative educational technologies. Both projects are committed to making science education engaging, accessible, and meaningful — using tools like AR, VR, and open educational resources to inspire the next generation of scientists.
✨ The European Researcher’s Night is a pan-European initiative supported by the European Union, taking place simultaneously in over 400 cities across 23 countries, aiming to foster public engagement with science and spark interest among young people.
Smiles lit up the faces of young and old alike, as they experienced unforgettable moments of discovery throughout the night.