VědaFest 2026

Last week, the popular VědaFest 2026 once again took place at Vítězné Square in Prague, attracting thousands of visitors of all ages with an interest in science and technology. This year, the Faculty of Chemical Engineering at UCT Prague was represented by the Department of Physics and Measurement, which presented its interactive exhibit, The Sun Shines.

Visitors had the opportunity to observe the Sun safely through a telescope equipped with a special solar filter or by viewing a projection of the solar disc onto a screen. This allowed them to see sunspots with their own eyes and learn more about why the Sun is the primary source of energy for life on Earth.

Another highlight of the exhibit was a thermal imaging camera, which offered visitors a fascinating new perspective on temperature. One of the most popular "subjects" turned out to be a four-legged festival visitor. Children were able to test the well-known saying that something is "as cold as a dog's nose." And what did they discover? A dog's nose is indeed usually cooler than the rest of its body. Its surface is often moist, which enhances cooling through evaporation. However, this does not mean it is inherently cold—its temperature depends on the surrounding environment as well as the dog's current health and activity. The thermal camera demonstrated that this familiar saying has a genuine physical and biological explanation.

This year's VědaFest truly lived up to the name of our exhibit—The Sun Shines. The weather was exceptionally hot, making it one of the warmest days of the summer so far. We would therefore like to express our sincere thanks to our colleagues from the Department of Physics and Measurement for their dedication and enthusiasm. Despite the extreme temperatures in Prague that day, they spent the entire event introducing visitors of all ages to the fascinating world of physics with smiles and great energy.

We would also like to thank everyone who visited our stand. We look forward to meeting you again at future science outreach events, where we will continue to show that physics and chemistry can be engaging, inspiring, and accessible to everyone.