TwInn4MicroUp at Athens Science Festival 2025
Athens Science Festival (ASF) is Greece’s largest and longest-running science and technology festival, connecting science, innovation, art, and society through interactive and inclusive experiences. From December 18 to 21, 2025, ASF returned to the Athens Conservatoire with its festive edition “The Christmas Lab”, inviting audiences of all ages to explore science in creative and playful ways.
As part of this vibrant celebration, the TwInn4MicroUp project team actively participated in the festival, engaging with children, students, families, educators, and science enthusiasts. Our booth focused on communicating the project’s mission: developing microbial platforms for plastic upcycling and promoting sustainable and circular bioeconomy solutions.
Throughout the festival, visitors had the opportunity to learn how microorganisms and enzymes can contribute to addressing plastic waste challenges. Through open discussions and hands-on interaction, the team explained how biotechnology can transform plastic waste into valuable resources, making complex scientific concepts accessible and relatable to the general public.
To enhance engagement and inclusivity, the TwInn4MicroUp team designed a series of interactive educational activities tailored to different age groups. These included crossword puzzles and ciphertext challenges introducing key scientific concepts, coloring pages for younger children, and two age-specific quizzes that encouraged learning through play. Depending on their quiz performance, participants received either handmade New Year’s charms or a custom-designed snake board game, enriched with scientific hints and educational content to continue the learning experience beyond the festival.
The enthusiastic participation and curiosity of visitors, especially young audiences, highlighted the importance of science communication and public outreach. Events like the Athens Science Festival provide a powerful platform to inspire future scientists, encourage dialogue between research and society, and demonstrate that science is not only knowledge, but also creativity, play, and shared discovery.
TwInn4MicroUp team is grateful to everyone who visited our booth and engaged with our activities. Participating in ASF 2025 reinforced our commitment to bringing science closer to society and promoting innovative, bio-based solutions for a more sustainable future.
