Sofia Science Festival, 9-12 May, Sofia Tech Park – Main programme

A1 Arena

Nine high school students from disparate corners of the globe navigate rivalries, setbacks, and hormones on their quest to win the international science fair.

A1 Arena

Dr. Vladimir Bozhilov from Sofia University, Tihomir Dimitrov from Space Academy and Nikola Karavassilev, teacher of physics, go through all major facts of the Moon Landing 50 years ago.

Neterra Cosmos

Brace yourself for a real scientific experiment. This event is particularly suitable for people without any scientific knowledge whatsoever.

Aurubis Lab

Some of the quaint ways of physics will be revealed by physicist and FameLab finalist Dr. Stefan Nikolov.

A1 Arena

Gambling addiction has become a topic of increasing research interest. This talk argues that all addictions (including gambling addiction) consist of a number of distinct common components.

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Professor Carole Mundell gives a whirlwind tour of black holes explaining their importance for galaxy evolution and the cataclysmic death of massive stars.

Aurubis Lab

Dr. Dimitar Zhelev, lecturer at Sofia University, FameLab finalist and founder of Geograf BG, reveals the impact of small islands on fundamental science.

A1 Arena

Rhino’s horn, pangolin scales, tiger tail – all parts of wild animals that can be bought on the black market.

Aurubis Lab

Find out how biocompatible, (bio)degradable and biologically active polymers are used to repair wounded tissue and in tissue engineering, agriculture and super hydrophobic clothing.

A1 Arena

Have you ever wanted to have some incredible superpower like the heroes of the movies? If so, then you need to see this show by British scientists Prof. Mark Lorch and Phil Bell-Young.

Microsoft Innovation Centre at Sofia Tech Park

This workshop is for young coders who will build their robotic models of a human arm out of cardboard and drinking straws and the results will be visualised in Microsoft Excel.

Aurubis Lab

Engineer Ivayla Sopotenska from the University of Food Technologies tells her version of the Princess and the Pea. The Princess is now a scientist and the pea has turned into ice cream.

By using the popular Tynker and Microsoft MakeCode platforms, players will both enhance their digital skills but also apply their creations in their real lives.

Dive into the Microsoft digital cloud and find out how to make your apps smarter with Azure AI Services.

Sit back, tighten your seatbelts and start making your own race car which will run on… a rubber band.

What is electricity and can it run through a 3D card?

A1 Arena

Scientists from the National Natural History Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences reveal the link between hothouse gases and caves.

Neterra Cosmos

Nine high school students from disparate corners of the globe navigate rivalries, setbacks, and hormones on their quest to win the international science fair.

Aurubis Lab

Physicist Pencho Markishki from the Institute of Astronomy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences tells you about his spectroscopic research.

zone 42

Come to this talk to find out all about rocket fuels from chemists and FameLab finalists Nasko Stamenov and Boris Yanachkov.

A1 Arena

A major re-evaluation of the creatures that ruled the Earth for 150 million years by one of the world’s leading palaeontologists.

Aurubis Lab

Physicist Victor Danchev from the Space Challenges programme explains how much physics there is for every bit of chemistry.

Minus room

Scientists present some of the most successful projects funded by the Scientific Research Fund at the Ministry of Education and Science.

Neterra Cosmos

Join us for the Bulgarian launch of Spanish polar researcher and writer Javier Cacho’s book I, Fram.

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Nanotechnologist Dr. Bozhidar Stefanov from the Technical University and FameLab finalist will share stories which will certainly make you wonder what exactly is wrong with scientists.

Aurubis Lab

Dr. Stoyan Nikolov and Elitsa Ivanova from the Bulgarian Bird Preservation Society explain how science can help avoid the dangers which the Egyptian vulture is faced with.

Neterra Cosmos

With examples from Bach to Beats, Dr Chris Nash will present the history of music as a combination of pattern and process, before exploring expressions of music through code using Manhattan.

zone 42

Cooking will never be the same after you’ve witnessed this demonstration of test tube cuisine, mixed with liquid nitrogen and sprinkled with a quiz on your knowledge of Earth and Space.

A1 Arena

Where, when and how did life first start? Prof. Nikolay Denkov from Sofia University seeks the boundaries between living and non-living matter in nature.

Aurubis Lab

A talk on how children develop and mature with the young participants of the Children’s Rights Club at the STEM High School in Montana.

Neterra Cosmos

Visualisation and imaging is a way of revealing a whole new world around us. Materials science and engineering is a topic that spans the natural and human-made world.

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Seismologist Prof. Boyko Rangelov from the University of Mining and Geology examines the so called weird earthquakes and the reasons behind their strangeness.

Aurubis Lab

The Living Thames, a documentary by Dorothy Leiper, is an odyssey along the river as it meanders through London and flows out to sea, exploring its ever-changing ecology.

Neterra Cosmos

Prof. Dr. Ilian Iliev looks at the solar eclipse of 29 May 1919 when Einstein’s general theory of relativity was confirmed for the first time through observation.

A1 Arena

As we work to develop AI systems, it’s critical to develop and train these systems with data that is unbiased (if possible) and to develop algorithms that can be easily explained.

Aurubis Lab

Chemist Zlatina Dimitrova and Vet Dr. Toma Shtilianov, both FameLab alumni, will guide you through the frames of science in your favourite movies (and some spoilers).

Neterra Cosmos

In an optimistic scenario, in 2029 astronauts will live and perform science experiments on board the Lunar Orbital Platform- Gateway station and in the Moon Village.

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The periodic table is the very symbol of chemistry, its list of the elements makes up the very world around us. This year it is 150 years old and we’re holding a special dinner!

Neterra Cosmos

The Centre of Fun Maths and astrophysicist Yanko Nikolov measure the distance from Earth to the Moon in… rice grains. Join them for a lot more ridiculous mathematical fun.

Microsoft Innovation Centre at Sofia Tech Park

This is a project-based workshop using everybody’s favourite LEGO building blocks.

A1 Arena

Come to the science show of DNK Science Edutainment. Discover the science in its genes!

By using the popular Tynker and Microsoft MakeCode platforms, players will both enhance their digital skills but also apply their creations in their real lives.

Dive into the Microsoft digital cloud and find out how to make your apps smarter with Azure AI Services.

Sit back, tighten your seatbelts and start making your own race car which will run on… a rubber band.

What is electricity and can it run through a 3D card?

Aurubis Lab

Dr. Dimo Chotrov from Sofia Tech Park and Angel Bachvarov from TechnoMagicLand will present the basic concepts, the technology and the latest trends in VR.

Neterra Cosmos

Assoc. Prof. Dimitar Kolev from the Institute of Astronomy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences will clear up some of the issues surrounding light pollution.

A1 Arena

Late Cretaceous dinosaur remains and other tetrapod fauna were found in the vicinity of the Western Srednogorie.

Aurubis Lab

Discuss cryptography and data security with coding entrepreneur and founder of SoftUni Svetlin Nakov.

Neterra Cosmos

Let Emma Huertas from the Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia guide you through the research on marine biodiversity and how scientists are working to preserve it.

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Vet, molecular biologist and FameLab winner Dr. Petar Eftimov will guide you through the evolution of language.

Aurubis Lab

Geneticist Dr. Galya Petrova links genetics with human intervention to encourage us to protect Bulgaria’s natural resources.

in the Sofia Tech Park yard

See how water rockets can shoot into the sky at over 120 km/h and reach an altitude of about 100 meters. Find out why rockets have no wings and how rocket engines work.

Neterra Cosmos

Riccardo Impavido will discuss the most intriguing concepts of physics, mathematics and metascience and the scientific fields where there is full consensus.

A1 Arena

Narrated by Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges, Dream Big: Engineering Our World is a first film of its kind for IMAX that will transform how we think about engineering.

Aurubis Lab

Speleologist Violeta Zhelyazkova tells you about the obstacles and the resilience she needs to have when climbing down into virgin ecosystems.

Neterra Cosmos

Black holes are the most mysterious creatures in the colourful zoo which we call the night sky. Everybody heard about them and we have even just seen a photo of one.

A1 Arena

Learn about one of Europe’s earliest prehistoric salt mines and settlements (5500-4300 B.C) which was unearthed near the town of Provadia.

Aurubis Lab

This is a story you do not want to miss – of the complex, winding road of humanity’s battle with contagious diseases.

Neterra Cosmos

Mathematician Dr. Georgi Dimkov from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences will convince you that there’s a lot more common music and maths than meets the ear.

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Diseases will not give up or disappear. Luckily, neither will science nor researchers. Four inspiring scientists will talk about expected massive breakthroughs in four therapeutic areas.

Aurubis Lab

Biologist Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Dedov from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has many curios facts about the amazing life of snails up his sleeve.

A1 Arena

Welcome to the National Final of FameLab Bulgaria 2019. Sit back and let our ten finalists wow you.