RNDr. Mária Zentková, CSc. at European Researchers’ Night

While last year The European Researchers’ Night filled the shopping center Atrium – Optima with scientists and people interested in science, research and technology, this year was this contact diametrically different due to current pandemic restrictions. The lecturers used the possibilities of online world: they were in Košice, their listeners were miles away.

Our institute was represented by RNDr. Mária Zentková, CSc., who is well known for her popularization activities aimed at children. The best proof are the popular Science Lairs that she brought to existence for them eight years ago. Mgr. Janka Šišková from the Primary School and Kindergarten, Nižná brána in Kežmarok participated in some of them as a teacher, later also as a lecturer. This year she also signed up her class in the Meet Your Scientist program. Mária Zentková gave an online lecture about the magnets which are center of her research interest. “Her talk was so engaging that my students were lost for words. We had so many interesting questions for which we now know the answers. I guess this is one of the ways how to develop passion for natural sciences.” says Janka Šišková. Her students also wanted to take part in the Draw a Slovak Scientist art competition and decided that their scientist will be Mária Zentková. “Now I have some beautiful portraits that I will hang in my laboratory,” said Mária Zentková, mentor of Science Lairs, and appreciated the efforts of future scientists.