INL Open Day 2025: A Celebration of Science, Innovation, and Community

Last Saturday, INL welcomed more than 800 visitors of diverse nationalities for a day filled with curiosity, discovery, and joy. Families, students, researchers, and science enthusiasts of all ages came together to experience what it’s like to be a scientist for a day and the energy throughout the building was unforgettable.

Across the INL campus, guests explored interactive exhibits and live demonstrations that brought science to life, from fluid dynamics and 3D printing to nano-enabled food and health technologies. In the “NanoPlanet: Fixing the Future” area, visitors discovered how nanotechnology is addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, boosting sustainability, energy storage, and public health.

The Kids Zone provided a space where younger visitors could build molecules, explore science hands-on, and enjoy the new INL kids’ book, designed to spark curiosity through storytelling.

Art and science merged in Pepto Playground, a performance by the Foqacia project in collaboration with Arte Total. Inspired by the paradoxes of quantum physics, the dancers moved through shifting pink landscapes and invisible forces, inviting audiences to reflect on uncertainty, presence, and transformation.

INL researchers also presented impactful projects, from 3DSecret’s pioneering cancer research using microfluidic platforms to national innovation efforts like NGS Storage and GreenAuto, which aim to shape the future of clean energy and mobility.

Guests found themselves shaking the INL building during an earthquake simulation, participating in workshops, and discovering science in action around every corner.

The European Researchers’ Night 2025 Photo Contest Exhibition was another highlight, showcasing powerful images from across Europe under the theme “Science for a Sustainable Future.” The contest invites us to explore how research supports environmental protection, economic growth, and social equity, capturing the transformative role of science in everyday life.

Music enriched the atmosphere, with Noiserv’s poetic “Invisible Piano” performance co-created with INL, amused the visitors, while We Tum Tum and the INL Band brought rhythm and celebration throughout the space.

Tours were offered in several languages, ensuring all guests could dive into INL’s mission and meet the people behind the science. As the day came to a close, the air was filled with smiles and inspiration. INL Open Day 2025 was not just an event—it was a shared moment of connection and possibility.

Explore the photo gallery and our wrap-up-video to relive the best moments.

Thank you for celebrating science with us. See you next time!

Text by Gina Palha, Communication, Conferences & Marketing Officer and Photography by Rui Andrade, Communication, Conferences & Marketing Officer