Dr. Jelena Bujan was granted a substantial €1.5 million last year by the European Research Council to explore how ants withstand extreme temperatures caused by global warming.

This research is pivotal as understanding insects' responses to heatwaves and other climatic challenges is crucial for predicting the potential impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

'Science is Wonderful!' - A Showroom of Scientific Excellence

'Science is Wonderful!' is an annual science fair aimed at promoting research funded by the European Research Council and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. This year, it will gather more than 100 leading researchers worldwide to demonstrate their projects in an inspiring and interactive manner.

Alongside Dr. Jelena Bujan, team members include doctoral student Antonia Smolić, Dr. Marko Bračić, and Dr. Marko Košiček, the coordinator of science popularisation activities and projects at RBI.

From Local to Global: Spreading Knowledge Across Borders

"Participating in this event is a wonderful opportunity for my team to showcase our research and bring it to an audience beyond Croatia. I am thrilled to be able to enlighten children and the youth about the importance of ants and climate change, which is especially crucial now due to the rapid global warming and current state of politics.

Additionally, this popularization effort will allow me to meet other ERC and Marie Curie grant recipients and learn about their research, which will enable me to expand my network of potential collaborators," emphasized Dr. Jelena Bujan.

Over the course of this two-day programme, various representatives from the European Commission, EU institutions, and more than 4,500 students from across Belgium are expected to attend. Thus, this event offers a splendid opportunity to promote Croatia and to acknowledge the diligent team at the Ruđer Bošković Institute, which, alongside innovative research, also conducts numerous activities aimed at popularising science under the leadership of Dr. Marko Košiček.

"The RBI, as a leading scientific research institution in Croatia, consistently works to enhance scientific literacy and public awareness of current scientific research through its exemplary, innovative approach and numerous bilateral and multilateral projects in the field of science popularisation and communication. We are delighted that in recent years our efforts and expertise have been recognised beyond Croatia's borders, at the EU level," Dr. Marko Košiček highlighted.

Showcasing Scientific Excellence: ‘How Do Ants Stay Cool?’

At the research station 'How Do Ants Stay Cool?' visitors will step into the fascinating world of ants, getting acquainted with the colony and the roles of the queen and workers. Through interactions with a live colony, educational models, and the advanced use of thermal cameras, the RBI team will demonstrate how these tiny yet crucial organisms adapt to changes in their environment.

This interactive demonstration, tailored for all ages, will provide insights into the complex biological and ecological strategies ants use to survive and thrive despite increasingly extreme climatic conditions.