Programme
Check and book your events in languages different from Bulgarian in chronological order here or browse by title in the Events menu. You can find the full programme of the festival on the Bulgarian language page or download the pdf booklet.
FameLab International Live Final
live streaming and in person I in English I 12:00 to 02:00 pm I Hall LABORATORY with Aurubis
Join us at the Festival for the first ever hybrid FameLab International Live Final in Plovdiv! Eight countries—Australia, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland and the United Kingdom—will battle it out on the virtual stage as their national winners compete for the title of World’s Best Science Communicator 2024. Watch it all unfold live on the FameLab YouTube Channel as you sit with us at the Festival venue in Plovdiv. You are in for an extra bonus – one of the international members of the jury will be there in the venue too, judging from Plovdiv. See for yourselves how hard it will be to select the winners out of an excellent line-up of finalists!
FameLab is the world’s leading science communication competition and training programme, showcasing early-career researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Armed with just their wits and a few props, participants will deliver captivating three-minute talks designed to educate, entertain and inspire.
Be ready to be wowed as this year’s finalists share their passion for STEM. From the mysteries of the brain to the wonders of fungi and the healing power of medicinal plants, you’ll leave feeling enlightened and curious about the world around you.
Don’t miss out — grab your free pass now and join us for an unforgettable celebration of science communication.
Plus, get excited as we prepare to celebrate 20 Years of FameLab next year!
Giants from the past: exploring fossils from Bulgaria – and beyond!
presentation І 10:00-11:30 І Hall COSMOS with A1 І children, teens, adults
Join UK-born paleontologist prof. Michael Sandy who now lives and works in Plovdiv after a career teaching in the USA for this illustrated and interactive presentation which will focus on some of the famous and not so famous large creatures of the past. You won’t hear about dragons or other mythical creatures – but you will hear about real monsters that once lived in the past – we have the fossils to prove it! These giant animals that lived on land – mammoths and dinosaurs – and also giants from the world of invertebrates, including insects, up to nearly 1 metre in length. Specimens of real fossils and copies made from real fossils will be available for examination. Fossils are a clue in helping to unlock information about the past conditions on earth millions of years ago – it’s ancient geography and past climatic conditions.
In English, with consecutive interpreting into Bulgarian
How Likely is an Asteroid to Ruin Your Day?
recording of live presentation І 19:00-20:00 І Hall LABORATORY with Aurubis І young adults, adults
As individuals we should not worry about a large asteroid impact because chances are so low in our lifetimes. However, as a civilization we MUST do something. Devastating impacts have happened (e.g., dinosaur extinction) and will happen again if we do nothing. Fortunately, there is considerable international collaboration on defending Earth against asteroid impacts. Explore the answers to these and many other questions with Dr. Humberto Campins, an international expert on asteroids, especially those that can threaten Earth with an impact, and NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission member.
In English.
In partnership with the Embassy of the USA.
On the Origin of Time: My journey with Stephen Hawking into the Big Bang
recording of a live presentation І 13:30-14:30 І Hall LABORATORY with Aurubis І young adults, adults
Perhaps the biggest question Stephen Hawking tried to answer in his extraordinary career was how the universe could have created conditions so perfectly hospitable to life. Pondering this mystery led him to study the big bang origin, but his early work ran into a crisis when the math predicted many big bangs producing lifeless universes.
Holed up in the theoretical physics department at Cambridge, Hawking and Thomas Hertog worked shoulder to shoulder for twenty years, to develop a new theory of the cosmos that could account for the emergence of life. Venturing far back in time, they were startled to find a deeper level of evolution in which physical laws transform and simplify until particles, forces, and even time itself fades away. This led to a revolutionary idea: The laws of physics are not set in stone but are born and co-evolve as the universe they govern takes shape.
On the Origins of Time takes you on a quest to understand questions bigger than our universe. It offers a radical new Darwinian perspective on the birth of the universe that can profoundly transform the way we think about our place in the order of the cosmos.
Don’t forget to get a copy of Thomas Hertog’s book from the Festival bookstore.
In English.
In partnership with Ciela.
How do we track dinosaurs?
recording of live presentation І 15:00-16:00 І Hall LABORATORY with Aurubis І teens, young adults, adults
Dinosaurs are often hailed as the most successful species to have roamed the Earth. Spanning a remarkable 160 million years, these ancient creatures of various sizes and shapes dominated our planet. They exhibited a diverse array of morphological and habitual characteristics, from towering heights to bird-like smallness, from ferocious aggression to gentle demeanor, and from sluggishness to agility.
The legacy of these dinosaurs, spanning hundreds of millions of years, has given rise to a fascinating field known as “ichnology.” The footprints, left behind by fortunate prehistoric creatures, have become the subject of intense study among paleontologists in recent years. Unlike fossilized bones, which offer only fragmented information about dinosaurs posthumously, footprints provide a glimpse into the everyday lives of these interesting creatures.
Chinese paleontologist Lida Xing will delve into how paleontologists employ various technical methods—from mythology and scientific history to ichnology, ecology, and geology—to track dinosaurs and reconstruct their world. Prepare to have your perceptions of dinosaurs challenged as we embark on a journey to hunt for these ancient giants together!
In English.
In partnership with the Embassy of China