​

Project title/Contract number: K-TRIO European Researchers Night; FP7-PEOPLE-2013-NIGHT-609736

The European Researchers' Night is an annual event that takes place on the same day across Europe and is being funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Program for Research and Technological Development, the "People" sub-program. On that day, universities and science institutes open doors for citizens to present their scientific achievements and to show the challenging and curious aspects of the life of the scientist. The main objective is to change the public opinion and attitude towards the scientists and to show the hidden, fun side of the scientists.

In 2013, the project is held for the ninth consecutive year in Europe and for eighth consecutive year in 6 cities in Bulgaria - Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora and Rousse. On September 27, the Medical University of Varna hosted the European Researchers' Night for the second time. The event was opened by the Vice-Rector of Career Development, Research and Postgraduate Studies - Prof. Rinaldo Shishkov, MD. In the first part, students and lecturers face each other to check their knowledge of anatomy, physiology, chemistry and physics.In the second part of the event, present and future scientists measure strengths in several sporting and musical disciplines, pointing to the important role of the movement and sport in everyday life - a prerequisite for a healthy mind and a healthy body. At the end of the evening, all participants had the opportunity to taste the healing tea from the Bulgarian elderberry and whip, which was prepared by lecturers from the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics. According to a scientific study done in the department, some of the Bulgarian herbs have even greater antioxidant properties than our known green tea and honeybush. The link between health and food is the subject of another European research project involving scientists from the Medical University of Varna.

At the same time, uniting all member states in the European Union in this common platform for the popularization of scientists and their work, Medical University of Varna managed for the second consecutive year to focus public attention on the role of researchers and science in our everyday life and to encourage young people to take on the path of the scientific career.

Implementation period: 11.07.2013 – 31.12.2014