The Researchers’ Night event in Milan was supported by the European Community, powered by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions under the European Researchers’ Night initiative. The event in Milan is known as MEETmeTONIGHT and took place on 27-28 September in one of the city parks, which helped attracting visitors of all ages. The ENeRAG UMIL team proposed activities focused on groundwater flow and aquifer dynamics. A wonderful physical model representing a simplified surface and subsurface N-S transect of Northern Italy was designed and displayed. Visitors got introduced to aquifer recharge, contamination processes, remediation methods and measures to monitor groundwater quantity and quality. The visitor could do all of it, using piezometric sensors and a multiparametric probe, contaminating the aquifer with colors and remediating by pumping the plume out. Other activities included the reconstruction of a multi level aquifer in a box for kids, a role game where the visitor acted the part of a reservoir manager and the personal water footprint calculation through a web-based platform.

In line with tradition, ELTE also joined the national program series on the 27th of September in Budapest, which over the years has become a very popular event among those who are interested in science. This year, the hydrogeology group of the ENeRAG project prepared many simple scientific experiments to draw attention to the importance of groundwater, and to present the basic principles of their behaviors. Involving the audience in the different experiments they could playfully learn about the importance of permeability of sedimentary rocks in flow systems, the consequences of groundwater contamination, the significance of remediation, the degree of hazard of the pollutants with different densities, the role of groundwater in the water cycle, the causes of the different conductivity of the waters, and the basic laws of the groundwater movement in a complex basin.  

The event has achieved its project objectives, as it gave the opportunity to promote hydrogeology, disseminate the knowledge and raise attention to the importance of geofluids via engaging the wider audience. 

ENeRAG UMIL team at the Researchers’ night event in Milan

 

ENeRAG ELTE team at the Researchers’ night event in Budapest