Popularisation
One of the main tasks of the HDBMB is the popularisation of molecular life sciences in the wider community, i.e. the promotion of the achievements of biochemistry and molecular biology and presentation of their benefits for the society.
With a desire to intensify these activities, in addition to the Science and Society Committee, HDBMB established a Public Relations Committee, whose task is to propose and implement activities related to the promotion and visibility of HDBMB.
The main task of the Science and Society Committee is to propose and implement activities related to cooperation of HDBMB with the wider scientific and general community, popularisation of molecular life sciences and encourage active participation of HDBMB in creating and implementing scientific policies in Croatia.
Thanks to the Science and Society Committee, several events have been organized for general public so far, but a particularly valuable and wide-ranging action was organized in 2016, as part of the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of HDBMB. Many members of the Society participated in the 40th Anniversary celebration and organized a series of lectures at institutes, faculties and schools in Osijek, Split, Rijeka and Zagreb in 2016.
About thirty members prepared popular science articles about their research that were published in a double issue of the journal for the popularization of the science Priroda (2016 1-2) dedicated to the Anniversary. In addition, a memorial poster Molecular Machinery was printed for schoolchildren and students, showing hundreds of crystal structures of proteins and important macromolecules that make up a living cell.
HDBMB at the MUZZA Science Week, 12-14 April, 2024
The Croatian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (HDBMB) participated in the third MUZZA Science in Zagreb as a part of its “Science and Society” programme. The Science Week was organized by the NGO MUZZA and University of Zagreb and included three days of exhibitions, workshops, experiments and lectures at the Rectorate of the University of Zagreb (SEECEL building). The HDBMB participated as a partner of the Ruder Bosković Institute and presented the scientific work with the zebrafish animal model and its application in biology and medicine.
Over 300 participants from primary and secondary schools visited our interactive exhibition, which was open throughout the Science Week and where ten scientists, MSc and PhD students presented the experiments. We showed live vertebrate embryogenesis, CRISPR-Cas genome editing and monitoring of DNA repair in fish embryos.
Popular-science event “Contribution of bioscience to the green transition”
A popular-science event open to the public was held on May 24th 2023 in Zagreb on the topic of “Contribution of bioscience to the green transition” and was organized by the Croatian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (HDBMB) as part of its “Science and Society” program.
The aim of this popular-science event was to demonstrate to the public how new scientific knowledge can be useful for the green transition. The topic is very relevant and important to the objectives of the European Commission within the framework of the “European Green Deal”. Also, the meeting was intended as a link and an introduction to the upcoming 47th FEBS Congress “Together in Bioscience for a Better Future”, which will be held in Tours, France in July 2023, and where, among other things, new biotechnological solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing the world today will be discussed. To raise awareness of the importance of molecular biosciences to the green economy in Croatia, the meeting was open to the public and included lecturers from the University of Zagreb and panelists from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia and the private sector. The meeting was funded by the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) and the Croatian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (HDBMB). The event had considerable media coverage, being presented on TV and radio broadcasts, appearing in several leading newspapers, and being present on social networks.
Four popular-science lectures focused on the production of useful biomolecules from agricultural waste, the development of new enzymes for the degradation of non-recyclable bioplastics, the production of biofuels and biochemicals from renewable resources, and the application of new genetic engineering technologies in agriculture. The organizers estimated the number of participants at 70, covering a wide age range, from students to retirees. The last lecture was followed by a panel discussion on “The potential of applying scientific knowledge in the green transition in Croatia: How to improve the link between science and society?” 45-minute roundtable discussion included speakers and representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia: director of the Institute for Environment and Nature Protection, Aljoša Duplić, Ph.D. and his colleague from the Climate Directorate, Bernarda Rožman, as well as Igor Grozdanić, M.Sc., independent energy expert from the private sector. The panel discussion, moderated by Marta Popović, Ph.D. from the Ruđer Bošković Institute, was very interesting and lively. The potential of biogas and bioethanol production from renewable sources, the utilization of waste from the olive oil production, and the application of genetic engineering in Croatian agriculture were discussed. The panelists explained their views on specific problems from the perspective of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, the private sector, universities and scientific research institutes, and suggested possible solutions to improve cooperation with the academic community. The roundtable was also open to questions from the audience, which contributed greatly to the quality of the discussion.
Full program is available at the link.