The Croatian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (HDBMB) continues to mark the 50th anniversary of its activities through participation in and organisation of many events, including participation in the Science Festival, held from 20 to 22 April 2026.
As part of the HDBMB programme “Science and Society”, we took part in the Science Festival, whose theme this year was energy. HDBMB presented work with proteins through an interactive stand titled “Fingerprints of the Energy of Life”.
The Science Festival (https://www.festivalznanosti.hr/2026/) is organised by the Universities of Split, Zagreb, Rijeka, Zadar and Osijek in cooperation with the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum and the British Council, under the high patronage of the Ministry of Science and Education. The programme includes workshops, lectures, presentations and exhibitions throughout the week, from 20 to 24 April 2026, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum.
The HDBMB workshop introduced visitors to a method of protein detection through a simple yet visually attractive chemical reaction. More than 800 participants — including kindergarten children, primary and secondary school students, and members of the public — visited our stand and took part in making their own “protein” postcards.
The workshop demonstrated the quantitative detection of proteins through a reaction with ninhydrin. Different protein concentrations resulted in different colour intensities, which visitors could observe after applying the reagent and developing the colour with heat, by ironing. Making the souvenirs was particularly engaging, while occasional unsuccessful attempts by some participants served as an opportunity to explain the real course of scientific work in biochemistry and molecular biology, which often involves trial and error and repeating experiments.
The Festival programme is available at: https://festivalznanostizagreb.hr/app/2026.
