b'EVENTSSupporting and Inspiring Citizens & Scientists Our participation at public engagement events offer a valuable opportunity for NBIC researchers and PhD students to develop a public engagement activity related to their research, and gain experience from engaging with public audiences.ORKNEY SCIENCE FESTIVAL SOUTHAMPTON SCIENCE &In September 2024, we travelled to Orkney, a remoteENGINEERING FESTIVALarchipelago of Scottish islands, to take part in the localIn March 2025, the NBIC team took part in the Science Festivals Family Day, which is held in earlySouthampton Science and Engineering Festival September. We were delighted to present our giant(SOTSEF) at the University of Southampton. The event LEGO biofilm model at the event. Participants had theattracted over 5,000 visitors, who enjoyed more opportunity to build their own LEGO micro-organisms,than 140 activities across the Universitys campuses, either by following instructions for models we hadincuding our LEGO biofilm activity. In March 2025, designed, or by creating their own using a combinationNBIC delivered activities at Winchester Science of imagination and reference images of real micro- Centre, as part of the University of Southamptons organisms that we provided. Once completed, theirSchool of Biological Sciences takeover day. The event creations were added to our biofilm wall, contributingwas led by NBIC PhD students from Southampton, to a giant LEGO biofilm composed of many species ofwho ran our LEGO biofilm activity. Local schools micro-organisms living together, just as they would inwere invited to take part, and it was a fantastic nature. The models we designed offered varying levelsopportunity to engage with the younger generation of building complexity, allowing people of all ages, fromand inspire their interest in science, all within the 5 to 73, to engage in LEGO building while exploring theexciting and vibrant setting of the science centre.fascinating world of biofilms. We thoroughly enjoyed interacting with over 500 people during the festival, andEDINBURGH SCIENCE FESTIVAL we look forward to returning for many more activities. In April 2025, our team of staff and students from across the UK successfully engaged the public at NOTTINGHAM SCIENCE FESTIVAL Dynamic Earth, Edinburghs science centre, with At Nottinghams Science and Curiosity Festival,our biofilm research. This event was part of the in February 2025, there was a steady stream ofEdinburgh Science Festival and attracted hundreds Play-Doh microbes built using microscopy imagesof visitors. Attendees had the chance to build their as inspiration. In addition, the Great Greetingsown micro-organisms out of LEGO and add them to Experiment continued with participants comparingour giant LEGO biofilm display. They could also try simulated germ transfer via waving, high fives andour new biofilm virtual reality experience, using a handshakes using iridescent powder only visiblestate-of-the-art Meta Quest 3 VR headset to create under UV light. How contact is an important factorstunning virtual biofilms, guided by real research in the spread of microbes was illustrated visually viasimulation software and inspired by our own real-time quantification in NBICs bespoke light box. scientific work. Our team, made up mostly of PhD In March 2025, the University of Nottingham NBICstudents from around the UK, developed their public team helped raise public awareness of biofilms at theengagement skills through this event, supported Science in the Park event in Wollaton Hall using theby dedicated training. Both the visitors, a mix of NBIC LEGO kit to build a range of microbial modelslocal families and tourists, and our volunteers had with the participants. The balance between gooda fantastic time exploring biofilm science through and bad microbial biofilms was illustrated throughfun, hands-on activities and lively conversations.conversations triggered by Giant Microbe cuddly toys. A poll of the public showed the importance people placed on the need for further research to understand the impact of biofilms in the environment and in people.50'