NIB

The main goal of the RhythmOfLife project is to foster a closer connection between research and the general public, with a special emphasis on involving families, children, elementary and high school students, teachers, students, and adults, while also focusing on groups with limited access to science, such as older adults, children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, children and adults with special needs, and migrants. The RhythmOfLife project explores the science of rhythms in nature and human life through engaging formats such as live experiments, strategy games, immersive experiences, and science performances, making science accessible and relevant to a diverse audience. By presenting phenomena familiar to us from everyday life—such as seasonal changes, lunar cycles, and biological rhythms—RhythmOfLife explains the scientific principles behind them and demonstrates how science impacts health, the environment, and society.

The project aims to reach up to 900,000 people through an extensive awareness campaign and attract at least 25,000 participants to Researchers’ Night events across Slovenia in 2026 and 2027. The “Researchers in Schools” activities will directly involve up to 6,700 children in preschools, elementary schools, and high schools. Events will take place across all Slovenian regions, not just in major cities, ensuring broad geographic inclusion. Inclusion is at the heart of the RhythmOfLife project, as reflected in the design of the activities, the diversity of participants, and the composition of the research groups. Vulnerable groups will be actively involved, and activities will be tailored to their needs through collaboration with experts and caregivers.

By promoting scientific literacy and social responsibility, the RhythmOfLife project contributes to greater public awareness of research and innovation, particularly EU-funded research, and its concrete impact on citizens’ daily lives. It sparks interest among young people in careers in STEM and promotes a better understanding of EU policies and programs among the general public.

All departments of the National Institute of Biology participate in the project.