Over the past few months, I’ve had the immense pleasure of participating in science communication and outreach activities aimed at presenting my research closer to students and wider public. This gives an outstanding opportunity to engage with audience beyond academia and make science more accessible, releatable and most importantly – inspiring. In particular, I had the pleasure to participate in Info Day and Research Day at KU Leuven’s Campus De Nayer.
Research Day
The Research Day took place on 30th of March 2026 on Campus De Nayer in Sint-Katelijne-Waver. This event was held jointly with KU Leuven’s Campus Group T in Leuven allowing students to choose campus they want to visit.
The main objective of this event was to bring science closer to students enrolled in the programmes in chemistry, biochemistry and biosciences with a wish to foster their interest in pursuing a Master’s thesis or PhD in future. To achieve this, the programme featured a variety of lectures and guided laboratory tours on both campuses.
As part of the event, I had an honour to present my research to the students. I started ny presentation with introduction to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), as one of the EU’s most prestigious funding programs for researchers. Furthermore, I introduced NANAQUA and my research on nanophotocatalysis in combination with machine learning. We discussed research gaps, goals, hypotheses and current progress. I was particularly pleased by their enthusiasm and engagement, reflected in the many insightful and thoughtful questions they asked during the session.
The students demonstrated a strong interest in the evolving field of discovery and development of novel materials, especially in the application of machine learning as a tool for accelerating this field. Their curiosity and engagement made the experience particularly rewarding and further emphasized the importance of outreach activities in bridging the gap between researchers and future students, allowing visitors to engage directly with ongoing research topics.
Image 1 – Research Day
Image 2 – Research Day
Info Day
Info Day is an activity aimed at prospective Bachelor and Master’s students interested in pursuing a degree at KU Leuven and learning more about the research and educational programmes available at KU Leuven’s Campus De Nayer.
This year, focus was on creating tactile and visually engaging installations that showcased research conducted within our laboratory. My objective was to spark curiosity about environmental pollutants, as a major focus of our group is currently chemical and biological degradation of various pollutants in wastewater.
For this purpose, we exhibited 3D-printed molecular models of selected pollutants, allowing students to explore these structures. By interacting with the models, visitors could gain a better understanding of the topic while experiencing science in a more tangible and engaging way, potentially inspiring the next generation of scientists.
Image 2 – Info Day
Conclusion
I wholeheartedly believe that such activities are crucial for bringing science to the general public and sparking the interest in research. It is always a pleasure to support creative initiatives that make science more accessible and engaging for a wider audience. I am looking forward to share the progress of my research, and have truly enjoyed these experiences.
