Showcase your research at Science is Wonderful! 2026

What is in it for you

Science is Wonderful! is a unique event that allows you to meet like-minded researchers from all over the world and engage in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure together. This year, the science fair will run for three short days, leaving the afternoons for networking, training or working.

You can expect

• new communication skills through training (communication workshop) and practice
• networking with other MSCA fellows and alumni and other researchers
• an ERC helpdesk to help plan your next career steps
• unexpected insights from a young audience
• that warm, fuzzy feeling when you do something meaningful in life

The European Commission will cover the travel, accommodation and meals of your team (up to 3 people; up to 4 nights). If you need a bigger team, please make sure to request and justify this in your proposal.

The Commission will also help you purchase or ship any material you need to present your work. Although we encourage you to be creative and challenge us, note that we cannot pay for "goodies" or giveaways. That being said, teams are welcome to bring their own materials.

What we expect from you

To guarantee the quality of Science is Wonderful! we would like you to take the following to heart

• You will be asked to attend a communication workshop on 5 November 2025 and a science show workshop (if applicable) on 12 November 2025. It is an important moment for you to get to know the organisers and understand the next steps.
• You will have to attend the entire event (17-20 March 2026). This includes set-up the day before and the three days of the science fair. We want all pupils to have a wonderful experience. For this to happen, booths should always be staffed so that schools who travel from far and arrive late get to see the same experiments as schools who arrive early.
• All applicants and researchers attending the fair should speak English fluently. Since our visitors will speak mostly French and Dutch, language assistants will be there to help deliver your message in these languages when needed. Whenever possible, we encourage you to recruit Dutch or French-speakers in your team, but this is not a prerequisite.
• Try to come up with activities for all age groups. Children are curious by nature, so we invite you to think of interactive experiments and activities involving manual work and the use of all senses. This year, we will allow pupils of all ages to come to your booth so be ready for anything.

Apply by 8 October 2025

If you are ready to join the next edition of Science is Wonderful!, complete the application form by 8 October 2025, 12.00 CEST, where you will also find more details about the fair.

Our evaluation team will check and appraise each application regarding its

• feasibility (can the idea be executed)
• suitability (does the proposal match the audience, is it interactive and does it communicate the research well)
• impact (that the research presented is relevant and interesting for the age group).

Additionally, the jury will carefully check a balanced representation of research fields, nationalities, and genders is reached.

We will inform you on 29 October 2025 via email whether your application was successful or not.

Timeline

Any questions?

For any questions about the application process, please contact [email protected]

More information

Apply and showcase your research at Science is Wonderful! 2026

Read more about Science is Wonderful!

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