Information about the brain is still shared primarily through research articles and textbooks. What if we could bring neuroanatomy closer to curious young minds?

Become a virus adviser and help the government! A new, unknown virus is spreading and the government has to make difficult choices to protect people. You’ll receive the latest information and get to give your advice: are face masks necessary, is it still OK to play together outdoors, or should schools close for a long time? Which measures do you think are sensible?

For people with severe heart failure, a donor heart is not always available in time. That is why researchers are working on an artificial heart that mimics the real heart as closely as possible. Find out how they are trying to create a heart for the future using soft robotics and living tissue.

Gloves, packaging and instruments: a lot of materials are used during a hospital treatment. Take a look at what is used during a bowel examination in hospital and what is thrown away afterwards. Can you sort the waste correctly? And what would you reuse, redesign or do away with altogether?

How does your body stop you from falling over? Step into a special swivel chair and discover how your sense of balance works. Then use a balance board to test how still you can stand. What happens when you close your eyes or stand on an unstable surface?

Heat does not affect everyone in the same way. Pregnant women and young children, in particular, can be especially vulnerable. Join our researchers in imagining a climate-just city for today and the future, where everyone receives appropriate protection.

Discover Bloom: a playful design that connects children and people in the neighbourhood. Colourful flowers in a window form a code: each colour represents a movement, such as jumping or clapping. This lets people join in from home while children play outside. How will you get the neighbourhood moving?

A heart, kidney or liver cannot simply be left lying around for hours after donation. Discover how researchers use special machines to pump fluid through a donor organ, so that it continues to function outside the body and doctors can assess whether it is healthy enough for a transplant. You’ll also learn about other technologies for the future, from small models of organs to the development of an artificial heart.

Can you tell from your skin or sweat what your environment is doing to your body? Find out how researchers are using tiny sensors and new measurement methods to investigate this. See, for example, how they can measure substances on the skin and how they use tiny models to investigate the effects of heat and air pollution on our cells.

Adults make plans for the city’s future. But what do children think about that? And what would it be like if children were allowed to have a say themselves? During this workshop, we’ll explore different futures in a creative way and discover what it means, as a child, to have a say and be involved in deciding what happens in your city. Because your voice counts too when it comes to the future!

Take Benthemplein in Rotterdam as an example to discover how a public space can also collect rainwater. Then design your own square featuring trees, rain gardens, permeable paving, water storage, shade and play areas. Can you create a ‘Sponge City’ that works well for both water and people?

The government is looking for virus advisers this afternoon too! A new, unknown virus is spreading and the government has to make difficult choices to protect people. You’ll be given the latest information and can offer your advice: are face masks necessary, is it still allowed to play together outdoors, or should schools close for a long time? Which measures do you think are sensible?

Find out about PROTECt ME’s research into young people’s mental health. See how researchers map feelings and experiences, and discover how prevention and eHealth can help prevent emotional problems. You’ll also be introduced to Grow It!: a fun smartphone app that helps young people better understand their emotions and cope more effectively with challenges.