The European Researchers’ Night 2026 (NEI Braga 2026) is an initiative promoted by the European Commission since 2005, with the aim of celebrating science and bringing it closer to citizens through a free event open to all, which takes place simultaneously in more than 30 countries and 300 cities across Europe. This initiative allows the general public to discover research, science and innovation through entertainment, and shows its impact on citizens’ daily lives, stimulating interest in scientific careers, especially among young people, breaking down the barriers that separate science from citizens and demystifying the image of the distant and inaccessible scientist.

This year, the European Researchers’ Night will take place on September 25th.

The NEI Braga 2026 has the local partnership of the Municipalities of Braga, Guimarães, Famalicão, Vieira do Minho, Ponte de Lima, Fafe and Viana do Castelo, the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, the National Center for Advanced Computing, the School of Engineering, the School of Economics, Management and Political Science and the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Minho, in a joint commitment to innovation, sustainability and education, bringing science and technology to the center of a young and vibrant region.

Organized by the School of Sciences of UMinho, the European Researchers’ Night 2026 in Braga continues its strategy of consolidating the European Researchers’ Night in Braga as the largest science event in Northern Portugal.

Lab2PT will be present at NEI Braga 2026 through various sessions, demonstrations, games, and permanent exhibitions related to projects, workshops, and other activities developed at the research center, which have the opportunity to be disseminated and explored by the general public through this initiative:

• 🔵 Agrarian Archaeology in the Extreme (Arcos de Valdevez): Materiality and Documentation (17th to 19th centuries): Presentation of the research from Clara Lemos’s Master’s thesis in Archaeology, which is related to the School in the Extreme Territory.
• 🔵 Discovering the textiles of the past: research, color, and materials: In this activity, visitors will be able to discover how historical research allows us to reconstruct the materials, techniques, and colors of textiles from the past. Through the observation and manipulation of historical documents, fibers, yarns, fabrics, and natural dyes, from research projects and experimental archaeology activities, such as the REVIVE project (2022.01243.PTDC), it will be possible to learn about the different stages of textile production and understand how researchers study this heritage. Participants will also be able to try weaving on small looms, reproducing patterns inspired by historical and traditional models.
• 🔵 Fortresses of the Border: a Citizen Science project: Video summary of the international project “Fortresses of the Border”.
• 🔵 ARQUS Living Lab Heritage and Society Microcredential: Presentation of the microcredential through video, posters and student work.
• 🔵 “Land of Fog”: a choreography of tasks: Presentation of the research for Célia Barbosa’s Master’s thesis in Architecture, which is related to the School in the Extreme Territory.
• 🔵 School of the Territory: Citizen Science in Action: Interactive space about community participation in the production of knowledge and appreciation of heritage and territory.
• 🔵 Living Heritage for Children: When Children Interpret Archaeological Heritage: Promoted by the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Minho, this activity presents the results of the Living Heritage for Children project (2026), through the screening of a video documenting an interdisciplinary research experience in archaeology, heritage education, and heritage communication. The project was part of the Luso-Brazilian Summer School “Material Culture and Heritage Education,” developed in partnership between the University of Minho and the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS, Brazil), bringing together professors, researchers, and students from the fields of Archaeology, Communication, Education, and Cultural Heritage. Throughout the project, undergraduate and master’s students in Archaeology, Education, and the doctoral program in Cultural Heritage from the University of Minho participated, accompanying the activities developed at the Roman Baths of Alto da Cividade and in a school context, culminating in the creation of the Children’s Heritage Fable, a narrative constructed by the children themselves based on their experiences and interpretations of archaeological heritage. The video highlights the potential of collaborative research to bring science and society closer together, demonstrating how archaeology, in conjunction with education and communication, can promote children’s participation in valuing cultural heritage and building new forms of knowledge.
• 🔵 Braga at Our Feet: New Discoveries in Urban Archaeology: Promoted by the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Minho, this activity presents five scientific posters that disseminate recent results of research developed within the scope of master’s and doctoral programs in Archaeology. The works present different studies on the urban evolution of Braga, from Roman times to more recent periods, addressing themes such as architecture, material culture, land occupation, and transformations of the city over time. Through this exhibition, visitors will be able to learn how archaeological research contributes to reconstructing the history of Braga, understand the methods used by archaeologists, and discover the role of urban archaeology in the valorization, protection, and dissemination of cultural heritage. The activity aims to bring scientific research closer to society, giving visibility to projects developed by students and researchers at the University of Minho and demonstrating how archaeology produces relevant knowledge for understanding the past and for managing heritage in the present.
• 🔵 Conversations around Living Labs: Conversation session with the public about Living Labs in the Social Sciences.
• 🔵 Do diseases have a history? Presentation and discussion of diseases and epidemics that occurred in Portugal in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• 🔵 Who Can Live Here? Rethinking Housing Today [8:30 PM]. Access to housing has become one of the great challenges of contemporary societies. Rising prices, supply shortages, urban transformations, and inequalities in access to the city raise questions that concern not only public policies but also how we imagine and build the places where we live. This workshop invites the public to reflect on these issues from different perspectives. Bringing together academics from different fields and NGOs with direct involvement in the housing sector, it aims to promote a dialogue between research, professional practice, and field experience. Throughout the session, topics such as the right to housing, the challenges of urban planning, the social dynamics that shape access to housing, and the role of civil society in the search for fairer and more inclusive solutions will be discussed. Aimed at academic and non-academic audiences, this workshop seeks to create a space for conversation, debate, and participation, bridging the gap between scientific research and everyday concerns, and encouraging joint reflection on a central question for the present and future of our cities: ultimately, who can live here? Target audience: general public – Registration open until September 15th.

Organized by: Institute of Social Sciences, UMinho

More information: HERE