BIOTOXDoc is contributing to open science by bringing research directly into classrooms. During 2025 and 2026, the PhD candidates Darina Balková, Klaudia Moskot, Idoia Páramo Castillejo, Filip Petronijevic, Elham Atallah, Alessandro Volkov, Maria Paula Gomez, and Maryam Dehbasteh engaged with students through science communication activities in secondary schools and universities in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, Serbia, Lebanon, Italy, Colombia and Northern Ireland, sharing their passion for food safety research in a changing climate.
During these outreach activities, the students learned about:
– What it means to pursue a PhD and what daily life in the lab looks like
– Why science, and especially food safety research, is crucial in the context of climate change
– Biotoxins and mycotoxins, and how they can threaten food and feed safety
– Analytical and innovative approaches used to detect and prevent contamination
– Opportunities for international research careers within the EU
Through interactive talks, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions, the PhD candidates met with over 550 students, sparking curiosity and encouraging dialogue across different educational and cultural contexts. Outreach activities like these are at the heart of BIOTOXDoc — bringing science to society, inspiring young minds, and empowering the next generation of scientists.
