On Friday 5 July, between 9am and 4pm, HUN-REN's Balaton Biology Research Institute (BLKI) in Tihany can be visited free of charge at the institute's open day. The aim of this event is for interested parties to obtain reliable information about the wildlife of Lake Balaton, the processes affecting Lake Balaton and the research conducted at the Institute.
Under the shady trees in the park of the country's oldest biological research institute, visitors are greeted by wildlife displays and a children's corner. Fish species living in the coastal area of Lake Balaton can be seen in aquariums, as well as invertebrates, crabs, insects, snails, shells, reptiles and aquatic plants.
Samples of algae and zooplankton can be examined under a microscope in the exhibition hall of the Klebelsberg building, and you can also visit the Balaton Science Fair, which opened last year.
In addition to ongoing presentations, there will also be programs: Researchers are also preparing cultural, historical and scientific guided tours, exciting lectures and instrument demonstrations.
On this day, you can see the unique mesocosm system in Central Europe, which researchers use to model processes occurring in shallow lakes as well as search for answers to global questions such as climate change. If you wish, you can test your knowledge in a quiz game, and prizes will also be awarded for the most creative drawings made on the open day.
It will be possible to enter the complex of monumental buildings on the guided cultural-historical tour, on the guided tour of Building “C” you can learn about methods of detecting human-caused (micro)pollution (pharmaceutical waste, microplastics, ultraviolet radiation). Filtration compounds) present in Lake Balaton, as well as possible sources of pollution, its types and quantities. The emergence of human impacts in model invertebrate organisms will also be discussed.
Those interested are waiting for many offers. You will be able to hear more about the state of the algae in Balaton, the environmental DNA, the effects of habitat fragmentation and the wild cats and otters around Lake Balaton.
Detailed program:
Shows from 9 am onwards:
- These are native and invasive species in aquariums in the coastal area of Lake Balaton
- View Balaton's macroinvertebrate and reptile species;
- This is the mesocosmic system: climate change scenario studies
- Phytoplankton and zooplankton under the microscope (Klebelsberg Building exhibition space)
- Macroplants in Lake Balaton
- Balaton molluscs – shells and snails under a magnifying glass
- Children's corner
Programs:
10.00: Guided tour of Building “C” (meeting in front of Building “C”) – Methods of detection of human-caused (micro)pollution (pharmaceutical waste, microplastics, UV filtering compounds) present in Balaton. Possible sources, types and quantities of pollution. Emergence of human impacts in invertebrate model organisms.
10.15: Institute – History – Guided tour about the cultural history of the Institute (led by senior scientific researcher Peter Takács, meeting in the aquariums)
10:30 AM: Summer, Mosses, Balaton – Presentation by Chief Scientist Boglarka Somogyi in the hall of the Klebelsberg Building
10.45: Display of instruments on the beach (possibility of satellite remote sensing and water sampling methods)
11.00: Guided tour of Building “C” (meeting in front of Building “C”) – Detection methods of human-caused (micro)pollution (pharmaceutical waste, microplastics, UV filtering compounds) present in Balaton. Possible sources, types and quantities of pollution. Emergence of human impacts in invertebrate model organisms.
11:30 a.m.: Environmental DNA – the invisible fingerprint of nature – presentation by Scientific Fellow Kalman Tabolzai in the Klebelsberg building hall
13.00: Ecology of habitat transformations and harbors in Lake Balaton – presentation by scientific fellow Balint Preszner in the hall of the Klebelsberg building
13.15: Beach presentation (satellite remote sensing and water sampling methods)
13.30: Guided tour of Building “C” (meeting in front of Building “C”) – Detection methods of human-caused (micro)pollution (pharmaceutical waste, microplastics, UV filtering compounds) present in Balaton. Possible sources, types and quantities of pollution. Emergence of human impacts in invertebrate model organisms.
14.00: Institute – History – Guided tour on the cultural history of the Institute (led by Peter Takács, Chief Scientific Researcher, meeting in the aquariums)
2:30 pm: Wild cats and otters in the vicinity of Lake Balaton – presentation by scientific advisor Josef Lanzke in the hall of the Klebelsberg building
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(Opening image: BLKI-Youtube screen recording)
