In Georgia, Science Picnic was first held in September 2012, with its main organizer and initiator being Ilia State University. Tbilisi City Hall, the Embassy of Poland in Georgia and The German Society for International Cooperation in Georgia significantly contributed to the event’s success. Iliauni Science Picnic is identical to its successful Polish counterpart, which was held in Warsaw for the 20th time that year, with the organizers being Copernicus Science Centre and Polish Radio.
In 43 tents in Vake Park, the groups of scientists presented interesting experiments and shows in biology, physics, astronomy, chemistry, archaeology, architecture, etc. Fascinating experiments were performed on stage, with the visitors being allowed to take part in the experiments and familiarize themselves with scientific achievements. Raffles were also held at the picnic for children, with the winners being granted different presents. Along with the professors and students at Iliauni, representatives of various local and international organizations, including those of different public and private schools, young inventors of the Leonardo Da Vinci project, EcoClub, Ecovision, Tbilisi Zoo, Embassies of other countries, etc. were also involved in the project. At the event, the representatives of Copernicus Science Center and Tartu Science Center enjoyed particularly great interest from the visitors. The first Science Picnic counted 7,000 visitors.
In 2013, 50 science groups, which presented the society with exciting experiments and exhibitions, were chosen based on a preliminary contest. In 2013, the event became part of the European Science Events Association (Eusea). The Association comprises around 90 members and aims to form a creative platform to promote science and technology. In 2013, the president of Eusea and visitors from the European Science Museum and Festival, including the Copernicus Science Centre, the Polish Institute of Organic Chemistry, The Serbian Science Festival and The Yerevan Science Festival, visited the event. In 2013, the significant achievement of the Second Science Picnic was the Automaton Game, which Ilia State University annually organized.
More than 60 Georgian and foreign scientific groups were present at the event, with an increased number of participants having resulted in an increased number of visitors (around 15 000 visitors. A special invitation was extended to the world-renown animator, who moderated each activity and ensured the active involvement of the visitors in the scientific events was explicitly invited for this event.
In 2015, the trend of the growing number of participants and visitors attending the event was also maintained, with the number of visitors exceeding 20 000. This year, an innovative inventors’ exhibition was held in Georgia for the first time. The event draws the interest of visitors as well as potential business partners.
In 2016, with its renewed programme, the Science Picnic was conducted within the Science and Innovation Festival on 24 September in Vake Park. Science groups from Israel, Lithuania and Poland were involved in the event. This year was marked by an exceptionally increasing number of event visitors.
Within Tbilisi Science and Innovations Festival, Iliauni Science Picnic 2017 was held on 30 September in Vake Park. Especially for the event on stage was performed by the Alchemists of Flowers”. Also on stage, you could see the Science Show from the science museum, Experimentorium”. Specifically attractive was the area of Tbilisi Zoo. You could hear interesting seminars about notable scientific achievements in the Science Cafe area. Startup Market also was an innovation in the Science Picnic program.
Since 2018, the theme of the science picnic has been the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Exciting experiments were conducted in about 40 tents in the open air, and science popularization groups offered interactive exhibitions and cognitive-entertainment programs from Georgia and Europe; Public and private educational institutions; and non-governmental, state and private organizations.
Iliauni Science Picnic 2023, the tenth ISU picnic will take place on 30 September 2023 at Ilia State University, 3/5, Kakutsa Cholokashvili Avenue, Tbilisi, Georgia. All the activities, performances and scientific experiments showcased during the event will focus on the 17 goals of the agenda since we believe that the involvement of the academic and educational sector in building capacity for achieving specific targets over the next ten years is of crucial importance.
We will be waiting for you On 30 September at Ilia State University!!!