Mineral waters, peat and virtual reality at the Maker Faire Karlovy Vary 2025 festival

We once again took part in the Maker Faire festival in Karlovy Vary with our interactive stand. As part of the project Spa Research Centre, this time we presented the research activities of the environmental section and prepared a programme aimed at children, parents and the curious public alike.

Visitors had the opportunity to learn about two natural healing resources – mineral waters and peloids, specifically peat. For our demonstrations we used peat from the Krsná locality, which a member of our team had collected just a few days before the event. Participants could examine peat from various depths, touch both peat moss and a disintegrated sample, observe its heat-retention capacity using a thermal camera, or compare its absorption properties with an ordinary sponge.

At the mineral water station, visitors tested pH using a natural indicator made from red cabbage, and the popular "peat imprint" activity was also on offer – a handprint in peat that participants could take home as an unusual souvenir.

Our presentation also included a demonstration of virtual reality glasses from the company VR Medical, which are used in rehabilitation therapy. This element attracted the interest of visitors of all ages and nicely illustrated the connection between traditional healing methods and modern technologies.

The festival was attended by approximately 1500 people, and we are delighted that there was such interest in our research activities in the field of spa medicine and balneology. This festival was a great opportunity to show that science can be fun – and definitely for everyone!

Link to the organiser: HERE