Two of our BREAKthrough Doctoral Candidates (DCs) brought their research into the public spotlight during the European Researchers’ Night 2025, taking part in events in Brussels, Belgium, and Milan, Italy.
In Brussels, Saloni Sahu joined the “Meet today’s Marie Curie” pitching session at the WiseNight event. She presented her research project and engaged visitors in discussions and a quiz on antibiotic resistance, as well as interactive conversations on how bacteria survive and respond to stress. The activities highlighted both the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance and the importance of fundamental microbiology research in addressing it. The lively exchanges with visitors underlined how direct dialogue between researchers and the public can help demystify science and spark curiosity in younger audiences.
In Milan, Gabriela Golda represented BREAKthrough during La Notte Europea delle Ricercatrici e dei Ricercatori (NER) at Piazza Mercanti. Throughout the evening, she presented her research and led hands-on activities designed for learners of all ages, from kindergarten pupils to university students. Visitors could test their knowledge in the “Antibiotic Hero” quiz and participate in an interactive game that illustrated how antibiotic resistance spreads and how zebrafish models are used to evaluate the safety of new medicines.
Both events provided valuable opportunities to connect with local research communities and members of the public, demonstrating the relevance of BREAKthrough’s work on antibiotic resistance and microbial stress responses to everyday life. The participation of Saloni and Gabriela also showcased the central role of MSCA DCs in science outreach, communicating complex topics in accessible, engaging ways.
The BREAKthrough consortium warmly thanks the organisers of WiseNight in Brussels and the Co.Science project and partners in Milan, as well as all the visitors who took the time to ask questions, take part in activities and explore the world of microbiology together with the project’s young researchers.