Peatland LIFEline, together with the Natural Science Institute of Iceland and the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI), hosted a stand at Researchers' Night (Vísindavaka), which was held last weekend. The event was well attended; it is a kind of harvest festival for science in Iceland, where visitors can learn about science in a lively way and engage in direct conversation with researchers and scientists from universities, institutions, and companies in the Icelandic scientific community.

At Researchers' Night, you can try out various tools and equipment that scientists use in their daily work, and there are also numerous opportunities to test for yourself how science and innovation work.

Last year, around 6,500 people attended, and it can be assumed that a similar number turned up this time, as there was a constant stream of people from 12:00 to 17:00 on the Saturday when the festival was held.

Diverse Life in Wetlands

The Peatland LIFEline preparatory committee, which consisted of staff from the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, the Agricultural University of Iceland, and BirdLife Iceland, had plenty to do in the days leading up to the big day. At the Peatland LIFEline stand, visitors could see stuffed birds that the project places special emphasis on: the black-tailed godwit, the common redshank, and the dunlin. Tattoos featuring the same birds were on offer, and many people, especially the younger generation, took advantage of this.

Various types of moss were also on display. The sphagnum moss was a big hit; it was used as nappy material here in the old days due to its exceptional absorbency. Visitors could examine dried peat, which was used for heating in centuries past, and sedges that grow in wetlands. The three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from the Vatnsmýri wetland were popular, as we all take special pleasure in observing living things.

Peatland LIFEline received many good visitors who came to learn about the project. For example, Clara Ganslandt, the Ambassador of the European Union to Iceland, stopped by and chatted with Elisabeth Bernard, the project manager, and Ragnheiður I Þórarinsdóttir, the Rector of AUI.

We thank the organisers of Researchers' Night for an exceptionally successful festival and look forward to attending next year.

More pictures from the event can be viewed below: