We will demonstrate the process of making tablets by compressing mixtures – powders – with a tablet press and present how the use of advanced computerised approaches can accelerate the making of medicines and make it more environmentally friendly. Visitors will be able to make their own excipient mixtures and compress them into tablets, checking their firmness and disintegration. VR headsets will enable them to get an even better insight into the technological process, allowing them to enter realistic virtual lab environments.

The event is organized by dr. Alenka Zvonar Pobirk, Ana Baumgartner, Blaž Grilc and Anže Zidar (UL FFA).

The workshop is conducted in collaboration with the company Lek, d.d.

More specifically, the project is closely related to research by the Computer Vision Laboratory (UL FRI), which is primarily focused on biometrics in conjunction with deep learning. Visitors (one or more at a time) step in front of a camera and are able to see themselves and others in anonymised form on a screen. The program achieves anonymisation, specifically deidentification, by replacing the facial region with an artificially generated face while keeping facial gestures , facial pose and certain facial attributes (e.g. facial expression) or accessories (e.g. glasses).

The event is organized by dr. Blaž Meden, dr. Žiga Emeršič, dr. Borut Batagelj and dr. Peter Peer (UL FRI).

The use of VR technology in learning lab skills has become a groundbreaking innovative solution for education and training in scientific disciplines. With VR, students and researchers can enter realistic virtual lab environments, which gives them the opportunity to gain practical experience without physically being in a lab.

The event is organized by dr. Nataša Karas Kuželički, dr. Tijana Markovič, dr. Alenka Šmid, dr. Janja Zupan and dr. Nika Lovšin (UL FFA).

In parallel, there was rapid development of artificial intelligence, which was first oriented towards complex language models, but lately there has been advancement in the development of AI-based web tools and chatbots oriented towards the medical treatment of users.

The workshop attendees will discover and test chatbots for medical treatment and use certain rapid self-tests.

The event is organized by dr. Nataša Karas Kuželički, dr. Tijana Markovič, dr. Alenka Šmid, dr. Janja Zupan and dr. Nika Lovšin (UL FFA).

At the same time, there will be a bioinformatics workshop where secondary school students can familiarise themselves with simple bioinformatics tools and databases. We will show them how to find a DNA sequence of a particular gene, how to find parts of the gene that are transcribed to a protein in this sequence and how to use bioinformatics tools to predict the impact of DNA sequence changes (mutations) on the protein product of the gene. 

The event is organized by dr. Nataša Karas Kuželički, dr. Tijana Markovič, dr. Alenka Šmid, dr. Janja Zupan and dr. Nika Lovšin (UL FFA).

The forms will be printed with a 3D printer using advanced automated design. We will emphasise that the human factor is still key in using advanced tools. The purpose of the activity is to encourage discussion on the potential of artificial intelligence in pharmaceutical technology and to raise young people’s awareness of the importance of following new trends and their responsible use.

The event is organized by Blaž Grilc, Ana Baumgartner, dr. Črt Dragar and Nina Katarina Grilc (UL FFA).

We will prove the presence of oxygen in the foam with a smouldering splint. The reaction is exothermic, so the attendees will feel heat. Safety goggles will provide protection. After the experiment, the attendees will explore the reaction mechanism and the role of a catalyst with a chatbot. The activity promotes an understanding of chemical reactions and the critical assessment of information provided by AI. The purpose of the activity is thus to present a chemical experiment to attendees and explain it using a chatbot.

The event is organized by dr. Janez Mravljak in dr. Doroteja Novak (UL FFA).

In a lab, a similar light can be created through chemiluminescence. With our guidance, attendees will perform a chemical reaction in which the fluorophore perylene, a solution of NaOH and, after darkening, 30% H₂O₂ are added to a solution of a double ester of oxalic acid and vanillin in triacetin. This will create intensive blue light. Then, with the assistance of an AI chatbot, the attendees will explore the mechanism of the reaction and the role of perylene, looking for similar reactions in nature. This will promote the understanding of chemiluminescence and bioluminescence and the critical use of AI. The attendees will be provided with safety goggles for their protection. The activity aims to foster interest in nature and science.

The event is organized by dr. Janez Mravljak and dr. Stane Pajk (UL FFA).

AI enables toxicologists to develop advanced models to immediately analyse and predict risks posed by chemicals. Machine learning algorithms detect patterns in data on chemical compounds and their toxicological effects. AI plays a key role in predictive toxicology and the computerised modelling of in vitro tests. In the future, AI will help toxicologists make decisions with explainable results. AI has the potential to become an alternative to animal testing, as reliable AI models can save animal lives. The activity will show the attendees how AI can be used to replace animal tests

The event is organized by dr. Marija Sollner Dolenc (UL FFA).

Through play, they will be able to creatively explore the use of artificial intelligence, learning in the process. Older attendees will learn what advice is given by artificial intelligence compared to a pharmacist, which can help them when they seek advice to enhance their health.

The event is organized by Nuša Japelj, Nina Ravbar, Neža Rogelj Meljo, Dr. Nejc Horvat, Dr. Mitja Kos, and other colleagues from the Department of Social Pharmacy (UL FFA).