European Researcher’s Night is the biggest science festival in Slovakia, and it brings news from the world of research and innovation in an inspiring and unique way.

The festival is traditionally held on the last Friday of September in Bratislava, Košice, Banská Bystrica, Žilina, Poprad, and other accompanying locations. The day-long program (9 am to 11 pm) offers a series of scientific presentations, discussions, experiments, workshops, technological attractions and so much more!

What 2025 holds

The scientific community is increasingly confronting the limitations of traditional predictive models and linear approaches in analyzing complex systems. Chaos, once understood as a synonym for disorder, is now seen as an inherent property of dynamic processes, where sensitivity to initial conditions and nonlinearity determine their evolution. Instead of perceiving uncertainty as an obstacle, we can interpret it as a catalyst for scientific discoveries and technological innovations.

Last year’s theme of complexity highlighted the interdisciplinary connections in research. This year, as part of the Night of Science, we will explore chaos as a fundamental mechanism of adaptation, evolution, and transformation in various systems. The event will open discussions on how scientific disciplines approach uncertainty and nonlinearity and what paradigmatic shifts these phenomena imply.

Quantum Physics and Chaos: Uncertainty as an Epistemological and Technological Imperative

At the quantum level, uncertainty is a fundamental property of systems. Quantum fluctuations, state superposition, and wave function collapse challenge classical notions of predictability and deterministic understanding of reality. Quantum physics thus provides a natural link between chaotic phenomena and the emergence of new orders, where uncertainty becomes a source of technological innovations.

The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025 offers a unique opportunity to explore the relationship between chaotic processes and quantum mechanics. Quantum algorithms utilize chaotic behavior to solve nonlinear problems, while quantum communication protocols introduce new standards of security and efficiency in information transmission.

Chaos in Nature and Society: Mechanisms of Stability and Transformation

In natural systems, chaos does not merely represent entropy but also stabilization and emergent organization. From climate processes and ecosystem interactions to neural networks and evolutionary mechanisms – nonlinear dynamics lead to the formation of self-organizing structures and adaptive strategies.

Similar principles apply to social and technological systems. Financial markets, digital networks, and information ecosystems exhibit chaotic behavioral patterns, where even minimal perturbations significantly influence global outcomes. This presents challenges for modeling, regulating, and managing complex systems.

Night of Science 2025 will offer an interdisciplinary perspective on the connection between chaos, quantum technologies, natural phenomena, and social dynamics. We will explore how uncertainty shapes innovation processes and what epistemological and technological implications we can extrapolate for a better future. Chaos is not just a challenge – it represents a potential key to new scientific paradigm shifts.