Science Fika

What are the ultimate elements that constitute the matter in our universe? What gives origin to shining stars and black holes? How many worlds are there? What are the mechanisms that can deteriorate our health and eventually lead to disease? What are the secret forces that drove simple chemical compounds to form more complex molecules that ultimately created life on Earth? The universe uses humanity to answer these questions. Science is one of the ways the universe uses to interrogate itself. And to pose the final question: why there is something rather than nothing?

A different kind of fika

Come and enjoy some coffee and science!
The Science Fika is a recurring event where we share our passion for science and talk about different topics in easy-to-understand language. At each event a speaker will have a 20 minutes presentation about a scientific concept, to stimulate your curiosity and to show you the beauty of science. We will provide free fika after the presentation, giving you the opportunity to mingle and discuss in a more informal way. So welcome, sit back and enjoy some exciting science!

Lectures will take place in collaboration with Folkuniversitetet and Proteintech in spring 2025

Upcoming Fikas

No events are found.



Past Fikas

Dec 14, 2025
Time: 16:00
Location: Folkuniversitetet - Bergsbrunnagatan 1
Speaker: Donglei Chen
Language: English
Donglei Chen

To be tough: how the 360-million-year-old fossil skin tells us about the lives of the earliest land vertebrates

400 million years ago, our ancestors were fish. To step onto land, they needed not only legs, but also a new skin that could prevent the body from drying out. Recently, the skin of those first land dwellers was discovered, surprisingly distinct from amphibian skin. It suggests a lifestyle that has no equivalent in living animals.

Dec 2, 2025
Time: 18:00
Location: Folkuniversitetet - Bergsbrunnagatan 1
Speaker: Jane Malcolm Davies
Language: English
Jane01_small

Scarlatto, carmine and rossi: Investigating red dyes in early modern
knitted caps

A multi-analytical approach to the identification of red dyes in six archaeological and historical knitted caps revealed three different dyestuffs and four recipes were used to achieve the colors. A follow-up experimental reconstruction project explored how these reds may have been produced using 16th century recipes.

Nov 16, 2025
Time: 16:00
Location: Folkuniversitetet - Bergsbrunnagatan 1
Speaker: Sigrid Berglund
Language: Swedish
Sigrid Berglund

Taking inspiration from nature to make the fuels of the future

In the search for sustainable fuels, hydrogen, which only produces water as a byproduct, could be a solution, and Sigrid is developing bioinspired molecules for green production.

Nov 4, 2025
Time: 18:00
Location: Folkuniversitetet - Bergsbrunnagatan 1
Speaker: Staffan Yngve
Language: Swedish
Staffan

Soap bubbles: no child’s play for science

Newton is said to have been inspired by soap bubbles, and Staffan demonstrates surface tension with fun experiments such as double bubbles and “piercing” bubbles without them bursting.

Oct 19, 2025
Time: 16:00
Location: Folkuniversitetet - Bergsbrunnagatan 1
Speaker: Iana Strigunova
Language: English
Iana Strigunova

The Rossby Wave Challenge: Understanding Future Weather Extremes

Gigantic Rossby waves in the atmosphere drive our weather, from cold snaps to heatwaves, and climate change could make their impacts even stronger.

Oct 11, 2025
Time: Whole day
Location: Fyrishov Uppsala
Speaker: Science Fika
Language: English | Language: Swedish
IMG_4023

Experiment with us at SciFest!

This year Science Fika will have a stand at SciFest. Here you can try scientific experiments that you can even redo in your own kitchen!
Join us at booth 37!

Oct 7, 2025
Time: 18:00
Location: Folkuniversitetet - Bergsbrunnagatan 1
Speaker: Joachim Wiegert
Language: Swedish
Joachim Wiegert

Red giant stars: pulsating and dusty ancients

Discover how old stars swell, pulsate, and disperse gas and dust – and why red giants are important for life in the universe.

Sep 28, 2025
Time: 16:00
Location: Folkuniversitetet - Bergsbrunnagatan 1
Speaker: Jordi Boldu
Language: English
JordiBoldu

The Solar Wind : What lies between us and the Sun

See how the Sun’s solar wind paints our skies with auroras and shakes up satellites as it races across the solar system.

May 18, 2025
Time: 16:00
Location: Folkuniversitetet - Bergsbrunnagatan 1
Speaker: Luigi Prada
Language: English
Egypt

Not Only Pyramids and Mummies: Researching Dreams and Psychology in Ancient Egypt

When we think of ancient Egypt, we imagine pyramids, treasures, and mummies—but Egyptologists at Uppsala University are uncovering something different: the dreams of ancient Egyptians, recorded by scribes on papyrus bookrolls. This talk explores the psychology of ancient Egypt, revealing surprising aspects of this fascinating civilization.

May 4, 2025
Time: 16:00
Location: Folkuniversitetet - Bergsbrunnagatan 1
Talare: Ana Maria Villamil Giraldo
Language: English
membrane

Membranes Fusing: A Short Story of How a Virus Infects a Cell

Membranes are essential for life, creating compartments with unique conditions while allowing controlled interactions. One striking example is how influenza viruses enter cells. This talk explores the fascinating ways membranes function in biological systems and the process behind viral infections.