On May 16, 2026, the third “Fest Science & Plants” Festival took place at the Botanical Garden in Kyiv, where representatives of the Institute of Hydrobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine introduced visitors to current research on Ukraine’s aquatic ecosystems.

Scientists from the Institute also participated in the festival’s lecture series. Special attention was given to the presentation of the international SWIM project, in which scientists from the Institute of Hydrobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine are participating. The project aims to conserve and restore the habitats and spawning grounds of Danube sturgeon. Visitors learned that sturgeon, which have survived millions of years of evolution, are now among the most vulnerable groups of fish in Europe and require active conservation measures. Such projects are an important step toward preserving the biodiversity of the Danube and restoring the populations of some of the oldest fish on our planet.