During the Science and the World competition scientists will show people in a spectacular, active and easy to understand way what they are actually doing in their research.  And it's about time too, according to Ton van Haaften, chairman of the Lustrum Steering Group. According to Van Haaften: 'Science needs to be more visible and if we want people to support it, it's important that the general public knows what's happening in the academic world. For many people, academia is something abstract, whereas you can actually show in real terms that research is an integral part of society.’

The Leiden University Centre for Linguistics is doing something that fits in well with the above topic. The staff of the Klinkermikken & Klankkleuren project have developed software that can make a language easier to learn. 'Research has shown that the pronunciation of vowels is a particular cause of problems in learning a new language,' according to Vincent van Heuven, Professor of Experimental Linguistics. Van Heuven: ‘We have developed speech trainers whereby you can see on the screen particular characteristics of sounds that you produce.' The idea is that the software offers a sound and indicates it on a sound triangle; the user tries to imitate the sound and sees immediately how far he is away from the original sound.  'This allows you to compare how it should be pronounced and how well you have done,' Van Heuven explains, 'and you can improve your pronunciation in just a few steps.' During the demonstration, everyone can try out the software and a competition will be held to see who can imitate the sounds the best. Van Heuven: ‘It's a bit like a game of darts, only with your voice.'

A group of excellent students from the Faculty of Science are taking part with what they have christened 'Solar-powered Futurefish.' The students have introduced parts of plants into fish so that, like plants, the fish can live at least partly on solar energy. David Louwrier, a student of Life Science & Technology, is one of the team members. Louwrier: ‘We wanted to see whether a higher organism can also survive on chloroplasts. In evolutionary terms, this is something that has never occurred. If it works, it can be applied in the food industry, for example, to reduce energy use, which is good for the environment.' In the Lustrum week, the public will have the opportunity to taste green fish. Louwrier: ‘For this occasion we will colour the fish green using everyday foodstuffs, such as pesto, but we want to let the people of  Leiden try something that may well become a reality in the future. We hope people will then start to think about the possibilities offered by science.' There will also be a debate in the Boerhaave Museum, in which advocates and opponents of genetically modified organisms can put their points of view.'

One of the other two research projects has to do with the fight against cancer. By using fluorescent light it should be possible to show up clearly the difference between healthy and unhealthy tissue. This will make it simpler to remove a tumour completely and with the utmost care. During the Lustrum week, researchers from the department of Endocrinology and Surgery at the LUMC will show the public how such research is actually done, and how it can improve the treatment of cancer in the future.
The fifth and final research project is about South Africa, and will be presented by the department of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology. It consists primarily of a website where you can discover what Leiden University has to offer in the way of knowledge about South Africa. As par tof this project, a vuvuzela band will also perform at different locations in the city.