Researchers' Night – or Vísindavaka in Icelandic – is an annual event organised by the Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannís) in collaboration with Icelandic universities and a range of research institutions. The event offers the public a true celebration of science, where leading researchers present their work and innovations through engaging, interactive displays and activities.This year's event took place at Laugardalshöll in Reykjavík on 26 September and was open from noon until 5 pm. The theme of the Land and Forest Iceland stand was "Diverse Soils for Healthy Ecosystems".

There was a steady stream of visitors throughout the day, both adults and children, keeping the Land and Forest Iceland representatives busy. Several types of Icelandic soil were on display, and children were asked whether they could identify the differences between them. Before long, the activity developed into some enthusiastic hands-on soil exploration, adding to the lively atmosphere at the stand.

Alongside the soil samples, visitors could also observe live invertebrates, including the brassy leaf beetle (Phratora vitellinae), a pest species that attacks willows and related plants. The beetles' shiny golden appearance earned them the nickname "gold beetles" among younger visitors. Examining these insects and other small creatures under a microscope proved particularly popular, and visitors learned more about their ecology in the process.

There was also considerable interest among adult visitors in the wetland soil samples on display and the role of wetland soils in ecosystem functioning and carbon storage.

Researchers' Night is a pan-European initiative held simultaneously in major cities across Europe on the last weekend of September. Land and Forest Iceland extends its sincere thanks to everyone who visited the organisation's stand and helped make the event such an enjoyable and successful occasion.

The accompanying photographs were taken by Fífa Jónsdóttir.