Lucid Dreaming
Transform the imagination into a testing ground.
To dive into a lucid dream is to cross the fragile boundary between night and consciousness. In this mysterious space, the mind becomes an explorer of its own inner landscapes. This project invites you to discover how science studies those suspended moments when we become aware that we are dreaming, and when the imagination becomes a testing ground.
Between neuroscience and dreamlike poetry, we will explore the cerebral mechanisms of lucid dreaming, its applications for learning, creativity and even trauma healing. You will also hear how these inner journeys can become tools for understanding the brain and pushing the limits of perception.
A scientific and poetic journey through the nocturnal universe, where dreams cease to be illusions and become a personal tool.
Urban Gardens
Come garden with us in the city: grow peas with rhizobium bacteria!
Many research groups around the world are working to increase vegetable productivity using sustainable farming methods, i.e., without chemical fertilizers. One of the most promising research projects is being conducted at the University of Queensland, Australia, where scientists are studying the influence of bacteria on the growth of a large number of vegetables.
With this in mind, the Hackuarium laboratory team set out to study the effect of rhizobial bacteria on the growth and, above all, the yield of peas. Based on our previous work, we have only obtained statistically significant results for a single season, but in 2026, we have already started again, and we have high hopes for this year, especially if many people join us in this participatory research project.
AGiR! for genomic integrity
Genomic integrity is a concept related to public health that encompasses all molecular and genetic aspects of cells. Many lifestyle habits can influence this integrity and, as a result, have an impact on health and future generations.
Within Hackuarium, the AGiR! project aims to promote participatory research by developing DIT (Do It Together) methods that make it easy to analyze your own cells for DNA damage using classic techniques dating back to the 1970s.
The principle is based on the use of cells from the oral mucosa to perform micronucleus and comet assays to measure DNA breaks. These analyses provide a better understanding of how our lifestyle choices can help preserve genomic integrity.
Mudtronics
MudTronics is a collaborative competition that brings together bio, tech, and art/design to explore what we can do with microbial fuel cells. Participants experiment with turning mud, wastewater and microbes into power, creating prototypes that are playful, critical, and ecologically grounded.
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Workshops ‘à la carte’
Workshop ‘à la carte’ brings together Hackuarium’s various workshop offerings. These fun and customizable workshops are designed for both curious individuals and teams looking for an original group activity.
Offered over a few hours or several days, they cover a variety of topics such as microbiology, bioart, and microbiome exploration. Their goal is to combine fun, learning, and sustainability to support Hackuarium’s activities. The terms are flexible and can be discussed.
Bacté-Rivières
Hackuarium, La Maison de la Rivière, and the general public have launched a participatory initiative to conduct in-depth sampling on several local rivers in order to understand why river water is so often contaminated with bacteria that serve as bioindicators of untreated wastewater and to raise public awareness of this water quality issue.
The quality of Lake Geneva’s recreational waters is monitored at beaches where swimming is permitted. However, this monitoring is generally not conducted on rivers and their mouths, as they are not specifically intended for swimming. We have previously conducted participatory research on the lake’s water quality in Montreux Bay and even published an open access article about it all…
Now we hope to learn much more, thanks also to the support of the Reseau Romande Science et Cité that awarded their ‘prix d’encouragement’ for the project!
Codind4All
The Coding4All project aims to break down the digital divide for everyone.
Starting with a small robot on a cord, we have progressed and helped members of the local senior citizens’ group (55+) to build robotic cars.
Next, master your phone!
More information can be found on this page.
Fun with Fungi
This project aims to explore fungi—mycelia, yeasts, and various fungal organisms—from several angles: mycelial growth on different substrates, DNA sequencing to identify them, and potential applications related to biodiversity or bee support. (#mycelia4bees)
A key component of this project is its participatory approach: researchers are collaborating with the community to study the biodiversity of mycelia and test how they might contribute to bee health. The project was supported by a crowdfunding campaign, which made it possible to purchase equipment and cultivate mycelia on substrates to be placed near beehives.
Other areas of experimentation include the production of mycelium-based biomaterials, bioart projects, and studies on bioremediation—for example, testing the ability of fungi to grow on cigarette butts to break them down and remove contaminants.