Presentation of the Ecological Laboratory with a Mobile Unit to High School Students from Trbovlje

On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, students from the Secondary Technical School of Trbovlje visited the Jožef Stefan Institute, where they toured several laboratories. Among others, they also visited the Ecological Laboratory with a Mobile Unit - ELME. The presentation took place outdoors near the vehicle of the radiological section of ELME. In a pleasant atmosphere, several groups of students were introduced to ELME’s mission, their knowledge of radioactive radiation was refreshed, and the equipment used by intervention teams during field operations was presented to them. Safety measures in case of exposure to radioactive hazards were also explained, and information was provided about natural radiation as well as radiation encountered during medical examinations. The general presentation was listened to attentively by the students, and the demonstration of measuring instruments was observed with great interest. Additionally, they were encouraged to call 112 and request ELME’s activation if suspicious objects or containers marked with the radioactive symbol (trefoil) were encountered in their environment. We believe that such visits are an excellent opportunity to raise awareness, especially among the younger population, about the existence of ELME and its role in ensuring environmental and public safety. In total, more than one hundred students and several chaperones attended the presentation.