City of Velenje was the host of the 5th Days of Civil Protection and Rescue (from 2nd until 5th of October). The event is organized every two years to familiarize the public with organization and preparedness of parties involved in civil protection and rescue services.

As an active participant of the event, National institute of biology (NIB) had a stand where knowhow and technologies for waterborne pathogen detection were presented. At the stand visitors were introduced to the special autonomous vessel for automatic detection of cyanobacteria in surface waters. For onsite concentration and detection of waterborne viruses, CIM chromatography method was presented together with novel method for pathogen detection based on isothermal amplification of nucleic acids – LAMP. In addition to mentioned technologies College for Environmental Protection located in Velenje was also promoted at the stand.

Many questions posed by visitors of the event showed a significant interest for the institute’s activities. Besides common visitors, the stand was visited by Polonca Komar, vice-president of parliament of Slovenia and several different delegations.

NIB’s participation at the Days of Civil Protection and Rescue stressed the importance of knowhow and technologies for pathogen detection and determination. It was an opportunity to promote institute’s knowledge, it’s application in collaborations with companies (vessel for cyanobacteria detection – collaboration with ARHEL d.o.o., CIM chromatography for virus detection – BIA Separations d.o.o.) and transfer of this knowledge to new generations (College for Environmental Protection).