ZAVOD ZA KULTURO, UMETNOST IN IZOBRAZEVANJE KERSNIKOVA

Their core work

Kersnikova Institute is a Ljubljana-based cultural and educational organization that operates at the intersection of arts, science, and technology. They run hands-on programs in citizen science, DIY biology, maker education, and socially engaged arts — translating complex scientific topics into accessible, participatory experiences for youth and the public. Their work bridges creative practice with environmental monitoring, biotech experimentation, and social innovation, making them a distinctive partner for projects that need public engagement and informal science learning components.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 projects (2016-2018), Kersnikova focused on grassroots science participation — citizen science, DIY biology, environmental monitoring, and maker-driven youth entrepreneurship. By 2020, their focus shifted decisively toward arts-based and transdisciplinary approaches, with CreaTures centering on creative practice, critical design, and socio-ecological sustainability. The trajectory shows a move from science popularization toward using artistic methods as tools for societal transformation.

Kersnikova is evolving from a science engagement organization into one that uses creative and artistic practice as a method for addressing sustainability and societal challenges — expect future work at the art-science-environment nexus.

How they like to work

Kersnikova has participated exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator, across all four H2020 projects. Despite this, they have built an impressively wide network — 53 unique partners across 23 countries from just 4 projects — indicating they join large, diverse European consortia. This suggests they are a reliable delivery partner valued for their niche expertise in public engagement and arts-science crossover, rather than an organization that drives project design.

With 53 unique consortium partners across 23 countries from only 4 projects, Kersnikova has an unusually broad European network for its size — averaging over 13 partners per project. Their reach spans most of the EU, with no obvious geographic concentration beyond their Slovenian base.

What sets them apart

Kersnikova occupies a rare niche: a cultural institute that genuinely integrates arts, DIY science, and biotech experimentation under one roof. While many organizations claim to bridge art and science, Kersnikova backs this with concrete citizen science programs (biotech, environmental monitoring) and a proven track record in maker education. For consortium builders, they offer something hard to find elsewhere — an organization that can handle both the creative engagement and the hands-on science components of public-facing work packages.

Highlights from their portfolio

• DITOs
  Their largest project (EUR 253K) and most aligned with their core identity — large-scale citizen science and DIY biology across Europe.
• CreaTures
  Marks a strategic pivot toward arts-based sustainability research, signaling a new direction combining creative practice with socio-ecological transformation.
• SySTEM 2020
  Positioned Kersnikova in the formal-informal science education landscape, connecting their grassroots activities to structured European learning frameworks.