Hydrogen-powered robots rolled through the National Palace of Culture in Sofia as families gathered for the first day of the “Found Generation: Return” festival on April 18, 2026.
The event, organized to promote science education and technological literacy, drew children and adults from across Bulgaria to explore exhibits ranging from drone football demonstrations to interactive theater forums. Organizers reported strong attendance in the morning hours, with lines forming at the robotics hub and career counseling center.
Dr. Konstantin Golev connected Mongol imperial history to modern globalization
Dr. Konstantin Golev, a senior research assistant at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences’ Institute for Historical Studies, delivered a lecture titled “A View of Globalization Through the 13th Century,” focusing on the scale, pace, and historical impact of the Mongol Empire founded by Genghis Khan. His talk emphasized how early transcontinental networks under Mongol rule resemble today’s digital globalization, a comparison last highlighted during the 2020 World History Congress when scholars drew parallels between Pax Mongolica and early internet infrastructure.
Theater performers used forum theater to address school violence
Actors from the “Tsvete” Theater led a forum theater session where audience members intervened in scenes depicting bullying and aggression in schools, a format requiring improvisation and direct public participation to resolve narrative conflicts. This approach, rooted in Augusto Boal’s Theater of the Oppressed, has been used in European schools since the early 2000s to foster dialogue around social issues.
Hydrogen-powered robot marks a national technological milestone
A mobile robot powered by hydrogen fuel cells was presented as a technological breakthrough and the first of its kind in Bulgaria, according to festival organizers. The robot, demonstrated alongside drones used in emerging sports like drone football, signaled progress in clean energy applications for robotics, a field still dominated by battery-powered models in most Eastern European research.
What is the “Found Generation: Return” festival?
The “Found Generation: Return” festival is an annual science and technology event held at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, designed to promote STEM education, innovation, and public engagement with emerging technologies through exhibitions, lectures, and interactive demonstrations.
Why was Genghis Khan discussed at a science festival?
Genghis Khan was discussed as part of a lecture on 13th-century globalization, drawing historical parallels between the Mongol Empire’s transcontinental networks and modern digital interconnectedness to facilitate audiences understand long-term patterns of technological and cultural exchange.