The cold and flu season has begun. Instead of waiting in line at the doctor’s, we invite you to find out what actually happens to our immune system when we get sick — and how we can support it.

This is a 50-minute popular science lecture with interactive elements by Anastasia Ermolaeva, an immunologist and graduate of the N. I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, whose research focuses on immunometabolism.

First, we’ll look at how the immune system recognises viruses and why we feel unwell when we have a cold.

Then we’ll have an immunological tasting of three different types of beer. We’ll look at what they contain and what science says about how their components interact with inflammation, the microbiota and the immune system.

Finally, we’ll make our own “cold-fighting beer” together — creating a recipe from an immunological perspective.

We’ll finish with an immunology quiz.
The winner will be able to choose one of three unopened cans of beer and take it home.