The European Researchers Night returns to the center of Malaga with almost 300 experts
Science has been the protagonist in the streets for five hours with more than 40 activities, from workshops and scientific experiences to presentations and debate tables. In-person activities have once again gained prominence in the eleventh edition of the European Researchers' Night, which has brought science to the historic center of Malaga with the participation of nearly 300 researchers in a single day. After two years marked by health restrictions that did not prevent its celebration, the event started at 6:00 p.m. with more than 40 proposals for all audiences.
At the official opening ceremony, held in the University Rectorate, José Ángel Narváez Bueno, rector of the University of Málaga, participated; Víctor Solla Bárcena, general director of Urban Innovation and Digitalization of the City Council; and María Lozano Ibero, provincial general secretary of Educational Development and Professional Training.
After the rector's welcome, Víctor Solla Bárcena took the floor, alluding to La Noche's great capacity for attracting people and its consolidated track record, as well as the support that the City Council provides to researchers: “Málaga is a privileged city for research, an ecosystem has been generated where R&D&I plays a very important role, and has the possibility of becoming a research hub, for example.”
In this sense, pointing to the importance of education, María Lozano Ibero has pointed out that “we must awaken in students, from a young age, the enthusiasm to learn; "Let them see how science impacts our daily lives." Lozano has made special mention of “the excited children's faces” in the workshops located along the entire Paseo del Parque.
Finally, the rector of the University of Malaga closed the interventions by applauding the capacity of this event to “value science”. Similarly, Narváez has appealed to the work of the UMA in its 50 years “working for the city, remembering that, without research, there is no hope,” and emphasizing that “science has no age.”
Science has no age
Various formats and three locations: Paseo del Parque, Eduardo Ocón and Rectorado
Showing the most human face of researchers and raising awareness in society about the importance of their work, bringing the results of research to society, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in research or promoting scientific vocations are some of the main objectives of this consolidated annual event. During five hours of uninterrupted programming, it was possible to enjoy a wide variety of formats, among which the return of the workshops to the Paseo del Parque stood out, after which there was great expectation: from the beginning of the activities, families They have enthusiastically hosted 19 workshops and scientific experiences on oceanography and climate, food, history, neuroscience, and have even been able to participate in a gymkhana based on plant research.
Along with the workshops, in two spaces of the UMA Rectorate, 20 micro-presentations on 'Science in small doses' have been offered, where more than 30 experts have participated and have dealt with very varied disciplines in a brief and entertaining way, such as translation, literature, education, law, psychology, biology or medicine. For its part, the exhibition on researchers called 'European Talent', inaugurated in September, will continue to be available in the hall of the university space during the month of October.
Very close to these initiatives, in the Eduardo Ocón Auditorium, the five debate tables 'Speaking is Understanding Science' have been held. The activity, presented and moderated by the disseminator Javier Atencia, has brought together specialists from various fields of study, who have debated the link between science and art, acquired brain damage, advances in biomedical research and cardiovascular research, or the James Webb space telescope, which closed the evening by looking towards the stars.
Organizers and promoters
Under the motto “Women and men who do science for you”, the European Researchers' Night has established itself as one of the most important informative events at an international level, promoted and financed since 2005 by the European Commission within the Marie Skłodowska actions. -Curie from the Horizon Europe program. In Andalusia, the Discover Foundation coordinates this project financed by the Ministry of Economic Transformation, Industry, Knowledge and Universities, which brings together 13 Andalusian scientific institutions from the eight provinces, among which are the nine public universities of Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba , Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Pablo de Olavide, Seville and Málaga.
In Malaga, the meeting is organized by the Publications and Scientific Dissemination Service of the UMA, led by the Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer. In this edition, there has also been the participation of IBIMA (Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga), BIONAND (Andalusian Center for Nanomedicine and Biotechnology), the Science Center-Principia, IHSM La Mayora-CSIC-UMA (Institute of Horticulture Subtropical and Mediterranean), the Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia and the Botanical-Historical Garden 'La Concepción'. Likewise, the event has the collaboration and support of the Malaga City Council, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology and the UMA Image Technology Center.
Horizon Europe Missions
The 2022/23 edition is dedicated to Horizon Europe Missions, which includes among its main innovations the launch of these missions as a new way of implementing R&D&I with a social and economic impact in areas of interest to the Union European and its citizenship. The EU missions will contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal, the European Plan to Fight Cancer and the Sustainable Development Goals, with five main areas: cancer, adaptation to climate change including social transformation, water and oceans, smart and climate-neutral cities, as well as soil and food health.