Almost 900 activities fill the streets and squares of Andalusia with science today on the European Night of Researchers

The activity brings the work of more than 3,000 researchers closer to the public with workshops, experiments, routes, talks, escape rooms, etc.

Thirteen Andalusian scientific institutions, coordinated by the Discover Foundation promoted by the Department of University, Research and Innovation, are celebrating the event for the thirteenth time and are joining the initiative promoted by the European Commission, which promotes simultaneous activities in almost 400 cities on the continent.

Learning how artificial intelligence can change our lives, tackling the challenges arising from climate change or approaching medicine from an engineering perspective are just some of the nearly 900 activities that this year brings together the European Researchers' Night in Andalusia promoted by more than 3,000 researchers.

Today, science and those who do science are once again the protagonists of the activity, with more than 800 activities in the streets and squares of the eight Andalusian capitals, which are added to around fifty previous actions carried out throughout the month of September.

The project, which brings together the participation of thirteen Andalusian scientific institutions from the eight provinces, is part of the initiative of the European Commission, with funding from the Ministry of University, Research and Innovation itself, as well as the own resources of the organizing institutions.

In total, the activity brings together more than 3,000 researchers on the streets of Andalusia with an expected attendance of more than 80,000 people in what is once again the largest outreach event held in Spain. The European Researchers' Night The program has started in the morning with activities aimed at educational centers, while this afternoon the bulk of the programming is concentrated with practical workshops, interactive experiences and recreational events with researchers as protagonists, placing special emphasis on activities for the entire population. family. Micro-meetings and talks, for their part, allow for more relaxed contact. In them, participants can discover the more human side of research through direct contact and conversation with the experts themselves.

Thus, the Paseo del Parque in Malaga, the House of Science Museum in Seville, the Rectorate Gardens of the University of Cordoba, the Paseo del Salón in Granada, the Alameda Vieja in Jerez (Cadiz), the Boulevard of Avenida de Andalucía in Huelva, the Plaza de El Corte Inglés in Jaén and the Rambla Federico García Lorca in Almería, among other locations, offer recreational and educational activities related to research. Linares is once again joining the eight cities with programming from the University of Jaén. , and Ceuta and Melilla with parallel activities promoted by the University of Granada.

The research community, protagonist

The project has Andalusian researchers as protagonists to show their daily work up close and bring to the public, in an entertaining way, the benefits that the advancement of science brings, as well as its impact on daily life. In this way, it is presented as a fundamental tool to awaken scientific vocations in young people and promote a research career as a professional outlet.

In this edition, a large part of the activities will focus on the five Horizon Europe Missions set by the European Commission: cancer, adaptation to climate change including social transformation, water and oceans, smart and climate-neutral cities, as well as soil health. and food.

In parallel, the Andalusian project has also developed specific actions in collaboration with other European Nights in Sweden, Malta, the United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland and Croatia, including Meet the Researcher, aimed at bringing together the work of the seven participating countries. journal of the research community.

Promoters of the activity

The European Researchers' Night is a scientific dissemination project promoted by the European Commission within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions of the Horizon Europe programme. The Andalusian project is coordinated by the Descubre Foundation, promoted by the Ministry of University, Research and Innovation. , and is jointly organised by a team of more than 300 people who join more than 2,700 researchers from 21 centres grouped into 13 Andalusian institutions in the eight provinces.

Specifically, the European Researchers' Night in Andalusia is organized by the Universities of Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, Seville and Pablo de Olavide; eight CSIC centres (the Casa de la Ciencia, the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia, the Zaidín Experimental Station, the Institute of Advanced Social Studies, the School of Arab Studies, the Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine 'López-Neyra', the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture and the Experimental Station of Arid Zones); two centers of the Andalusian Foundation for Progress and Health (Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia) and the Genyo Center), and the Royal Botanical Garden of Córdoba.

At the same time, Andalusian Radio Television, the Andalusian Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Organic Production (IFAPA), the Business Agency for Economic Transformation and Development (TRADE), Andalusian Tourism and Loyola University are partners. strategic partners of the project and collaborate closely in its development. The event also has the support of the city councils and more than 50 collaborating entities.

Source: Discover Foundation