The European Researchers Night arrives with 300 activities in Granada to make science more accessible and social

The Vice-Rector for University Extension, Heritage and Institutional Relations of the UGR, Marga Sánchez Romero, participated in the presentation of this European event; the Provincial Delegate for Educational Development and Vocational Training and for University, Research and Innovation of the Andalusian Government, María José Martín Gómez; the director of the Zaidín Experimental Station School of the CSIC, Alfonso Clemente Gimeno; the scientific director of the Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia, José Manuel Puerta Puerta; and the director of the Discover Foundation, Teresa Cruz, among other authorities.

Marga Sánchez Romero, Vice-Rector for University Extension, Heritage and Institutional Relations at the UGR, has highlighted the "effort made by the 16 institutions participating in La Noche so that, for the 12th year, a day is organized in which all scientific disciplines They meet to communicate and disseminate research.” The vice-chancellor has underlined the importance that the UGR Campuses in Ceuta and Melilla have in the celebration of this event, with 150 and 175 activities respectively.

The territorial delegate for Educational Development and Vocational Training and for University, Research and Innovation, María José Martín, has expressed her gratitude to “all the students and researchers who are going to participate in these more than 300 activities and in the 60 previous ones like those that are carried out at the IES Sagrado Corazón”. For the delegate, “bringing young people closer to science and generating vocations is a challenge that we have as a society to have more researchers in the future” and has highlighted that “one in three activities that take place in Andalusia are held in Granada.” In this sense, he thanked all the institutions such as the Science Park, PTS and all the research centres for “joining forces and ensuring that year after year we can put value on scientific research and bringing science closer to young people.”

The director of the Discover Foundation, Teresa Cruz, has claimed the European Researchers' Night as a "reference space in the promotion and reinforcement of social communication of science." "Among the values of this initiative “The European initiative that the Discover Foundation leads in Andalusia is that it has become the best possible science school for the youngest people,” said Teresa Cruz.

For his part, the deputy for European Funds, Development, Industry and Employment, Antonio Díaz, said that "we are very pleased to once again participate in this event. We collaborate with the University and seek funding so that researchers can carry out their projects." It is very important to understand that these days bring science and research closer to people on the street and make them see that it can be applied in everyday life. There are 400 cities that organize this event in more than 30 countries. Provincial Council will continue to collaborate and be with the University. In fact, on this day we will have a joint stand where information will be given to explain to the youngest the subject of sustainability, care for the environment and also raise awareness about depopulation.

Alfonso Clemente, director of the Zaidín Experimental Station, has expressed the involvement of all the centres belonging to the CSIC in the European Night of Researchers. “Workshops on exoplanets, lunar dust, the Sun, DNA and biomedicine will be held only some of which will be taught by researchers belonging to our institution," Clemente explained.

The scientific director of the Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia, José Manuel Puerta, has also highlighted the activities that go beyond the location of Paseo del Salón, where the bulk of the day will be in Granada, "such as the case of the open days organized by the SSPA Biobank Coordinating Node located at the UGR Biomedical Research Center.”

Of the 945 researchers participating in the activities that will be organized by the UGR, 625 will be in Granada, 197 in Ceuta and 123 in Melilla. Different UGR centers such as DaSCI are participating in the coordination and implementation of this event. , the Information and Communications Technology Research Center, the Faculty of Education Sciences, the Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center and IFMIF-DONES, among others.

During the presentation, activities were held for schoolchildren related to recycling, crafts and learning about nature and birds through an educational walk.

Source: Discover Foundation