As part of the 30th Science Week, organised by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI) with the support of the Government of Catalonia, institutions across the region offered a wide range of free activities from 7 to 16 November. The initiative aims to bring science and technology closer to society and to inspire scientific vocations among young people.
First Apulia TDR Competition
One of the most significant events of the week was the first edition of the Apulia TDR Competition, which showcased high-school research projects in the field of chemistry.
Eight finalists presented their TDRs (for their name in catalan of the high-school research projects, Treball de Recerca) at ICIQ in front of science education specialists, accompanied by their families and tutors. The projects included original and diverse approaches, and the students briefly introduced their work and answered questions about their results and motivation.
Five finalist mentions were awarded, along with three main prizes: first place went to Daniela Calderón, second to Silvia Bravo, and third to Erola Abellà.
Science outreach through play: SUPERVAL lands in La Canonja
On Tuesday 11, as part of its ongoing collaboration with La Canonja City Council, ICIQ brought the card game SUPERVAL to the public library — an educational activity designed by Marta Llorens and Arnau Jordà as an outreach initiative in the context of the european project with the same name. The idea is simple: to learn chemistry through play and strategy. SUPERVAL introduces players to the carbon and nitrogen cycles, helping them understand the processes involved, how industrial activity can alter them, and what measures can help restore environmental balance and protect ecosystems.
That same morning, the outreach team was recorded by InfoK (3CAT) visiting Escola de la Canonja. InfoK is the first and only news program designed for children, developed by the Television of Catalonia. The game and its objectives were showcased through a playful session with students, helping to spread chemistry concepts through audiovisual storytelling.
Chemistry for everyone: Family experiment day
ICIQ also hosted ‘Química en família’ on Friday 14, a hands-on evening where families could explore chemistry through curiosity and play. Ten ICIQ researchers (Anna Arnanz, Angelo Scopano, Xavier Abel-Snape, Miguel Sellés, Ruggero Bonetto, Marta Romero, Angie Johana Bolaños, Luis Merchante, Antonio Paparesta and Anil Kumar) volunteered as science facilitators, guiding experiments, demonstrations, and answering questions from both children and adults.
Reaching schools and hosting international visitors
Beyond the events held on site, ICIQ researchers travelled to several schools across Catalonia, including Barcelona, Creixell, and La Bisbal de Falset. Sergi Grau, Gemma Aragay, Eugenia Martínez, Santi Gené, Juan Felipe Tirado, Eva Prat, and Marta Grados shared their experience as scientists, running workshops and activities that introduced real research to the classroom — awakening scientific curiosity and inspiring future vocations among 350 students.
The Science Week also welcomed 18 students aged between 13 and 18 from a Montessori school in Westfalia, Germany. During their time in Tarragona the group showed a particular interest in sustainability and catalysis-related research. They toured the ICIQ facilities guided by Joan Mayans, interacting with researchers, and learning first-hand how chemistry is contributing to a more sustainable future.
All these activities were promoted within the framework of the European project ERN-ApuliaMED, HORIZON-MSCA-2023-CITIZENS-01 – GA 101162513.
SUPERVAL projcet is funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101115456.
La entrada ICIQ celebrates the 30th Science Week in Catalonia se publicó primero en ICIQ.