The advancement of scientific knowledge cannot be understood anymore without involving citizens in its progress. From the scientific community, we must find solutions to what society demands.
This is the aim of the “Festa de la Ciència” (Science Fair). This annual scientific event is taking place for the 13th year next weekend, October 26 and 27, at El Moll de la Fusta, in Barcelona.
The Barcelona Science Programme, an initiative of the Barcelona City Council which organizes the “Festa de la Ciència”, has scheduled about 200 activities aimed at people of all ages. For the first time, the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) takes part in this scientific event.
PRBB debates
On Saturday, October 26, the PRBB and its centres organize two debates:
1- New tools against cancer
The probability of overcoming cancer has increased 20% in the last 20 years, thanks to the development of new tools (organoids, computational science) and more targeted treatments (immunotherapy). Only by continuing advancing in research will we hopefully make it against cancer.
The PRBB scientists taking part in this debate are:
- Edurne Arriola, principal investigator at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM).
- Maria Bernabeu, group leader at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory – Barcelona (EMBL Barcelona).
- Catia Moutinho, postdoctoral researcher at the CNAG-CRG.
Luisa Barbosa, research support technician at the Center on Science, Communication and Society (SCS-UPF) will be the debate moderator.
This activity will take place next Saturday, October 26, at 4 pm.
2- Planetary Health
We cannot understand human, animal and planetary wellbeing separately. One depends on the other and, if we neglect one, we will be neglecting the rest. That is why we must face the current threats and challenges from a collective point of view, embracing the different scientific disciplines.
The PRBB scientists taking part in this debate are:
- Liudmila Liutsko, postdoctoral researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).
- Raúl Montañez, postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Evolutionary Biology (IBE: CSIC-UPF) and the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (DCEXS-UPF)
- Gabriel Rech, postdoctoral researcher also at IBE.
Raül Toran, science communicator at the ISGlobal, will be the debate moderator.
This activity will take place next Saturday, October 26, at 5 pm.
Other activities from IBE, IMIM, DCEXS-UPF and ISGlobal
Some PRBB centers will also carry out other independent activities.
On the one hand, ISGlobal is organizing 3 different activities on Saturday, October 26, during the afternoon:
- “CitieS-Health citizen science workshop” (3.45 pm)
- “Can the urban environment influence childhood growth and obesity?” talk (5.15 pm)
- “Design your own bacteria” workshop (5.30 pm)
IBE is also coordinating some activities on the same day:
- “Saving the planet with terraforming?” talk (12.40 pm)
- “Exploring the complexity: from the cities structure to terraforming” workshop (1.30 pm)
On Sunday, October 27, this PRBB center also organizes the “Discover the secrets of the tree of life” game (11 am, 11.35 am and 12.10 pm).
The DCEXS-UPF, for its part, organizes the activity “Doctors for one day” (Saturday, October 26, 11.15 am and 12.00 pm), which will consist of a role play where participants will have to diagnose a patient. To do this, they will have to work in groups and use the scientific method.
Finally, the IMIM is organizing the “Active aging for a young brain” talk on Saturday, October 26, at 5.40 pm. On Sunday, October 27, they coordinate two microtalks (2.15 and 3.45 pm) and the Leonardo Stage (4.30 pm).
If you want to get involved in the scientific progress, don’t hesitate to come and attend the activities that will be held in “El Moll de la Fusta” next weekend!
