Today Friday 27 September, European Researchers’ Night – an event coordinated by the European Commission – will bring together over 500 researchers from diverse disciplines to celebrate popular science in Granada. Activities will also be held on Saturday 28 September, including science talks and guided tours of historical sites, exhibitions and museums.
European Researchers’ Night, which will take place in 371 cities in 30 countries, is a European scientific dissemination initiative coordinated by the European Commission within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Horizon 2020 programme. It is dedicated to celebrating popular science, fun learning, and to bringing researchers and society closer together. The event provides a great opportunity to meet scientists in a friendly environment, interact with them and discover the ways in which they contribute to society.
Along the "Paseo del Salón" promenade in Granada, over 500 researchers (400 of whom are from the UGR) at 25 different stands will undertake more than 100 activities. Over 100 workshops will cover topics such as phytoplankton samples, a civil engineering gymkhana, philosophy sessions for children, and a workshop on how your fingerprints can give you away. These activities are billed as family-friendly and interactive, open to everyone, and are aimed at those of all ages. This year, to mark the European Week of Sport 2019, over 50 activities will be held to promote the value of sports from a scientific perspective, including CuboFit (a multifunctional outdoor gym) and inclusive physical activities (SLOC and KINBALL).
Moreover, a series of short talks will give society the chance to engage with scientists and find out about their discoveries. Meanwhile, the Kids’ Corner will show children how to become the researchers of tomorrow.
The programme for Saturday 28 encompasses guided tours of the UGR’s School of Architecture, "Espacio V Centenario" building, the "Hospital Real" building (the seat of the Rectorate), the 16th century "Casa del Chapiz" building, and the "Centro José Guerrero" art gallery. Science walks will explore the huge amount of fossils built into the city’s streets and squares, while most of the “Cafés con Ciencia” science talks will take place at the UGR’s Carmen de la Victoria Visitors Residence. This Visitors Residence will also hold a flamenco concert in the afternoon (Flamenco en el Carmen, at 1 p.m.) and a folk music concert in the evening (Fandila: músicas de tradición oral del sureste español, at 8.30 p.m.).
Under the coordination of the "Fundación Descubre" Andalusian Foundation for the Dissemination of Knowledge and Innovation, researchers from 14 institutions will turn 8 Andalusian cities into a global hub of science. The participating bodies include the Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Enterprise and Universities; nine Andalusian universities (Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, Pablo de Olavide and Sevilla); Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) centres, including La Casa de la Ciencia de Sevilla, Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), Zaidín Experimental Station (EEZ), Institute for Advanced Social Studies, School of Arabic Studies (EEA), ”López-Neyra” Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine, “Progreso y Salud” Public Foundation and the IMGEMA-Royal Botanical Gardens of Córdoba. This project has been consolidated thanks to the collaboration of all of these organisations, as well as the “Obra Social La Caixa” Foundation and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
