“Experimenta” 2018 aims to turn middle and secondary school students and Vocational Education and Training students in active and creative protagonists of Science. Participants must prepare a project with the help of a tutor from the study centre. After the registration period, students will show and explain the works admitted in a fair open to the public, emphasizing the relationships between natural phenomena and technological applications, that is, between physics and technology.

Five prizes will be awarded among the projects presented at the fair. Four of them valued at € 300 and the most voted by the visiting public with € 200. Different honourable mentions will be also awarded. Furthermore, it will be presented awards for the departments of the professors with winning projects: materials for the setting up of experiences of physics or technology.

From the organising commission of the event emphasise that the good functioning, the right comprehension of the work and the clarity of their explications will be the aspects more valued. The awards ceremony will be held at the end of the fair.

The future’s innovation and technological development depend mostly on the curiosity and enthusiasm of students to know and understand the daily phenomena. Therefore, it is important that students are involved in science. Specially from an experimental point of view since this is a scope that allows to become familiar to reality, to bring into play the discussion capacity and to relate what has been observed to the physics principles and the technological applications.

This initiative count on a competitive project of Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT-MINECO), and also, with the cooperation of other organisations such as Science Museum Príncipe Felipe, Valencia City Council, IFIC-Excellence S. Ochoa, the Spanish Royal Physics Society, the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit Chair for Scientific Dissemination, the Delegation for University Integration, the Center for Education and Quality and the Equality Unit (UV), the Specialized Group of Physics Teaching (RSEF), APTCV and other external entities.

“Experimenta” was born in 2005 with the purpose of involving students in the World Year of Physics in a creative and active way. The enthusiasm of the contestants and visitors was outstanding and it contributed to turn the event into an annual event.

More information: https://www.uv.es/experimenta