What challenges does science have to face in short and middle terms? And what about the technical, social or even ethical terms? What will we do about a system that’s inexorably moving forward to an energy crisis of dimensions still unknown? Will we be able, not only to end up world hunger, but to feed the growing world population healthily and sustainably? Will we get the genetic tools to manage the evolution of our species? Will we overcome the environmental and ecological crisis derived from climate change? Will we be capable of synthesising living cells in a laboratory?

These questions with complex answers are the focus of the monograph ‘Los retos de la ciencia’, the main piece of the nº 100 issue of the science journal Mètode. The coordinator of this issue is Pere Puigdomènech, research professor of the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB) of Cerdanyola, who opens up the monograph with an article focused precisely on the challenges of our time and the role scientific research will play. Then, Carlos Hidalgo, researcher at the Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology, continues with an article about the challenges the energy transition presents. On his behalf, the researcher of The Institute for Research and Technology in Food and Agriculture, Pere Arús, talks about the future of agriculture, while Genetics professor of the Universitat de Barcelona Gemma Marfany tackles the technical and ethical keys of genetic editing in humans. Ecologist and researcher Jaume Terradas addresses the planetary crisis of the so called anthropocene and, lastly, the researchers of the Universitat de València Manuel Porcar and Juli Peretó will focus on the scientific and social challenges of the emerging field of synthetic biology.

The #Mètode100 is illustrated with the series En busca del tiempo perdido, by artist Manuel Sáez (Castellón, 1961), who captures the typical laboratory tools from different perspectives and striking combinations of colours and textures. The double cover of this issue has been elaborated based on the work of Sáez and serves as a celebration of the importance of this milestone for the research dissemination journal of the Universitat de València.

Mètode interviews Mavi Mestre, Principal of the Universitat de València

As always, the monograph Mètode comes with interviews and dissemination articles. On this occasion, the editor-in-chief of Mètode, Anna Mateu, and the director of the journal, Martí Domínguez, have had the chance to speak with M. Vicenta Mestre, Principal of the Universitat de València, about her first year in charge of the university. Furthermore, researchers Pau Carazo and Eduardo García-Roger, from the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, interview University of Zurich’s professor Hanna Kokko, who’s in charge of the inaugural speech of the Jornada Científica celebrated last October to commemorate the 20 years anniversary of the Cavanilles Institute.

This issue also pays homage to Jorge Wagensberg, with a profile elaborated by the journalist Lluís Reales of the ‘intruder thinker and tireless conversationalist’ who was a beloved collaborator of Mètode. Jorunalist and CSIC communication director Ainhoa Goñi brings us an interesting feature about how science and technology unite in order to investigate past crimes. Lastly, Antonio Ariño, vice-principal for Culture and Sports of the Universitat de València, reflects on science communication in the century of the fake news and growing cynicism.

The session  «The big challenges of science» begins this Thursday 28 in la Nau

The challenges of science will continue to be the main focus of the series of conferences organised by the Mètode journal, in collaboration with the Escuela del Pensamiento Lluís Vives as a way to celebrate 100 issues.

The series, which will take place at La Nau of the Universitat de València, begins today, the 28th of February at 19:00 with a conference on how to communicate climate change creatively and effectively, given by the lecturer of the University of Colorado Boulder Maxwell Boykoff. Climate change, artificial intelligence, diets, genetics and the secrets of our brain are the topics this series of conferences is about. You can find the complete programme clicking here.

In the celebration of the 100 issues, Mètode is also preparing an exhibition that will open on the 16^th of March at the Sala Oberta of La Nau until the 15^th of September. The exhibition sets out a tour around the main challenges of science through the contents and topics of the journal, where the covers of   Mètode serve as a common thread. The celebration activities of the 100 issues of Mètode are included in the programme of the Cultural Centre La Nau of the Universitat de València, which has been created because of its 20^th anniversary, which also coincides with the 520^th anniversary of the Universitat de València.