Observing the sun with a telescope and learning the celestial bodies of the Universe, looking through a microscope to palaeontological elements and then appreciating them in the Geology Museum, identifying minerals from their properties (colour, magnetism, brilliance or hardness). These are some of the activities included in the science workshops. They work on demand and allow secondary school students to carry out different activities (experiments, presentations, examinations, using scientific tools) in the facilities of the Universitat de València. 

You will be able to learn the main rare diseases, the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, food parasites, the Iberians, the neuroscientific basis of love and current research in Antarctica, among other themes.  This programme is entitled Estimulant les vocacions científiques. It is organised in collaboration with the Spanish National Research Council. Researchers bring science closer to Valencian secondary school students, parents’ associations, city councils and other entities.

This way, on Monday 7 of March, the first mathematical workshop will take place at the state secondary school Sanchis Guarner de Castelló de Rugat. The conference Darwin i l’arbre de la vida presented by Biochemistry professor Juli Peretó already took place there last week. The different sections and planes of geometrical bodies will be explained. Then, students will build real surface models. Astronomical and Geology workshops bring these disciplines closer to students. They will start over the next few days. 30 conferences and 30 workshops are expected to take place during 2018. 

Science bars are another activity for bringing science closer to the general public. On Wednesday 28 of February, the second event of the year took place, entitled Neurones naturals i neurones artificials. Sciences bars are a dialogue between citizens and specialists in a relaxed atmosphere such as in cafe. This activity is carried out at the Octubre Centre de Cultura Contemporània de València in six different sessions throughout the year. 

In addition, the mathematical routes started in mid-February. They are educational and dissemination activities for secondary school students. They consist in scientific itineraries where the city environment is used as a resource for education and learning mathematics. The first phase of this activity will last until June. 3000 students coming from 50 different institutes will participate.  The Serrano Towers, the Botanical Garden, the Oceanographic, the City of Arts and Sciences, La Nau of the University or the Columbus Market are some of the spaces used for these routes. 

The University also cooperates with the programme A Ciencia Cierta of CV Radio. It will carry out during 2018 activities such as matinales (updating sessions for secondary school teachers) and Talks between Scientifics and interested people. A dissemination activity is being organised to showcase the biodiversity and the cultural value of the Mediterranean. This activity will be the first offered by the UCC+i of the Universitat de València for primary school students. These activities count with the support of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECyT) and the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. It is expected that 5,000 will be participating in the activity.

Conference on critical thinking and scientific dissemination

On Wednesday, the 3rd Conference of Critical Thinking and Scientific Dissemination Ciencia e Ideología ended. It addressed the relation between violence and the ideological context. This scientific event focused on Philosophy, Psychology, Neuroscience or Journalism.

Links:

Estimulant les vocacions científiques: http://ir.uv.es/X7DFfuw

Workshops: http://ir.uv.es/L7u221e

Mathematical routes:http://ir.uv.es/4U0lFcE