The University of Valencia will carry out the “Virus hunters” workshop at the Igualment Fest, which will be held on Sunday 28. The activity consists of searching for phages, the viruses that infect bacteria, in the Town Hall Square. Through this activity, girls and boys will learn the danger of the misuse of antibiotics and the need to investigate alternative therapeutic approaches that allow treating bacterial infections specifically and effectively, something for which phages show promise. You can participate from 11:00 to 14:00 on Sunday.

“Virus hunters” is a workshop created and coordinated by UV scientist Pilar Domingo-Calap. It is the result of her work as principal investigator of the Environmental and Biomedical Virology group of the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), a joint center of the CSIC and the University of Valencia, which she leads in the Valencian Community “SUPERFAGO”. This pioneering project seeks to explain phage therapy to ESO and Baccalaureate students as a therapeutic tool against infections caused by superbugs, those resistant to antibiotics.

Igualment Fest will be held in the Town Hall Square of Valencia, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Gender Violence, celebrated on the 25^th. The festival aims to “celebrate gender equality from a positive, artistic, social, culture and gender, aimed at all citizens”, explained Lucia Beamud, Councillor for Gender Equality and Policies and LGTBI, in the presentation of the municipal campaign against sexist violence. The event brings together 23 entities related to the protection and support of women and the fight against gender violence.

“Virus hunters” workshop is an action of the Plan of Activities of the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit that has obtained a grant of €22.000 in the announcement of grants for the promotion of the scientific, technological and innovation culture of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Science and Innovation. This Plan of scientific dissemination activities will be deployed throughout the academic year until June 2022. In addition to the mathematics routes there are also actions such as conferences, science workshops, courses, guided tours, science bars or mornings.

More information about the Igualment Fest here.