For the twelfth consecutive year, the Isla de la Cartuja Scientific Research Centre (cicCartuja) will participate in the Science Fair, whose purpose is to promote social communication of science and contribute to the development of scientific vocations through an active and practical approach to its teaching.

Under the motto “More science, more education, more future”, the three institutes of cicCartuja will present a series of experiments and activities aimed at the general public. To commemorate that this year marks the International Year of Crystallography, the Institute of Chemical Research will carry out different actions that illustrate the structure of matter and in which visitors to its stand will be able to experiment with crystalline materials, three-dimensional structures generated by colloids and polymer materials. In addition, experiments will be carried out that give rise to spectacular chemical changes that produce colours or light, as well as experiences that illustrate the human impact on the environment to explain climate change. For its part, the Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis aims to bring their day-to-day work as scientists closer to the public, and to this end they will be exhibiting at their stand scale models of reactors for the cultivation of microalgae, methods for the cultivation of photosynthetic organisms and simple extractions of pigments from leaves using filter paper chromatography. In turn, the Institute of Materials Science of Seville will offer visitors to its stand a trip to the nanoworld through optical and electron microscopy, where they will be able to try out various types of microscopes used in research into the “nanoworld”: optical, portable with fibre optics, and real scanning electron microscopes with microanalysis.

Finally, from its information stand, cicCartuja will coordinate the awarding of the Future Scientists Prize, worth 500 euros. A jury made up of four renowned scientists will be in charge of designating the best outreach project presented by the Secondary and High School centres.