Researchers Anna Laromaine, Judith Oró, Anna Crespi, Stefania Sandoval and Daniel Martín, have returned to Barcelona after successfully completing a week-long trip across the province of Soria as part of the LAB TOUR 2026 project. During this activity, the initiative brought materials science closer to around 150 preschool and primary school students, as well as about 30 teachers, in three rural schools located across six villages with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants: Tardelcuende, Quintana Redonda, Langa de Duero, Almarza, Fuentelfresno and Almajano.
Anna Crespi, with the LAB TOUR 2026 official sweater walking around Quintana Redonda
Through five workshops, the team introduced participants to concepts such as bioinspiration, the origin and classification of materials, light and its spectrum, electrical and magnetic properties, and optical microscopy. Some workshops were held jointly while others were adapted by age group, each lasting two hours, in an environment marked by active participation and student motivation.
The LAB TOUR 2026 team with the Fuentelfresno school teachers
The experience was complemented by the participation of ICMAB-CSIC staff in two local television channels (La 8 Soria), where researchers highlighted the cultural links between Soria and Catalonia from a scientific perspective, as well as the relevance of materials science and nanotechnology in today’s society. On March 19, a talk titled “Science, Society and Culture. Between Soria and Catalonia, from rural migration to Romanesque pigments” was held with the support of artist Pilar Porras Ramos, attended by around 30 people, combining science outreach and cultural heritage.
A scientific journey with human and cultural impact
Beyond the scientific scope, the trip had an important human dimension. Researchers engaged in close conversations with residents of small municipalities, strengthening the connection between science and territory. The project also included meaningful personal experiences, such as Anna Crespi returning to San Esteban de Gormaz, her grandmother’s hometown, or Anna Laromaine visiting Bocigas de Perales, linked to her partner’s childhood. In the latter, a local resident facilitated access to the parish church—usually closed—which houses valuable Romanesque paintings, enriching the cultural dimension of the trip.
The LAB TOUR 2026 team admiring the Romanesque paintings in Bocigas de Perales' church
Judith Oró, coordinator of the outreach workshops, shared her experience: “The trip has been intense, exciting and very enriching, especially thanks to the design of activities tailored to each educational context. I loved discovering Soria and its natural environment, so accessible and welcoming. Rural education stands out for its calmer and more personalized atmosphere, although it requires greater attention to mixed-age groups. In contrast, urban environments like Barcelona require more complex organization due to the larger number of students.”
A project with sustained impact beyond the classroom
The overall assessment of the project has been very positive, both in terms of reception and impact. Participating teachers specially valued the quality of the activities and expressed interest in future editions.
In April, a talk will be held at ICMAB-CSIC to share the experience, along with the publication of a photo album highlighting key moments of the initiative. With this final action, LAB TOUR 2026 will complete a broader journey that included previous activities such as the European Researchers’ Night held on September 26, 2025, in Soria, and several outreach talks in Barcelona. Overall, the project will have directly reached more than 500 people, in addition to its indirect impact through local media, outreach articles and social media.
According to project coordinator Daniel Martín, success should be measured beyond numbers: “It’s not just about figures—any activity near a large city like Barcelona would naturally reach more people. The real value of this project lies in reaching those who have greater difficulty accessing scientific culture, even if they are fewer.”
The LAB TOUR 2026 team in his last day in Soria
The LAB TOUR 2026 project has been made possible thanks to the participation of organizations such as the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), as well as Ruralia and the Provincial Council of Soria, reinforcing a commitment to open, inclusive science that is engaged with its local communities.
More information:
Press release in CAT, CAST and ENG.
LAB TOUR 2026 website
LAB TOUR 2026 presentation
LAB TOUR 2026: un proyecto que combina ciencia y cultura y que se estrenará en Soria
Bringing science to rural schools: the final stop of LAB TOUR 2026 in Soria
"Unimos ciencia y cultura", investigadores del LAB TOUR 2026 en La 8 Soria
