From time to time, ICMAB hosts visits from secondary education students, both high-school and professional training groups. Visiting the centre gives them the opportunity to experience science beyond textbooks and school labs. They can learn about the research being carried out at the centre, as well as gain insights into the personal and organisational support that underpins it. These visits are part of the centre’s outreach programme and aim to make state-of-the-art research and science professional career paths more visible and accessible.
Visits to the centre
On each visit, students are first given a presentation of the centre by the Communications and Outreach Technician, Anna Drou. In these brief talks, they are introduced to the centre’s research lines, the world of nanoscience and the various roles and specialisations of staff at ICMAB, as well as its organisational structure and how science is funded.
Anna Drou giving an introductory talk to the students.
Afterwards, they receive a talk about the work of a research group at ICMAB and one or more projects that the researchers are involved in. In these autumn months, the research talks have been given by Núria Pujol and Guillem Vargas (Nanomol-Bio), Rodrigo Arilla (Surfaces), Lluis Casabona (e-MolMat) and Anna Solé (Nanoparticles & Nanocomposites).
Guillem Vargas presenting his group and research to a group of students
In the second part of the talk, the students visit some of the Scientific and Technical Services. The Electron Microscopy Service, both the TEM and the SEM, always in high demand, operated by Judith Oró and Anna Esther Carrillo.
Judith Oró manipulating the Transmission Electron Microscope
The Scanning Probe Microscopy Service, with its AFM, managed by Markos Paradinas.
Markos Paradinas in the Scanning Probe Microscopy Lab
The Magnetometry Service run by Bernat Bozzo and Ferran Vallès.
Bernat Bozzo in the Low Temperatures and Magnetometry Service
The X-ray Diffraction Laboratory led by Anna Crespi, Joan Esquius and Xavi Campos.
Anna Crespi presenting the equipment in the X-ray Diffraction Laboratory
The Nanoquim Platform tour, guided by Marta Gerbolés, Luigi Morrone and Adrià Pacheco.
Marta Gerbolés presenting the Nanoquim Service
The Thin Films Laboratory, managed by Raul Solanas.
Raul Solanas giving a demonstration in the Thin Films Laboratory
The Thermal Analysis Laboratory and its manager, Roberta Ceravola.
Roberta Ceravola introducing the Thermal Analysis Laboratory to some students
And last but not least, the Preparation and Characterization of Soft Materials Service, which, due to the growing interest in biomaterials and nanomedicine, is also a sought-after service. These months it has been presented by David Piña and Guillem Vargas.
David Piña in the Soft Materials Service
Visits to schools
Some researchers have also visited schools, high-schools or universities to give a talk. This is the case of Sergi Riera (NANOPTO) visiting EINA-Escola de Disseny or Ashley Black and Elzbieta Pach (SSC and SUMAN) doing a workshop in School Font de l'Orpina in Vacarisses.
Ashley Black and Elzbieta Pach during the introduction to the workshop
In these last months, we also celebrated the European Researcher’s Night with José Echegaray school (in the framework of the MAGNET project) and the "Bojos per la Física" 2024 session (Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera).
These visits provide students with a unique opportunity to see the world of research up close, encouraging them to consider future careers in science and technology. By engaging with researchers and exploring cutting-edge facilities, students gain a deeper understanding of the skills and dedication required to pursue a scientific career.
