FECYT will fund four projects of the University of Barcelona this year
The Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) published the final resolution of the last aid call for the promotion of scientific and technologic culture and innovation, which gives 3,850,000 euros to 210 actions on dissemination and communication of science and innovation of several institutions, public and private ones. The University of Barcelona received funding for four projects: La UB Divulga 2018, NeuroArt project, “Science acquired in the kitchen”, and “Strategy, cooperation and justice: mathematics for society”.
The second edition of the NeuroArt project will also receive funding in this call. The contest, organized by the UB through the Institute of Neurosciences and the support of the UCC+I, aims for high school students to show their knowledge on the structure, functions and plasticity of the nervous system with artistic representations. The jury evaluates the artistic part of the project as well as its scientific content and its rigour.
La UB Divulga 2018 is a project by the Scientific Culture and Innovation (UCC+i) of the University of Barcelona which is divided into two lines: communication for research results and organization of dissemination activities to improve the scientific culture of citizens and promote scientific vocations. La UB Divulga promotes, for instance, yearly activities such as the Science Festival. Also, it is in charge of Camins Infinits, a project to bring together students and young researchers of the University aiming to promote social interest in science and knowledge as well as to improve communication skills of new researchers, and Toc-toc, an initiative to ease communication between the UB and stakeholders (apart from educational centers) interested in the research carried out at the University. The participating researchers offer dissemination lectures telling students -in a clear way- about their research.
A project from the Faculty of Economics and Business presented by Professor Javier Martínez de Albéniz was selected by FECYT as well. This is “Strategy, cooperation and justice: mathematics for society” (ECOJUST), an initiative aiming to show the public, in a clear and simple way but rigorous as well, some applications of mathematics. To do so, it provides an exhibition and some related activities. The exhibition is carried out in an innovative format and will be located at the Historical Building of the University of Barcelona. ECOJUST tries to establish a dialogue with the public through a series of lectures and conferences. There will also be guided tours to boost participation in science-related activities.
The last funded project is titled “Science acquired in the kitchen”, an approach to bring science closer to the daily life of youngsters and promote scientific thinking. The aim is to design, implement, assess and share the scientific method applying experimental sciences through face-to-face cooking workshops and using the online educational model. Mobile laboratories and a learning online center will be developed to allow youngsters experiment physical and chemical transformations that take place in food. The research team of this project is formed by members of the Research Group of History, Geography and Social Science Dicactics (DHiGeCs), CETT-UB and lecturers of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and the Department of Physical Education Didactics.
More information on all funded projects.