Spain's science week opens more than 300 free activities across the country

A wooden carriage on Mallorca’s Sóller train turned into a classroom, a lab in Tenerife opened to students, a geology walk through the granite of La Pedriza. Spain’s National Research Council (CSIC) is holding its 26th Science and Technology Week this November, with more than 300 free activities across the country, according to its Madrid delegation.

There are workshops, talks, science walks, fairs, treasure hunts and shows, for the general public and for students of all ages. Many activities require advance booking on the Week’s website, which has the full programme, and places are limited.

From 3 November in most regions to 29 November in Madrid

The Week began on Tuesday 3 November in many regions, and on 6 November in Catalonia and Aragon. In the Madrid region and Andalusia it runs from 16 to 29 November. In Murcia it was held at the end of October, according to the CSIC.

Madrid has more than 180 activities. The Centre for Human and Social Sciences offers walks tracing the legacy of African slavery, remnants of the Civil War and Muslim embassies in Habsburg Madrid. The Spanish Geological Survey (IGME-CSIC) leads a walk through La Pedriza and explains Homo antecessor with a Playmobil workshop. The Institute of Physical Chemistry hosts a talk on 100 years of quantum physics, and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography shows “Oceánicas”, an exhibition on women pioneers of oceanography.

Students in a lab at the Experimental Station of Arid Zones (EEZA-CSIC) in Almería during a previous edition of the Week. Photo: CSIC.

Chocolate in Tenerife, robots in Barcelona

Outside Madrid, the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC) in Tenerife holds a chocolate and pastry tasting linked to its exhibition on smell, “Oler para creer”. Aragon has more than 20 workshops for secondary students; Salamanca, a “forensic scientist for a day” treasure hunt; Barcelona, robot and drone demonstrations; and San Sebastián, science stand-up at Tabakalera, according to Europa Press.

Students visiting the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC) in Tenerife during a previous edition. Photo: CSIC.

In Mallorca, “Ciència a tot tren” brings science back on board the Sóller train. The CSIC kindly shared the photos from previous editions used in this story. Each region’s programme, with dates and places, is at semanadelaciencia.csic.es.