LEADING RESEARCH LABORATORIES HOST INTERNSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC TALENT
Pioneering experience in Spain promoted by the CSIC and AEAC in Madrid to bring science closer to young people: Scientists in practice.
From 20th to 24th June, 38 students from the 3rd year of ESO and 2nd year of PMAR (Programme for the Improvement of Learning and Performance) have spent time with nineteen research groups, participating in their work and in their day-to-day work.
Madrid, 24 June 2022 – The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Spanish Association for the Advancement of Science (AEAC) have launched a pilot project in Madrid to promote scientific talent in the country. A total of 38 students in the 3rd year of ESO and 2nd year of PMAR (Programme for the Improvement of Learning and Performance) have become scientists for a week, living together and collaborating in the daily work of nineteen research groups. The initiative is pioneering in Spain and gives priority to students from the most vulnerable areas or populations in the Community of Madrid.
The project to stimulate scientific talent among adolescents in the Community of Madrid has involved the collaboration of thirteen CSIC institutes, as well as the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), the Hospital 12 de Octubre, the Complutense University of Madrid and other private entities. The students have completed their training programme and activities in close interaction with the researchers. Twenty-seven girls and eleven boys have had this experience, who have been in charge of 19 research groups, 13 of them led by a female scientist and six groups led by a male scientist.
The closing ceremony of the week of internships was held on 24th June at the CSIC central campus. The promoters presented the main conclusions and handed out diplomas in the presence of teachers and researchers, and the CSIC Delegation in Madrid. Jesús Rey, CSIC researcher and promoter of this initiative, emphasised that: “We have managed to bring together numerous institutions and responsible and socially committed people in a selfless way, to help these young people develop their scientific vocations and learn first-hand about the world of scientific research, develop the attitudes and behaviours necessary to carry out a job, improve their knowledge of possible options in their choice of further studies, improve their communication skills and establish contact with a different and enriching social environment”.
In addition to the laboratory visits, the project includes visits to research centres for all students, as well as presentations by the researchers at the HEIs. The students will make informative video capsules about their experience in each laboratory, also acquiring skills in scientific audiovisual communication.
In addition, students of two innovation projects of the Complutense University have made institutional videos for some laboratories, as practices in audiovisual dissemination in the framework of this programme.
The ‘Científic@s en prácticas’ programme foresees the progressive extension to the whole national territory, and also aims to develop scientific vocations by providing aid to carry out scientific studies. Científic@s en prácticas’ began in 2019 and could not be carried out until the 2021-22 academic year due to the pandemic. More than one hundred people have been involved in its development, making up the organisation team, informative visits, teaching team, scientific team and communication team.
| Contact at CSIC, promoter: Jesús Rey Rocha jesus.rey@csic.es 629 92 27 50 | Information and interviews/ collaborating press agency Mercedes Pescador/ Natalia González 657 89 96 66/ 697 83 66 12 Medialuna comunicación mpescador@medialunacom.es / natalia@medialunacom.es |
Appendix: COLLABORATING ENTITIES OF THE CIENTÍFIC@S EN PRÁCTICAS PROJECT
Behind Científic@s en prácticas there is a great team.
Collaboration and teamwork. Diversity of professional and personal profiles.
Variety of institutions and disciplines. Social commitment. Enthusiasm and enthusiasm.
This is how we move forward.
*An initiative of:
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).
Spanish Association for the Advancement of Science (AEAC)
*Secondary Schools that have taken part in 2021-22
IES Alto Jarama Secondary School (Torrelaguna)
IES Mariano José de Larra Secondary School (Aluche)
Miguel Delibes Secondary School (Ciudad Lineal)
IES Tirso de Molina Secondary School (Vallecas)
*Research centres, laboratories and units participating in ‘Científic@s en prácticas’ 2021-22
Centre for Human and Social Sciences (CCHS, CSIC)
Scientific Dissemination and Culture Unit
National Metallurgical Research Centre (CENIM, CSIC)
Group of metallic materials processed by non-equilibrium techniques (MANOEQ). Electron microscopy laboratory
Group of eco-innovative technologies applied to environmental processes, recycling of materials and energy use (TECNOECO).
Cajal Institute (IC, CSIC)
Molecular control of neurogenesis group.
Institute of Food Science and Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN, CSIC)
Non-extractable polyphenols, antioxidants and dietary fibre in health group (POLIFIBAN)
Post-harvest biotechnology and quality group (POSTBIOTEC)
Madrid Institute of Materials Science (ICMM, CSIC)
Nanostructured Hybrid, Biohybrid and Porous Nanostructured Materials Group (NHBPM)
Institute of Polymer Science and Technology (ICTP, CSIC)
Physical Chemistry of Heterogeneous Polymeric Materials Group (HEMPOL)
Elastomers Group
Eduardo Torroja Institute of Construction Sciences (IETcc, CSIC)
Materials and energy for sustainable development group (MEDES)
Eco-efficient materials for construction group (MECONS)
Institute of Philosophy (IFS, CSIC)
Institute of Geosciences (IGEO, CSIC-UCM)
Petrology applied to heritage conservation group. Petrophysics Laboratory
Institute of History (IH, CSIC)
Paleoeconomics and subsistence of pre-industrial societies group. Laboratory of Archaeobiology
Biomedical Research Institute (IIB, CSIC-UAM)
Redox bioenergetics, mechanisms and physiology group.
Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano (IQFR, CSIC)
Crystallography and structural biology group
Leonardo Torres Quevedo” Institute of Physical and Information Technologies (ITEFI, CSIC)
Ultrasonic Resonators for Manipulation Group (RESULT)
Ultrasound in liquids and Bioengineering Group (ULAB)
National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCM, CSIC)
Microbial Ecology and Geomicrobiology Group (Grupo de Ecología microbiana y Geomicrobiología)
Royal Botanical Garden (RJB, CSIC)
Biodiversity, Biogeography and Molecular Systematics of Fungi Group
National Centre for Oncological Research (CNIO)
*Private entities that have provided school material and financial support
Talgo Foundation (laboratory material and grants for school material)
Pelayo Foundation (insurer of the students’ stays)
*Teaching innovation projects with the Faculty of Information Sciences of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) in collaboration.
University and society: communication, integration and collaboration with companies and public institutions and non-profit organisations.
Design and implementation of support and planning for 360º recording. Recording techniques (video and audio) and problem solving: application to the recording of institutional and scientific dissemination videos.
*With the collaboration of:
Hospital 12 de Octubre.
Corporate Social Responsibility Service
Príncipe de Asturias Hospital
Communication Unit.
Communication agency Medialunacom.