Next week, the European Researchers’ Night returns, a public science outreach event that aims to bring research closer to people of all ages. The European Researchers’ Night is promoted by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and takes place every year in more than 300 cities across 30 European countries.
As every year, the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) will be part of this very special annual event, where its researchers will share their scientific knowledge with the public through talks, round tables and workshops in an engaging and entertaining way.
Here are the IDAEA’s selected proposals for the 2025 edition:
Menstruation and chemical compounds: what do we know about the menstrual products we use?
Scientific talk by IDAEA researcher Lara Cioni.
Throughout their lifetime, a person who menstruates can use more than 10,000 menstrual products. Given this volume and its environmental impact, many women choose reusable alternatives such as menstrual cups, cloth pads or period underwear. Current products have evolved and are safer than decades ago, when serious problems such as toxic shock syndrome led to major changes in their design. But do we really know what they contain? Perfumes and fragrances —often promoted as added value— or chemical compounds such as plasticisers and other additives, whose presence is not always specified on the label. In addition, current legislation does not require companies to list all ingredients used, which limits our right to make fully informed choices.
This talk, aimed at those interested in menstrual health, proposes a space for collective reflection on the presence of chemical substances in menstrual products. Based on available scientific research, it will open a debate to make menstruation a health priority, both for people and for the environment.
Prevention of natural risks: public or personal responsibility?
Round table with PhD candidate in NRAMS (IDAEA-CSIC), Iris Schneider Pérez, moderated by postdoctoral researcher at the Natural Risk Assessment and Management Service (NRAMS) of IDAEA-CSIC, Marta López Saavedra.
The management of natural risks is a major current challenge in the face of increasing extreme events linked to climate change. In the field of prevention and preparedness, a key question arises: who should ensure that society is educated and informed about the natural hazards that may affect it? This round table will address the debate between institutional and individual responsibility in natural risk awareness and education, a central issue to move towards more resilient communities. It will feature contributions from experts in education, science, media, public policy, risk and emergency management, and civic social organisations.
Sunscreen: an invisible danger for marine ecosystems
Micro-talk by IDAEA researcher Julen Ansede Zuazola.
In this short-format session, the researcher will discuss the increasing presence of UV filters in river and beach waters, with examples and images of their toxic effects on marine life —such as deformed fish larvae and other impacts on aquatic organisms. Natural alternatives to traditional chemical filters will be presented, along with practical tips on how to choose environmentally friendly sunscreen. Participants will also learn how to read labels and identify harmful ingredients, to protect not only our skin but also the sea around us.
Sunscreens: an invisible danger for aquatic ecosystems
Scientific talk by IDAEA researchers Julen Ansede and Paula Beltrán.
The researchers will present the basis of the ECOSUN project, which studies the effects of a UV filter —octocrylene— on fish, humans, plants and bacteria. The talk will provide a clear and accessible explanation of what sunscreens are, the different types, and how this specific molecule works. Results observed in different organisms will be shared, as well as how environmental monitoring is carried out to assess its presence and impact. Safer alternatives currently being explored in the project will also be presented, together with practical advice on choosing sunscreens that protect both skin and sea. This talk invites us to reflect and understand how, with small actions such as choosing better sun protection, we can also help preserve aquatic ecosystems.
New technologies and scientific knowledge to improve agriculture
Block of micro-talks and Round Table by IDAEA researcher Evgeny Bulatov, and IQAC researchers Carme Quero, Ricardo Molina and Ramon Crehuet. Moderated by IQAC researcher Daniel Carbajo.
Science offers new tools to address the major challenges of agriculture in Baix Llobregat and beyond. One innovative line of research focuses on the use of pheromones and other semiochemicals to sustainably control crop pests, seeking new formulations, increasing their effectiveness and avoiding pollution. The use of these compounds and other pesticides must be sustainable and controlled, but monitoring costs make their control difficult. The CPS technology, a ceramic passive sampler, allows the detection of these compounds and microcontaminants in water at low cost, helping to monitor the quality of the agricultural environment and improve compliance with environmental regulations.
At the same time, research in computational biochemistry and biophysics, using tools such as quantum chemistry and deep learning, makes it possible to design more specific and efficient pheromones based on simulations and experimental data.
Another key area is seed improvement: new high-yielding varieties are being developed that do not require genetic modification but optimise water use and growth conditions.
These four lines of research show how science can generate real, sustainable solutions adapted to our agricultural territory.
What if science already starts at school?
Day led by IDAEA researchers together with the educational community of Escuela Mas Falcó in Barcelona, promoted within the educational program Magnet. Aliances per a l’èxit educatiu.
The day will include several activities such as the presentation of the research carried out by 4th grade students during the 2024/2025 school year; science workshops to put the scientific method into practice; an outreach talk; and, to finish, a scientific chocolate party.
And you, do you do science without realizing it?
Educational science talk by IDAEA researcher Natalia Moreno.
Science is the spark that drives us to ask, explore, and seek answers. When we live it as an attitude, we discover that science is not only for laboratories but also part of our everyday lives. This talk invites us to see how, with curiosity and a critical mindset, everyone can do science almost without realizing it. Doing science means observing, investigating, recording, and thinking rigorously to better understand the world.
Participation in the activities of the European Researchers’ Night is free and open to everyone. You can check the full programme and register at this link.
