Imatge
Imatge
Today, Palau Sant Jordi hosted the first STEAM session of the year, centred on physics and chemistry
Over 2,100 2nd and 3rd year secondary school students from thirty schools in Barcelona, the Metropolitan Area and Girona took part in STEAM Anella
Fòrum Park, Tibidabo Amusement Park and the Zoo will be the next venues for these science, technology, engineering art and mathematics sessions, which aim to promote scientific vocations among secondary school students
Barcelona is maintaining its commitment to the promotion of scientific vocations among secondary school students, and especially among girls. With this goal, and for the fifth consecutive year, Barcelona de Serveis Municipals and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia - Barcelona Tech (UPC)’s Barcelona East Engineering School present a new season of STEAM activities.
During 2023, over 6,000 students will be taking part in the four science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics sessions, held at such emblematic city venues as the Olympic Ring, the Fòrum Park, Tibidabo Amusement Park and Barcelona Zoo.
The first session was held today at Palau Sant Jordi. Over 2,100 2nd and 3rd year students from 28 Barcelona, Metropolitan Area and Girona secondary schools took part in a morning of activities related to physics and chemistry.
Each group-class enjoyed three supervised, 30-minute activities and a show. The activities were supervised by students from the UPC's EEBE and the shows were the result of collaborations between UPC teaching staff and artists from the Equidart dance group and the Mobby Dixie jazz band. Furthermore, throughout the morning, individually or in groups, the students were able to take part in five other activities which, unlike the others, did not require prior enrolment.
The 15 available activities included workshops such as Perception, which involved using special glasses to experience how alcohol changes your perception of your surroundings and the danger that this entails while driving; Rockets, where they investigated the flight of a rocket propelled by air; and Lab, where they discovered the hidden materials behind some technological innovations, and they were even able to perform spherification.
And there were new features in comparison to previous STEAM Anella sessions, such as the Pythagoras workshop, to experiment with and understand Pythagoras’ theorem using paper, scissors and a balance; an escape room with a setting celebrating the centenary of Einstein's visit to Barcelona, which also explained the role played by women scientists in the development and application of the theory of relativity.
According to Laia Bonet, the Third Deputy Mayor and the president of BSM, “Barcelona is a scientific city, and this capital status also means encouraging vocations in secondary school students, especially girls, as a way of generating local scientific talent in the future. The STEAM sessions also showcase the city's commitment to making large emblematic venues available to city residents, such as the Olympic Ring, which at various times of the year hosts a number of cultural, social and family activities that are open to everyone”.
For Josefina Antonijuan, the UPC's vice rector for Social Responsibility and Equality, “this activity is an opportunity for girls and boys to discover their passion and talent for STEM subjects. Technological growth is progressing exponentially and society needs a lot of qualified young people in these areas, and a greater number of girls, to ensure we create more inclusive technology and science”.
Last year, 6,000 students took part in the STEAM activities organised by BSM and the UPC
In 2022, the STEAM activities organised by BSM and the UPC's EEBE brought together 6,079 secondary school and sixth form students, mostly from schools in Barcelona and its Metropolitan Area.
In March, the Fòrum Park was the first of three city venues to be converted into a giant-sized science laboratory. A total of 1,585 4th year and sixth form secondary school students conducted experiments in the areas of biology, physics, mathematics, chemistry and technology.
Next came the Olympic Ring. In April, the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium played host to 1,525 2nd and 3rd year secondary school students. This time, the experiments were structured into five main areas: the brain, matter, energy, art and technology. In May, it was the turn of Tibidabo, with 2,397 students learning about physics with the park's attractions; and in November, for the first time ever, Barcelona Zoo hosted another science session, with the participation of 572 1st and 2nd year secondary school students.
