The team, which is made up of students at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech (UPC), convened its sponsors at Parc del Fòrum to present the innovations it is developing for the coming season 

Formula Student is the world's largest university motoring event, where engineering students from all over the world come together to design, build and compete in a Formula 1-style car 

This past Wednesday, Parc del Fòrum hosted a meeting of BCN eMotorsport, one of the UPC's student teams that will be competing at Formula Student, the premier university motoring event. 

During the event, the BCN eMotorsport team, composed of students from the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB) and the Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSETB), announced the latest innovations in their self-driving electric vehicle, which they will be using to compete in the next season of the Formula Student competition. The vehicle entered in last season's competition was also showcased at the event.

Parc del Fòrum is precisely where students test their cars in preparation for each competition. All this is made possible by the collaboration agreement concluded between BSM and BCN eMotorsport, which supports BSM's dedication to sustainable mobility as well as its commitment to young talent and the promotion of scientific careers.

The event featured Albert del Río, BCN eMotorsport's team leader; Francesc Rey, deputy director of Business Relations at ETSETB; Vicente de Medina, general manager of the Formula Student BCN eMotorsport project; and Xavier Castellsagué, head of Endolla Barcelona, who attended on behalf of BSM. Some of the team's sponsors, including Cupra, NTT Data, Fractus and Draxton, were also there. 

Formula Student, the premier university motoring event

Established in 1981, Formula Student is the world's most prestigious engineering competition. To take part, engineering students from across the globe design and build a Formula 1-style car, which they then use to compete in various races. 

Eight Catalan teams, most of them from the UPC, are competing in Formula Student. The competition currently features two categories: combustion and electric vehicles, which can be driven or driverless in both cases.

Competitors must take part in static (Engineering Design, Cost & Manufacturing and Business Plan) and dynamic (Acceleration, Skidpad, Autocross, Trackdrive, Endurance and Efficiency) disciplines. The team with the highest overall score is the winner.

BSM has collaboration agreements in place with both BCN eMotorsport and e-Tech Racing, the other UPC team taking part in Student Formula.  

BCN eMotorsport was the first Spanish team to design and build an electric single-seater

In 2007, a group of 13 students from the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB) formed Spain's first Formula Student team, ETSEIB Motorsport. The team started its journey with CAT01, an internal combustion engine car. Over the years, they increased their knowledge and achieved significant success in university, national and international events.

In a constant effort to embrace technological advances and lead the way, the team made the leap to electric vehicles in 2012. They were the first Spanish team to design and build an electric single-seater, CAT05e. The Driverless UPC team, the first in Spain to make a self-driving vehicle for Formula Student, was founded in 2018.

The 2020-2021 season was a crucial time in the team's history. The leading German competition announced that, from 2022, teams would have to design just one single-seater capable of taking part in both the manual and self-driving categories of the competition. In response to this, ETSEIB Motorsport and Driverless UPC merged to form a new team, which they named BCN eMotorsport.

Following two successful seasons with its first merged cars (CAT14x and CAT15x), the team designed and built the CAT16x model. In addition to earning very high scores in Formula Student Spain, it reached a historic milestone for the team by winning the self-driving category of the event. CAT17x, which features both mechanical and electrical innovations, is currently under construction, keeping the team on its current path of excellence.

Last season, BCN eMotorsport took part in three of Europe's most prestigious competitions: Formula Student Austria, at the renowned Red Bull Ring; Formula Student Spain, at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit; and Formula Student Germany, at the Hockenheimring circuit. 

Cançó de Pau will take place on 27 December, with architect Josep Miàs, chef Albert Adrià and pastry chef Christian Escribà among the special guests

The event seeks to promote values such as tolerance, caring and respect through a song that calls for world peace

This Friday, 27 December, the Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo will host the 27th edition of Cançó de Pau [Song of Peace], the fundraising sing-along organised together with UNICEF to promote values such as caring, tolerance and respect through a song that calls for world peace. 

At 11 am, Tibidabo will host this now-traditional sing-along for peace, open to all visitors, together with special guests: architect Josep Miàs, the man behind iconic projects such as the Cuca de Llum [Firefly]; chef Albert Adrià; pastry chef Christian Escribà; and the UNICEF coordinator in Catalonia, Laia Ruich, who have been chosen as peace ambassadors for the fundraising sing-along. 

Everyone who comes to Tibidabo on Friday 27th, before 11 am can purchase UNICEF fundraising tickets for €2 to join in the Cançó de Pau event and enjoy the amusement park for the rest of the day.

In addition to participating in the sing-along, children will be able to write their messages and wishes in Tibidabo’s Book of Peace. 

Agreement with UNICEF 

The Cançó de Pau is part of the fundraising events hosted by Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo throughout the year. It is part of the agreement between the park and UNICEF, in place since 2012, which aims to promote awareness of children’s rights and contribute to UNICEF’s education, survival and protection programmes around the world.

Tibidabo celebrates Christmas with a magnificent tree, an ice rink and new shows

Tibidabo’s Christmas programme will run until 5 January. In addition to the decorations and the 10-metre Christmas tree to welcome all visitors, Tibidabo has something in store for everyone.

Plaça del Somnis will once again host a 200 m2 synthetic ice rink where, as well as skating, visitors can enjoy the dance show The Nutcracker on Ice, an artistic adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s ballet for all audiences, every day at 11.50 am.

The rink is included in the Tibidabo admission price and can also be visited separately with a ticket costing 5 euros.

During the festive season, visitors can also enjoy new shows and events on the park’s rides. Dididado – the park’s 4D cinema – will be screening the film Sleigh Ride, about the work of Santa Claus and his helpers on the night of 24 December. The Marionetarium has also been transformed for Christmas, featuring a show where music, snow and stars take centre stage.  
For thrill-seeking visitors, Hotel 666 will once again welcome Krampus, a sinister character who only appears at this time of year.

The car park is now fully operational, featuring the new branding of the Aparcaments BSM network of car parks, enhanced comfort, and added services designed to address the evolving needs and habits of the public  

The new features include a Bicipark and a parcel collection point, as well as LED lighting and the monitoring of all parking spaces 

The Aparcaments BSM network of car parks has continued to expand its new model with the reopening of BSM’s Avinguda Gaudí car park. The parking facility, located near the Sagrada Família and the Sant Pau Modernista Complex, has resumed its minute-based parking service following the completion of structural renovation works that began in May 2023, enhancing its overall comfort. 

With 8,640 m² spread across three levels and a total of 220 car spaces and 108 motorcycle spaces, the parking facility is now fully operational, featuring all renovated installations, the new branding of Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) car parks, and a range of services that go beyond just vehicle parking, addressing the evolving needs and habits of the public. The total investment was 4.2 million euros.

More Endolla Barcelona charging stations, along with space for bicycles and parcel collection  

Sustainable mobility is at the heart of the new BSM parking model. As such, BSM’s Avinguda Gaudí car park has added 10 new Endolla Barcelona charging stations, bringing the total to 18 —13 for cars and 5 for motorcycles. It also includes a Bicipark with 56 spaces, complementing the 10 secure bicycle storage areas already available within the Aparcaments BSM network of car parks. 

In line with this aim of promoting emission-free mobility, the car park has introduced a specially designed area for parcel collection. It is located on level -1 and features Click&Collect lockers as well as bins for sorting paper and plastic. This new area is open to the public 24/7 for order collection or drop-off and seeks to offer local residents and workers a sustainable alternative to home delivery of online purchases. 

The car park is equipped with monitoring for all parking spaces and a smart LED lighting system 

The upgrade of the car park has also enabled the addition of technological improvements, such as the parking space monitoring system that BSM recently introduced at its newly opened Litoral Port car park. This pioneering technology allows the car park staff to remotely monitor occupancy levels, while also providing live footage of each individual space.

The number plate recognition system for entering and exiting the car park has also been optimised. This option is also available for motorcycles that are registered with SMOU, meaning that there are now 20 BSM car parks which, through SMOU, allow motorcycles to enter without having to first collect a ticket.

Another notable change is the new lighting, based on LED technology, which makes the whole facility brighter and more comfortable and also adjusts its colour to match each floor. Furthermore, the brightness depends on whether or not there is activity in the car park, contributing to energy savings.

A Customer Space has been created with the car park users’ experience in mind. This customer service area is located at the entrance of the car park, in the former control room, providing a welcoming environment where users can receive in-person assistance if they have any issues. The space also has an interactive screen that provides video-call service when the office is closed.

Altogether, this makes the car park experience more convenient, efficient, and user-friendly, as well as safer.

In addition to the structural, technological, and service improvements, the car park also features the new branding of the Aparcaments BSM network of car parks, unveiled last June at the opening of BSM’s Litoral Port car park. 

This new visual and graphic identity, with its light and fresh tones, conveys the values and dynamic role that BSM car parks aim to represent in a Barcelona that increasingly embraces electric mobility, shared vehicle usage, and more efficient goods distribution.
 

BSM, the MAPFRE Foundation and the Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB) sign an agreement for the organisation of three annual exhibitions linked to the KBr photography centre's programme and the MAPFRE Foundations Collections 

The programme kicks off today with the exhibition ‘Retrats’, a selection of portraits by great photographers that shows the variety and richness of the genre over the 20th century

As part of this collaboration, the Port Olímpic will also be the venue for music and dance performances organised by the Conservatori del Liceu and the Institut del Teatre

All activities will be open-air, accessible and free of charge 

The Port Olímpic is forging ahead with its aim of becoming another space in the city where people can enjoy cultural and family activities. BSM, as the company responsible for managing the Port Olímpic, the MAPFRE Foundation and the Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB) have signed a collaboration agreement that will enable photography and the performing arts to be incorporated into the Port Olímpic's cultural programme.

Thanks to this alliance, over the next three years, the Port Olímpic will be hosting an annual photography exhibition with images from the KBr Photography Centre and from the artistic collection belonging to the MAPFRE Foundation. These will be free, open-air exhibitions, and at each, there’ll be a total of 22 images on display. The photographs will be exhibited on stands located on the Moll de Mestral quay and on the Moll de Gregal quay at certain times. 

As well as the photography exhibitions, from next February onwards educational workshops on the art of photography and music and dance performances are planned, and they will revolve around the themes of the exhibitions being held at that time. These shows will be organised in collaboration with the Conservatori del Liceu and the Institut del Teatre. 

For the general manager of BSM, Marta Labata, “the alliance between BSM, the MAPFRE Foundation and the ICUB highlights the role of the Port Olímpic as a space within the city that's open to the people of Barcelona, designed not only as a somewhere to enjoy nautical activities, but also as a place for taking a stroll, having a bite to eat, and now for cultural events as well, firmly establishing it as a new focal point within this new space in the city”.  

“We're very happy and excited about this project. Not just because it's another step forward in our history as one of the institutions that contribute to the dynamism and cultural richness of Barcelona, but because it involves a space that’s very close to our hearts, one that enables us to play an active part in an initiative that's as important for local people as the recovery of the Port Olímpic”, said the general manager of the MAPFRE Foundation, Julio Domingo Souto. 

The programme kicks off with the photography exhibition ‘Retrats. Fundació MAPFRE Collections’ 

The beginning of this collaboration between BSM, the MAPFRE Foundation and the ICUB will be marked by the photography exhibition ‘Retrats. Fundació MAPFRE Collections’. On display will be reproductions of 22 large-format portraits that reveal the variety and richness within the genre over the course of the twentieth century. From full-face portraits in line with the tradition of the fine arts to fleeting images captured of people on the street who were not posing for the camera to intimate family portraits. The photographs were taken by acclaimed photographers such as Paul Strand, Helen Levitt, Harry Callahan, Anna Malagrida and Cristina García-Rodero. 

The programme will continue with the work of artists such as young Colombian photographer Felipe Romero, Helen Levitt, who is one of the leading names in street photography, and many more,which are always related to the exhibitions and collections of the MAPFRE Foundation.

As far as the programme of shows is concerned, the first jazz concert, inspired by mid-20th century French jazz and performed by musicians from the Conservatori del Liceu, will take place on 15 December at 12.30 pm, and you'll be able to enjoy the first dance show, featuring dancers from the Institut del Teatre, in 2025. There will be a regular music and dance programme on certain weekends throughout the year, with afternoon and evening performances in spring and summer, and morning ones in autumn and winter. 

Lastly, the first educational workshops will be organised starting next February, and will be held fortnightly on weekends, the aim of which is to introduce children to the visual language of artistic photography. 

The Port Olímpic, a new cultural space in Barcelona

The exhibitions and shows emerging from this agreement will be incorporated into the Port Olímpic's cultural programme. Since reopening last July, the Mestral and Gregal quays have been the setting for events such as the concerts and shows that were part of the Cultural Regatta and the La Mercè festivities, as well as the family workshops held on different weekends. 

The programme is an invitation by the Port Olímpic to the people of Barcelona to enjoy culture in a space that has been reclaimed for the city, to taste the wide range of dishes offered by the restaurants on the ‘Balcó Gastronòmic’ and to play sports, or simply take a stroll by the sea. 

The Port is offering a wide range of sea-inspired family activities for Christmas, from 5 December to 5 January 

For the first time, this space has been decorated with large format Christmas lights, with an electric train also offering a unique way of getting around the Port Olímpic during the school holidays 

In addition, a royal messenger will be collecting children’s letters for the Three Kings, whom the Port will welcome on the evening of 5 January as part of the Sant Martí district parades

The Port Olímpic has its Christmas decorations up and is launching a special programme of events for everybody to enjoy this new space over the festive season. From now until 5 January, the port will be a magical place brimming with sea-inspired Christmas activities for all. 

At the Moll de Mestral wharf there’s a wide array of free family options organised by La Mar d’Activitats. Daily activities include drawing and painting workshops, a storytelling corner, face-painting, construction games and more. There will also be sea-related activities  in collaboration with the Municipal Sailing Centre, the Catalan Sailing Federation and the Barcelona Patí Vela Club, plus educational activities by Zoo de Barcelona and the Institute of Marine Sciences.

In December, these activities will be offered Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 3 pm to 9 pm, and public holidays from 11 am to 9 pm. From 20 December to 6 January, opening times will be from 11 am to 9 pm.

Besides the scheduled activities, youngsters will be able to enjoy a recreational area with inflatables and trampolines, and warm up with some hot chocolate. 

The Port Olímpic will welcome the Three Kings for the parades in Sant Martí

The Moll de Mestral wharf will also have a tent where children can write their letter to the Three Kings or hand it to one of their messengers. Letters can be delivered at the weekends in December and every day from 26 December to 5 January. 

One of the main events in the Christmas programme at the Port Olímpic will be the arrival of the boat carrying the Three Kings on the afternoon of 5 January, just before the parades in the district of Sant Martí begin. That afternoon, Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar will be arriving on the sailing boat O Ria de Ferrol and getting off at the Moll de Mestral wharf. From there, Their Majesties will set off on a route around the port, collecting letters and gearing up to make their way through the streets of Sant Martí in each of the district’s scheduled parades. 

Large format illuminated figures and a Christmas train 

Throughout the festive period, the Port Olímpic will be lit up in the evenings with large format illuminated figures. Four metres tall and featuring LED technology, these figures will be located at the Moll de Mestral and Moll de Gregal wharfs.

The Christmas setting will be topped off with a 100% electric train making its way around Port Olímpic with stops at the Moll de Mestral and Moll de Gregal wharfs and the Dic de Recer Sea Wall. The little train will take visitors to the recently opened Culinary Balcony, where they can enjoy a wide range of food options; as well as the Sea Wall, an exceptional lookout for enjoying unparalleled views of the city. 

The train will be operating on 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 December, and from 2 to 4 January (from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm and from 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm). 

The full programme can be found on the Port Olímpic website. 

Over the festive season, visitors will again be able to enjoy “The Zoo Elves”, a show on the importance of preserving the planet’s biodiversity 

On 23 and 24 December, the Zoo will be celebrating Kangaroo Day to celebrate all those who look after children 

Zoo de Barcelona is launching its Christmas programme this Friday. Throughout the month and up until 6 January, visitors can enjoy a range of festive family activities designed to foster respect for nature and biodiversity.

For the second year running, the amphitheatre at Zoo de Barcelona will be hosting the show “The Zoo Elves”, a dramatised activity which includes a festive parade and some new surprises, showing how the Zoo works every day to preserve endangered species and how everybody can look after the planet. 

Open to all visitors and included in the admission price, the show will be offered every weekend and public holiday (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day) and weekdays during the school holidays. There are performances at 11.30 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. 

And on 22 December, visitors will be able to make the Zoo’s festive tió log poop its gifts. 

A scavenger hunt inspired by nature and a new Nature Passport activity

Besides the elf show and the tió, the Zoo is also offering the chance to take part in a nature-inspired scavenger hunt over the Christmas period. In addition, from 22 December onwards, those who complete it will get a birdhouse which they can paint and hang up at home or on trees at the Zoo itself to support urban birdlife. This activity is exclusively for Zoo Club members and will be available from 6 to 31 December. 

Over these same dates, the Zoo will be launching a new Nature Passport activity, a journey where Zoo Club members become ambassadors for the site, getting actively involved in conservation, scientific research and sharing the planet’s biodiversity. The new Nature Passport challenge is “Life in a drop”, where participants can discover how many different forms of microscopic life exist in a single drop of water and the impressive biodiversity of ponds. To take part, you must first register in the private members’ area on the Zoo website. 

Kangaroo Day, two days to celebrate family members who look after kids

Following its success last year, the Zoo will again be celebrating Kangaroo Day on 23 and 24 December, celebrating all those who look after children and playing on the double meaning of “cangur” in Catalan, where the word can refer to the animal or to a sitter. Over these two days, grandparents, aunts, uncles and godparents who go to the Zoo with a child will get free admission. A family activity will also offer the chance to learn more about theZoo’s kangaroos and their situation in the wild. 

Activity camps for children from 5 to 14 are back 

Once again, over the Christmas school holidays, the Zoo is offering three activity camps for children aged 5 to 14. The camps are “The Zoo’s Cooks” (23 and 24 December), “Let’s Travel with Animals” (27 December), and “Sign up for Conservation Work” (30 and 31 December and 2 and 3 January), three educational free-time activities to promote respect for the conservation of biodiversity and the environment. Those interested must sign up in advance on the Zoo website.

For the second consecutive year, Park Güell has joined the BSM and UPC project to promote scientific vocations outside the classroom, especially among girls    

The students, from schools near the park, put their knowledge of mathematics, science, art, and technology into practice while exploring Gaudí's work

Park Güell hosted the second edition of STEAM Park Güell on Wednesday, organised by Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) and the East Barcelona School of Engineering (EEBE) of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech (UPC). 

Throughout the morning, around five hundred 5th- and 6th-year primary school students from schools near the park took part in various workshops and activities, where they applied their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, while exploring the history and works of Gaudí. All with the aim of developing skills from the scientific curriculum based on a different perspective, helping to inspirescientific vocations among younger students. 

The students discovered the practicality of Gaudí's catenary arches by building one themselves; they designed and constructed a model of a dome to cover the Plaça de la Natura; and they explored the significance of structures, both in architecture and the human brain. They also enjoyed a discovery activity in the monumental area of Park Güell and a dance performance inspired by the geometric shapes used by Gaudí.

Close to 8,000 students will take part in STEAM activities organised by BSM and the UPC this school year

Over the course of the year, six STEAM days are planned, organised by BSM and UPC, taking place in iconic Barcelona locations such as Zoo de Barcelona, Park Güell, the Anella Olímpica, Parc del Fòrum, and Tibidabo. A total of 7,750 students are expected to take part, 10% more than last year.

The next event in this STEAM series will take place on 12 December at Zoo de Barcelona, with around five hundred 1st- and 2nd-year ESO students taking part. Students will have the opportunity to explore different aspects of biology and environmental knowledge in a fun and interactive way. They will do this, for example, by extracting DNA from a strawberry, experimenting with how what we consume is converted into energy, and by observing at firsthand how the brain and muscles communicate.

The next event after that will be held at the Anella Olímpica on 18 March, when the Palau Sant Jordi will become a true laboratory for 2nd- and 3rd-year ESO students. There they will learn, among other things, how the brain works, the reasons behind certain chemical reactions, and the importance of discovering new materials. 

Just a few days later, on 26 March, Parc del Fòrum will take over to provide another large-scale scientific testing ground, in this case for 4th-year ESO and baccalaureate students. Participants will experiment with the way light travels, the acidity of liquids and Ohm’s law, among other topics. In addition, aspects of urban mobility will be addressed for the first time at the event, using the Municipal Tow Truck and its contribution to public spaces as an example. 

The final STEAM event of the school year will be held at Tibidabo on 14 May. This year, the amusement park will host another edition of Fisidabo, a huge physics festival organised in collaboration with the Physical Engineering undergraduate programme at the UPC’s School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSEIB), in which 4th-year ESO and baccalaureate students will put their knowledge into practice by conducting experiments on the park’s various rides.

From this weekend onwards, a 10-metre-tall Christmas tree will welcome visitors to the Panoramic Area 

On Saturday, the synthetic ice rink will also open its doors, offering skating until 5 January 

Tibidabo kicks off its Christmas programme this weekend, running from 23 November to 5 January, featuring activities for all ages and seasonal decorations throughout the amusement park. 

For the first time, a towering 10-metre Christmas tree will adorn Tibidabo’s iconic Panoramic Area, creating a festive atmosphere to welcome all visitors. 

Once again, the Plaça dels Somnis – Square of Dreams – takes centre stage this Christmas season with the return of the popular 200 m² synthetic ice rink, with a capacity of up to 40 skaters at a time. 

The amusement park is also opting for a rink again, made from sustainable materials, which operates without the need for energy or water, while still providing an authentic ice-skating experience. 

This year, for the first time, the rink will host “The Nutcracker on Ice”, a daily dance performance offering an artistic, family-friendly interpretation of Tchaikovsky's work. Access to the rink is included in the Tibidabo admission price, or it can be accessed separately with a ticket costing 5 euros, without the need to visit the park. 

Return of Krampus, Tibidavis, and the Cançó de Pau (Song of Peace) 

Throughout this festive season, Tibidabo will debut new shows and experiences within its attractions. Dididado – the park's 4D cinema – will be screening the film “Sleigh Ride” throughout the season, which showcases the work of Santa Claus and his helpers on the night of 24 December. And starting from 30 November, the Marionetarium will also be transformed for Christmas, featuring a show where music, snow, and stars take centre stage.

For thrill-seeking visitors, from 21 December, the Hotel 666 will once again welcome Krampus, a sinister character who only appears at this time of year. 

In addition to the new shows and attractions, Tibidabo is bringing back its iconic Christmas events. On the weekend of 14 and 15 December, the amusement park will celebrate the 10th edition of Tibidavis, offering free entry to visitors aged 60 and over, accompanied by up to two children. 

On 27 December, the park will celebrate the Cançó de Pau (Song of Peace), one of its most heartfelt solidarity events, which this year marks its 27th edition. 

Throughout the morning, the park hosted cultural and family-friendly activities open to all members of the public

Park Güell has a range of initiatives planned for the year to encourage local organisations, schools, and residents to engage with this heritage site 

Managed by Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM), Park Güell is promoting investment in the maintenance and protection of its architectural heritage, as well as in the surrounding neighbourhoods

On Saturday, Park Güell celebrated the 40th anniversary of its declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage site with an event open to the public. Throughout the morning, the park hosted family-friendly and cultural activities for visitors to explore Gaudí’s architectural work and its natural spaces.

From 10 am, the general public, along with residents from the nearby neighbourhoods, took part in workshops held at the Bugadera esplanade and the Austria Gardens. The central event of the day was a human tower performance by the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia and the Castellers de la Sagrada Família, who raised their structures in the Plaça de la Natura. The day concluded in the garden of the Gaudí House Museum with a reading of the Iliad set to music, featuring poet Enric Casasses and musician Oriol Luna. 

For 40th anniversary of its UNESCO World Heritage designation, Park Güell is celebrating its recognition as a site of significant cultural and natural value that must be protected and preserved, while continuing to develop activities that connect Gaudí’s work and the space itself with the public, as well as with local organisations and residents.

In this regard, throughout the year, Park Güell is offering a programme of activities and initiatives that encourage local organisations, schools, and residents to engage with the space. Examples include the Escola de Gràcia programme, back for another year after a 2023-2024 edition in which 800 students from 12 district schools had the opportunity to explore Park Güell; the cultural activities organised in collaboration with the Barcelona History Museum, including school visits, cultural tours, and the summer programme; and the Sports Festival, which on 10 October brought together over 300 neighbourhood athletes in the Sala Hipòstila. 

Another initiative is STEAM Park Güell, a day of recreational activities designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics careers among primary school students. The event is organised by Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia - BarcelonaTech’s (UPC) Barcelona East School of Engineering (EEBE). The first edition took place last year, with over 600 students in their 5th and 6th years of primary school participating, and another 500 are expected for the upcoming event on 27 November. 

Protection and preservation of heritage

Since 2013, BSM, on behalf of the Ajuntament de Barcelona, has been in charge of access to Park Güell, seeking to preserve and ensure proper maintenance of the space, as well as harmony with local neighbourhood and school activities. In these over 10 years of management, BSM has led projects focused on the maintenance and protection of the architectural heritage, as well as the restoration, cleaning, and safeguarding of the natural environment. 

Recent examples include the maintenance and improvement work carried out on the Plaça de la Natura, the Sarva and Sant Salvador fountains, the biodiversity trail, and the waterproofing of the Sala Hipòstila. 

“Park Güell is a unique and iconic Barcelona space. Its status as a World Heritage site not only highlights its great architectural value and Gaudí’s artistic contribution, but also the need to protect and preserve it for future generations”, said the director of Park Güell, Ricard Barrera. 

BSM also works to ensure that the tourism at Park Güell has a positive impact both on the city and the surrounding neighbourhoods, through investments made in recent years, such as the renovation of the Baixada de la Glòria escalators, the Menéndez Pelayo Gardens, the improvement of the bus stop on Carretera del Carmel, and the upgrading of sports facilities in the nearby neighbourhoods, among other projects. 
 

The first of these events, which aim to inspire primary and secondary school students to pursue careers in science, was held today at Zoo de Barcelona and attended by over 500 ESO students   

Five more STEAM events will be held during the school year at other iconic locations in Barcelona, including Park Güell, the Anella Olímpica, Parc del Fòrum and Tibidabo, as well as the Zoo 

For the eighth consecutive school year, Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) and the Barcelona East School of Engineering (EEBE) at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech (UPC) are launching a new edition of STEAM, a series of workshops and recreational activities to get primary school, compulsory secondary education (ESO) and baccalaureate students, particularly girls, interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. 

There will be six events during the school year, all of them in iconic Barcelona locations, namely Zoo de Barcelona, Park Güell, the Anella Olímpica, Parc del Fòrum and Tibidabo. A total of 7,750 students, 10% more than last year, are expected to take part. 

The first event was held today at Zoo de Barcelona and was attended by over 500 1st- and 2nd-year ESO students from various secondary schools in Barcelona and its metropolitan area. The event will be held again for another 500 students in December. 

Students attending this double session at Zoo de Barcelona will explore various aspects of biology and environmental science in a fun and interactive way. Activities will include extracting DNA from a strawberry, seeing how food is converted into energy and observing brain-muscle communication in real time. 

The next BSM and UPC STEAM event will be held at Park Güell on 27 November, for students in the 5th and 6th years of primary school. The theme of the event will be the architect Antoni Gaudí. The students will use his work to explore aspects of architecture, art and technology, as part of this initiative that strengthens the park’s commitment to using this heritage site for educational purposes.  

The next event after that will be held at the Anella Olímpica on 18 March, when the Palau Sant Jordi will become a true laboratory for 2nd- and 3rd-year ESO students. Subjects will include how the brain works, why certain chemical reactions occur and the importance of discovering new materials. 

Just a few days later, on 26 March, Parc del Fòrum will take over to provide another large-scale scientific testing ground, in this case for 4th-year ESO and baccalaureate students. Participants will experiment with the way light travels, the acidity of liquids and Ohm’s law, among other topics. In addition, aspects of urban mobility will be addressed for the first time at the event, using the Municipal Tow Truck and its contribution to public spaces as an example. 

The final STEAM event of the school year will be held at Tibidabo on 14 May. This year, the amusement park will host another edition of Fisidabo, a huge physics festival organised in collaboration with the Physical Engineering undergraduate programme at the UPC’s School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSEIB), in which 4th-year ESO and baccalaureate students will put their knowledge into practice by conducting experiments on the park’s various rides.

“Initiatives such as this one, in which science and fun join forces, are key to sparking young people’s interest in science and nurturing talent in the city”, said First Deputy Mayor and BSM chair Laia Bonet. “This series of STEAM events also highlights BSM’s commitment to using the iconic locations of the city it manages for the benefit of city residents”.

“The EEBE is delighted to be involved in the organization of STEAM events because, as a polytechnic institution, we are particularly keen to encourage all young people to learn more about science and technology”, said Adriana Farran, head of the Barcelona East School of Engineering (EEBE) at the UPC. “We believe that one of the best ways to do this is by experimenting, and if it can be outdoors and using fun and dynamic methods, so much the better”.