Imatge
Imatge
Barcelona Zoo became a science classroom this morning with various scientific activities organised by Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) and the East Barcelona School of Engineering (EEBE) at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia - BarcelonaTech (UPC)
The Zoo is taking over from other iconic spaces managed by BSM, such as the Parc del Fòrum, the Olympic Ring and Tibidabo, which have been working to promote science vocations among secondary-school students
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) projects make Barcelona an education innovation hub at the service of the city’s young talent
Barcelona Zoo played host this morning, and for the first time, to STEAM Zoo, a day of activities relating to biology and aimed at 1st- and 2nd-year ESO (compulsory secondary education) students. Some 600 boys and girls from several secondary schools in Barcelona and its Metropolitan Area took part.
STEAM Zoo was launched jointly by Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) and the East Barcelona School of Engineering (EEBE) at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech (UPC), with the aim of promoting science vocations among young people, by increasing their knowledge of biology in a fun yet academically rigorous way.
The various class groups that took part in this scientific morning activity were treated to three workshop activities run by Barcelona Zoo’s team of educators in collaboration with teaching and research staff from the EEBE at the UPC.
The first of these, entitled DNA in your hands, saw students extracting DNA from cells, which they were even able to touch. The second, What are we eating?, provided a series of experiments in which the young students learnt how we turn what we eat into energy. And the third, Interpreting what we think, had participants testing live how the body’s brain and muscles communicate with each other.
In addition, the students enjoyed a participatory show called The three neurones, where they also learnt how the cells making up nervous tissue function.
An education innovation hub at the service of the city’s young talent
STEAM Zoo is part of a much more extensive educational project aimed at promoting an interest in science and technology in a different way to school classrooms. The initiative puts special emphasis on promoting science vocations among girls, helping to put an end to gender stereotypes.
This is the first time that Barcelona Zoo has held to one of these days. This year’s STEAM gatherings, promoted in collaboration with the UPC, kicked off on 23 March at the Fòrum, with over 1,500 4th-year ESO and baccalaureate students taking part. Next was the Olympic Ring, in April, with over 1,500 2nd- and 3rd-year ESO students taking part. That was followed by Tibidabo, in May, who over 2,300 4th-year ESO and baccalaureate students. So, in all, more than 6000 young people are estimated to have benefited from STEAM activities this year (2022).
With this new STEAM programme day event, BSM is reaffirming its commitment to making social and educational use of some of the city’s iconic spaces.