Over the course of two weeks this summer, six first-year Baccalaureate students from various high schools were hosted by several technicians from the Scientific and Technical Services (STS) at ICMAB: Anna Esther Carrillo and Judith Oró from the Electron Microscopy Service, Bernat Bozzo and Ferran Vallès from the Low Temperatures and Magnetometry Service, Marta Gerbolés, Luigi Morrone and Adrià Pacheco from the Nanoquim platform, David Piña and Amable Bernabé from the Preparation and Characterization of Soft Materials, Markos Paradinas from the Scanning Probe Microscopy Laboratory, Roberta Ceravola from the Thermal Analysis Laboratory and Joan Esquius, Xavi Campos and Anna Crespi from the X-ray Diffraction Laboratory.

On their first day at ICMAB, the students attended an introductory presentation about the research center and its safety protocols, given by Judith Oró and Roberta Ceravola, who currently coordinate the Argó Programme at ICMAB, organized by ICE-UAB. In the days that followed, the students, in pairs, visited each participating STS to learn about and experiment with different characterization techniques.

During the final two days of their stay, the students were given several samples and asked to decide which services would be most appropriate for their analysis. While this activity focused on the work carried out by the STS, the connection between these services and ICMAB’s research was also highlighted. The samples used by the students came from different ICMAB research groups, giving them a glimpse into the center’s research lines and introducing them to how research groups interact with ICMAB’s technical services.

The Quantum Levitating Train demonstration for the Argó students

On their last day at the center, the students gave a presentation summarizing their work and what they had learned at ICMAB. They particularly appreciated the hands-on nature of the experience and the rare opportunity to witness first-hand the inner workings of a research center, an uncommon experience at their stage of education, and one they are likely to value even more over time. They also participated in the Quantum Levitating Train activity led by Ferran Vallès and were guided through a NanoParty game session.

NanoParty closing game, led by Roberta Ceravola and Judith Oró

“We are very pleased with the experience ICMAB can offer through this programme and with the students’ results, and we look forward to continuing it next year,” said Judith Oró, coordinator of the Argó Programme at ICMAB. “In the next edition, we may further strengthen the connection between the STS and ICMAB research, perhaps through talks by researchers or even one-day stays in research groups that use materials the students have worked with.”

The 2025 edition of the Argó Programme has now come to an end and marks one of the final outreach and mentoring initiatives of the academic year at ICMAB. It will return next year, alongside many more activities that aim to promote scientific culture, encourage scientific vocations, and communicate ICMAB’s contribution to society.

More information:

Six students from UAB’s Argó Program are hosted in ICMAB for three weeks (ICMAB, 2024)

ICMAB hosted students from UAB's Argó Programme 2023 (ICMAB, 2023) 

Programa Argó (UAB)