This March, ICMAB welcomed younger students than usual. Over three days, groups of students aged 6 to 11 (2nd, 4th, and 6th grade) from José Echegaray School visited the institute. After several visits by researchers to the school, this time it was the students who travelled from Martorell to discover where their role models work.
What did they see?
Upon arrival, they were welcomed by the director David Amabilino and Anna Crespi, coordinator of the MAGNET project since its beginnings. This year, students and teachers at José Echegaray chose toy materials as their research theme. To explore different properties of these materials, and to understand why such properties are also important in research, the second part of the activity focused on the specific property each class had been working on.
Hands-on density experiments with Anna Laromaine
The 4th-grade group, which was the first to visit ICMAB and meet their reference researcher Anna Laromaine, talked about the circulatory system, the components of blood, and the role played by different densities. They concluded with a hands-on experiment on the density of various materials, formulating and testing a hypothesis.
Alejandro Goñi during his presentation
The 2nd-grade group was welcomed at the center by Alejandro Goñi who discussed with them different ways to develop sustainable toys and how to use forces to control object motion, introducing to them the 3 Newton's laws. Ramps were discussed both theoretically and experimentally using a device designed by Alejandro.
Ángel Pérez in the introduction to the activity
The 6th-grade group was hosted by Ángel Pérez. He gave a presentation on forces in physics and their application in pulleys, block and tackle systems, and gears. To conclude the activity, a practical application of gears was demonstrated using a crane with a winch.
Preparing the sample for the XRD characterization with Anna Crespi
In addition to the themed workshops, the students were able to visit several of the Technical Services, which are always a highlight during open visits for all ages at the center.
Guessing the SEM images with Judith Oró
A relationship that continues to grow
These visits mark another step in the relationship between ICMAB staff and the students of José Echegaray School. They also represent further progress in the school’s science project, which students are increasingly making their own. One memorable moment was seeing students' excitement when they discovered their drawings displayed at the ICMAB Hall. Have you had a chance to look at them and answer the questions? What is real and what is fiction? Is this how you see research at ICMAB?
José Echegaray's students exhibition "Day to Day at ICMAB" at ICMAB's Hall
More information about the MAGNET project
Vibrem amb la ciència, materialitzem el futur (Magnet, 2025)
Second year of the MAGNET program: Bioinspiration and a consolidated relationship (ICMAB, July 2025)
Nature inspires science, a collaboration by ICMAB and Escola José Echegaray (ICMAB, January 2025)
ICMAB celebrates the European Researchers' Night with the José Echegaray School in Martorell (ICMAB, October 2024)
L'escola José Echegaray de Martorell presenta el programa MAGNET, en aliança amb l'ICMAB-CSIC, amb l'objectiu de promoure la ciència entre l'alumnat (ICMAB, January 2024)
The students of the José Echegaray School interview the Chemistry Nobel Laureate Sir Fraser Stoddart (ICMAB, June 2023)
