Outreach News

Barcelona and the CSIC launch a new science outreach programme in local neighbourhoods: Ciència Km 0

The ICMAB will take part in the new Ciència Km 0 programme — an initiative launched by the Barcelona City Council and the CSIC Delegation in Catalonia to promote science outreach across the city’s neighbourhoods.

Over the coming months, ten civic centres and public libraries across Barcelona will host free workshops, conferences, round tables and itineraries — all led by researchers from CSIC institutes and projects supported by the Barcelona City Council. The initiative aims to promote scientific culture at a local level, especially in neighbourhoods where public science outreach activities are scarce or non-existent.

The activities will take place every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., from October 8 to December 10, and will cover three broad themes: disruptive technologies, pollution, and health.

“Ciència Km 0 is about bringing science to where people live — to civic spaces, libraries, and everyday neighbourhoods,” explains the CSIC Delegation in Catalonia. “It’s about making scientific knowledge accessible, participatory and inspiring for everyone.”

From microchips to nanotechnology

The programme kicked off on October 8 at Vil·la Urània Civic Centre, with a round table by the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM, CSIC), featuring talks on organic electronics, fire-fighting chips, and reverse engineering.

In the following weeks, other CSIC institutes will take part with activities addressing topics such as air quality and health, urban green spaces, and even prehistoric art and influence.

ICMAB takes part with a dialogue on nanotechnology

As part of the programme, the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) will participate in the session titled “Nanotechnology: What’s it for?”

This public dialogue will feature Mariano Campoy-Quiles from ICMAB and Maria Soler from the ICN2 – Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, who will discuss how nanotechnology impacts our daily lives — from sustainable energy to advanced materials and health applications.

When: Wednesday, December 3, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Biblioteca Sagrada Família – Josep M. Ainaud de Lasarte (Barcelona)
More info about the event here

Full programme of “Ciència Km 0"

Here’s a glimpse at some of the other activities in the series:

October 8 | “Everything starts with a chip: Everyday technology in small doses” – IMB-CNM, CSIC (Vil·la Urània)
October 16 | “Let’s talk about Alzheimer’s” – UAB and Fundació Mútua Terrassa (Biblioteca Zona Nord)
October 22 | “Current challenges in improving air quality around the Port of Barcelona” – IDAEA-CSIC (Biblioteca Francesc Candel)
October 29 | “Tips to improve your home’s air quality” – IDAEA-CSIC (Biblioteca Ramon d’Alòs-Moner)
November 5 | “Future urban green spaces in La Marina” – ISGlobal (Casa del Rellotge Civic Centre)
November 12 | “The air that moves Trinitat Vella: a walk with air pollution experts” – Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center & Trinitat Uneix (Trinitat Vella Civic Centre)
November 19 | “The Venus figurines of prehistory... the first influencers?” – IMF-CSIC (Biblioteca El Carmel-Juan Marsé)
November 26 | “A new air at home” – ISGlobal (Baró de Viver Civic Centre)
December 3 | “Nanotechnology: What’s it for?” – ICN2 & ICMAB-CSIC (Biblioteca Sagrada Família)
December 10 | “Searching for extraterrestrial life with the help of artificial intelligence” – ICE-CSIC (Guinardó Civic Centre)

Find the full programme and updates on the CSIC Delegation in Catalonia’s website.

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Anna May

13 October 2025