The Pint of Science Festival, celebrated in multiple locations across Catalonia, Spain and Europe, returned once again to Sabadell. The initiative in the city began thanks to PhD candidates from the DocFam+ programme. Looking to organize an outreach activity that went beyond individual contributions, they explored whether such an event would fit in the Sabadell, a city close to the UAB and home to some of the organizers.

After the success and positive feedback received from both the bars and the audience during the previous edition, the organizers decided to repeat the initiative. More PhD candidates joined the organization team and the event expanded to three days, three venues, and three languages, which resulted in a total of 43 talks. 

ICMAB researchers at the event

Continuing the tradition from last year, Karla Mena and Elena Murillo returned as ICMAB organizers and hosts of Pint of Science Sabadell. They were joined by Marta Loletti and Joseth Alejandra Pachacama Ruiz. Four ICMAB researchers have also contributed to the event with talks about their research. 

Simone Privitera (UAB), Marta Loletti, Karla Mena and Joseth Pachacama, organizers of the 2026 Pint of Science Sabadell

On Tuesday 19, Miquel Nuez-Martínez gave the talk "BNCT-una teràpia anticàncer feta a mida" in The Wild Geese. On the same venue next day, Wednesday 20, Mercedes Linares Moreau presented the talk "MOFs: superesponjas moleculares con premio Nobel".

Mercedes Linares talk about her research on MOFs

Also on Wednesday, Marco Zechner presented his research through the talk "The Power of Polymer brushes". 

Marco Zechner in bar l'Estruch

The impact of Pint of Science Sabadell

The organizers' initial assessment of Pint of Science Sabadell 2026 is very positive, both for its sucess and its expansion in the right direction. Attendance was medium to high throughout the three days across all three venues.

Trivia in bar La Motta

According to the organizers, increasing the number of venues and offering talks in three different languages (with one language per day in each bar), made the event more inclusive.: 

"I would certainly emphasize the great success in terms of participation and the increasingly international character of the event, involving three languages and very enthusiastic attendees," stated Sara Pugliese from ICN2. "We also received interest to collaborate next year from aspiring volunteers and institutions like BIST. They were very enthusiastic about the event, because they really appreciated the way we organize the event here in Sabadell."

The organizers also analyzed the impact of the event's promotion campaign. On social media, the most viewed Instagram stroy reached 7.222 views, while stories averaged around 250 views each. Reels and posts averaged 63 likes and around 30 shares.

They also collected information about how attendees heard about the event. Most participants learned about it through acquaitances (63%), followed by social media (23%) and street posters (12%).

In addition, two local newspapers also announced the event, reinforcing the interest that Pint of Science generates- and should make an effort to continue generating- among the local community. 

More references:

Ciència entre pintes de cervesa durant tres dies a Sabadell (iSabadell)

Una cervesa a la mà i preguntes impossibles damunt la barra: "El bar és el millor lloc per divagar" (Diari de Sabadell)

Second edition of the Pint of Science festival in Sabadell (ICMAB, 2026)