What if we could destroy cancer without harming the body? Could food waste be used as makeup? What impact does learning a language have on our minds and emotions? These and many other equally thought-provoking questions are part of the titles of the scientific talks taking place on May 18, 19, and 20 in Sabadell, as part of the world’s largest free science outreach event.
At this festival, researchers from all disciplines bring their work closer to the public in an unusual setting for science: bars, transforming these everyday spaces into meeting points for knowledge and curiosity.
Giulia Pancotti, from ICMAB, during her talk in The Wild Geese in 2025
In Sabadell, Pint of Science will take place at L’Estruch, Wild Geese, and LaMotta, featuring a total of 43 scientific talks covering topics such as energy efficiency, mental health, and the integration of artificial intelligence into various aspects of our lives. One of the goals of the organization in Sabadell is to establish a direct dialogue between researchers and society.
ICMAB talks in Pint of Science
The event, both in Sabadell and Barcelona, will also count with some ICMAB speakers. On Tuesday 19, Miquel Nuez-Martínez will give the talk "BNCT-una teràpia anticàncer feta a mida" in The Wild Geese. On the same venue next day, Wednesday 20, Mercedes Linares Moreau will present the talk "MOFs: superesponjas moleculares con premio Nobel". Also on Wednesday, Marco Zechner will present his research through "The Power of Polymer brushes". All the sessions will be held at 7 PM.
In Barcelona, Daniel Martin-Jimenez will give the talk "Cocineros moleculares" on Wednesday 20 at 18:30 in Bar La Cervesera Artesana (Carrer de Sant Agustí, 14, Gràcia, 08012 Barcelona).
Pint of Science in Spain
The free science-in-bars festival Pint of Science Spain will bring a total of 1,300 researchers to 114 cities and towns on May 18, 19, and 20. With more than a thousand events spread across dozens of locations, this year the festival is committed to strengthening its presence in less populated areas, bringing science to bars in 29 rural regions participating for the first time through outreach talks, monologues, and experiments presented in simple language and in a friendly, participatory atmosphere. One of the organization’s main goals is to reduce the gap between scientific knowledge and territories far from major urban centers. Small towns are often left out of the usual science outreach circuits, limiting access to up-to-date scientific information. “It is essential for science to reach every corner, not just large cities. Villages also have curiosity, talent, and a desire to learn,” explains Sandra Medrano Garcia, Head of Communications, emphasizing that the informal setting of bars encourages more open and participatory conversations.
One of the key aspects of this edition is the role of researchers who, faced with a lack of job opportunities in their hometowns, build their careers elsewhere in the country or abroad. Many of these people temporarily return to their towns to participate in the festival and share their knowledge with family, friends, and neighbors. This symbolic return not only brings science closer to local communities, but also strengthens the bond between the community and those who had to leave in order to continue their professional careers.
In addition, the festival highlights the importance of making scientific role models visible in rural contexts, where access to these kinds of references is more limited. Direct interaction helps dismantle the idea that science is inaccessible or distant, showing that behind every research project there are people with relatable stories and shared experiences. Examples include research in agriculture, environmental science, and forest management, all of which have significant economic and social impact.
The festival’s national coordinator, Carlos Peris Torres, points out that “every talk in a rural environment is a unique opportunity to spark interest and inspire vocations. When someone sees that a neighbor from the same background has managed to build a scientific career, it helps make that path feel closer and more attainable. Science also belongs to villages, and this festival is a way of giving that knowledge back to them.”
Eleven Years of Pint of Science
Over its ten previous editions in Spain, Pint of Science has turned science communication into a genuine social experience, with 2,200 events held in 1,000 bars, the participation of more than 5,300 researchers, and attendance of around 130,000 people. In this context, the eleventh edition is shaping up to be the most ambitious yet, both in terms of the number of planned activities and the increase in participating locations.
The initiative began in May 2013 in the United Kingdom, when researchers Michael Mostkin and Praveen Paul organized a talk in their own laboratories to bring their work closer to people affected by different mental health conditions. The impact was so positive that it led to a key question: “If people go to laboratories… why not bring science to where people are: the bars?”
What started as a local idea has grown into a global phenomenon. In 2026, Pint of Science will take place simultaneously across all five continents, with the participation of 27 countries. Australia will be the starting point of this international science marathon, opening its bars to knowledge and kicking off three consecutive days of shared science around the world.
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Pint of Science 2026 is a free event open to everyone who wishes to attend, and it would not be possible without the collaboration of organizations sponsoring the festival at the national level, such as Fundación Pfizer, Labbox, CESIF, VHIO, Miltenyi, JJNN, Vadillo Asesores, and more than 70 local sponsors. In addition, Sabadell is supported by institutions such as the UAB, ICMAB-CSIC, ICN2, CRM, ICTA-UAB, and ICP.
More information
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Sabadell gives a warm welcome to The Pint of Science festival (2025)
