For the 26th consecutive year, Exporecerca Jove, Europe’s largest non-profit youth research fair, was held in Barcelona during the second week of March, organized by the Association to Promote Youth Research, MAGMA. Over the course of three days, participating students from all levels of ESO, Batxillerat, and FP presented their research to attendees. Set up in personalized stands throughout the fair, the students also welcomed visits from various jury members who evaluated their projects.

The fair is open not only to Catalan students but also to international participants, with a category for works in English, creating an enriching environment both scientifically and culturally. For the first time, the fair also featured workshops for younger participants to assist in the development of their projects, further enhancing the educational experience.

In this edition, Dean Kos (eMolMat group) and Guillem Wetherell (NN group) participated as part of the jury, while Lluis Casabona (eMolMat group) led one of the workshops.

Lluis Casabona and Dean Kos inside the fair

At the Fair

Guillem Wetherell and Dean Kos, in their role as members of the jury, spent about three hours walking through the fair, visiting the research projects assigned to them. The projects, which spanned a wide range of fields—from scientific and technological to social, humanistic, and artistic—were evaluated based on the rigor of the work, the originality and impact of the proposal, and the quality of the oral presentation.

“I was surprised by the variety of topics in the projects,” Dean Kos commented. “Sustainability and resilience, in the context of climate change and the increasing frequency of natural disasters, have motivated many students. There were also many technological themes related to machine learning, and many projects employed prototyping tools such as 3D printing and Arduino platforms to manufacture and control mechanical and electronic components. The event shows that even the youngest students have the interest and ability to use research tools, write code, and develop prototypes to carry out complex scientific and technological projects.”

“I was impressed by the creativity and rigor of the projects presented, as well as the passion, preparation, and talent of the young participants,” added Guillem Wetherell. “Their ability to defend their ideas and confidently answer complex questions was truly remarkable.”

Guillem Wetherell during the presentation of a project

“It was also great to see the presence of international projects,” Kos continued. “During my visit, I was able to appreciate projects from Slovakia, China, and Brazil.”

In an adjacent space, Lluis Casabona led a workshop on impact, aimed at sharing strategies with young researchers on how to communicate ideas, projects, and initiatives in a clear and accessible way, adapting to different audiences.

“It was very inspiring to see young people reflecting on their own projects and their impact on people and the planet, while also considering how to make them financially sustainable.”

Exporecerca Jove 2025 | Credit: Magma Recerca

Next editions

Exporecerca Jove is a strong initiative that we hope will continue next year. The participating ICMAB researchers encourage families, schools, and high schools to inspire students with ideas and projects to get involved and participate in the fair, allowing them to continue developing their talents. You can follow Exporecerca and its upcoming calls on Instagram, X, Facebook or their webpage.