The XVII edition of Expociència, held yesterday with great success at the facilities of the Scientific Park of the University of Valencia (PCUV) and the Technical School of Engineering (ETSE-UV), brought together thousands of people in a scientific dissemination day open to all citizens. Under the motto "Expociència without limits", this edition marked a milestone by incorporating for the first time activities adapted for people with functional diversity, reaffirming the commitment of the event to an accessible and inclusive science
With an influx of around 3,500 people, from 10:00 to 14:00 the public was able to enjoy more than a hundred activities designed by research institutes, innovative companies and university centres, With the participation of over 800 people including technical staff, researchers and volunteer students. Among the most celebrated innovations was the Senses Tent, with proposals specially designed for people with functional diversity, such as accessible chess, Touch astronomy exhibitions or sensory workshops on physical and molecular phenomena and archaeology.
Ángeles Solanes, Vice-Rector of Teacher Transformation and Continuing Education at the University of Valencia, gave a very positive assessment of the course: "The evaluation is excellent. Every year the Parc opens its doors as a way to get closer to citizens, making a great effort involving the entire Burjassot-Paterna Campus. At the Universitat de València we are fully aware that all the solutions society needs emanate from science, and therefore we work to transfer these scientific advances to society as a whole". Carlos Hermenegildo, Vice-Rector of Research, stressed the informative and participatory nature of the event: "Expociència means making available to the public the science that is being carried out in the environment of the Science Park in a fun way for all generations".
The Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), represented by six of its most important institutes and its territorial delegation, also participated actively. Amparo Querol, sub-delegate of the CSIC in the Valencian Community, highlighted the continued commitment of the organization: "IFIC, IATA, I2SysBio, ITQ, IBMCP and IBV, together with the CSIC delegation, participate every year in Expociència because we firmly believe in its impact to bring science to the public".
One of the most applauded moments of the day was the performance of the brass quintet Hardbrass Quintet in the PCUV’s Marie Curie auditorium. Formed by members of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the University of Valencia, students of the Superior Conservatory of Music of Valencia (CSMV) and the School of High Performance Music (ESMAR), the ensemble offered a concert that combined musical disclosure and interpretative quality. The program included a careful selection of works, among which were excerpts from Astor Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires -"Yo soy María", "Balada", "Habanera" and "Fuga y misterio"-, Kevin McKee’s Vuelta del Fuego, Kerry Turner’s Ricochet suite with its three movements ("Ricochet", "Repose" and "Rodeo"), and the energetic Killer Tango by Sonny Kompanek.
In addition, the concert was fully accessible thanks to the implementation of advanced sensory accessibility services. The audience was provided with live subtitling and SUBPAC vibrating packs, which transform sound frequencies into tactile vibrations, allowing people with hearing impairments to experience music in an immersive way. These measures ensured that all those attending could enjoy the performance without barriers, receiving an excellent reception from the public.
The conference also hosted the award ceremony of the audiovisual competition Media100cia, which recognizes talent in scientific dissemination in university and non-university settings. In this fifth edition, the first prize in the non-university category went to the school Jesús María Fuensanta, of Valencia, for its video "It's not magic, it’s science". The students of 1st and 3rd Primary, with the help of their teacher Paco Durá, recreates a magical academy in which they learn, in a playful and educational way, scientific concepts such as oxidation or refraction. In the university category, the winning video was "The wonderful AFPs against the world", presented by Carolina Ropero, researcher at IATA, who approached with ingenuity the research to stop the fruit from having fungi, through the use of antifungal proteins, the AFPs.
Pedro Carrasco, director of the UV Science Park, celebrated the success of the edition with these words: "We want Expociència to be a celebration of science open to all people, without barriers. This year we have taken another step towards real inclusion with accessible proposals that allow everyone to enjoy, learn and participate. The commitment of all involved entities has been key to achieving this goal".
With the participation of more than 80 entities from the academic and scientific ecosystem in Valencia, Expociència 2025 is consolidated once again as one of the major references for scientific dissemination in the Valencian Community. The organization has been supported by the Council of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment of the Generalitat Valenciana.
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