IATA, IFIC and ICMol co-organize the annual day of the Young Academy of Spain

Laura Laguna, researcher in the group of Consumer Perception and Behaviour and Adapted Nutrition at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), Emma Torró, from the Institute of Corpuscular Physics (IFIC) and José Jaime Baldoví, of the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol), were members of the organizing committee, . The three personalities of the University of Valencia Science Park (PCUV) made the conclusions and closing of the 5th Conference of the Young Academy of Spain, which was held on Friday at the Botanical Garden of the Universitat de València (UV).

Under the theme 'Science in the face of major crises', the event analysed the main global challenges and highlighted the role of scientific research in their approach. The event aimed to promote the exchange of knowledge between the scientific and professional community, present technological and scientific advances that contribute to addressing global crises and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to find innovative solutions.

The event was structured into three thematic blocks: public health crisis; climate and resource crises; and political and information crises. For the first area, key issues such as current and future pandemics were considered, as well as other crucial aspects such as the importance of addressing mental health, the risks arising from obesity or the management of old age from a scientific perspective supported by active prevention policies.

Under the theme 'Science in the Face of Major Crises', the event analysed the main global challenges and highlighted the role of scientific research in their approach. The event sought to promote the exchange of knowledge between the scientific and professional community, to present technological and scientific advances that help tackle global crises and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to find innovative solutions

The second section examined the causes, monitoring and prospects of climate change, one of the most pressing threats of our era. The impact of natural resource management policies and building spaces, some of the proposed clean energy alternatives, as well as the already evident consequences of this phenomenon, such as the intensification of extreme weather events, were discussed.

The third block, which focuses on the role of information management and political decision-making in public perception of crises, explored key aspects of this dimension; from education for the formation of a critical society to scientific advice as a tool for the formulation of policies with an impact on the development and resolution of these crises.

The day ended with the round table 'Looking to the future', which addressed the future of science in the face of these challenges with the participation of the speakers and young research staff; as well as with the conclusions and closing by the organizing committee of the event.

Medals for new academics

Also, the Young Academy of Spain held on Thursday the act of Imposition of Medals to a dozen new academicians and academics in number, among which was distinguished Marta Martínez Sanz, Researcher with a degree from IATA and currently Senior Scientist at the Institute for Research in Food Sciences (CIAL), a joint centre of the CSIC and the Autonomous University of Madrid.

The researcher did her doctoral studies in the IATA’s New Materials and Nanotechnology group between 2009 and 2013, under the direction of Jose María Lagarón and Amparo López Rubio. After three years at ANSTO (Australia), training in advanced structural characterization techniques, in 2017 she rejoined IATA as a postdoctoral researcher; while in 2020 she joined CIAL as a full-time scientist. In 2024 he received the National Angeles Alvariño Award for his multidisciplinary research, with social and economic relevance from an environmental point of view.

The Youth Academy of Spain has opened until 28 February 2026 the deadline for submission of applications to provide ten academic places and academic number, which will take possession in the year 2026. Candidates must have Spanish nationality, hold the academic degree of doctor obtained in 2014 or later and be born from 1986 onwards.