A group of students from the Soriano-Montagut school in Amposta presented their physics research on speed at the Hub Social Barcelona on Tuesday. They shared their findings like professional scientists, marking the culmination of the 'Research Goes to School' ('La recerca va a l'escola') event.
Nearly 100 students from 13 schools and institutes across Catalonia participated in the event. These schools are part of the Magnet alliances, which connect educational centres with leading institutions. The students detailed their investigations, which they worked on throughout the academic year with guidance from Catalan universities and research centres. This support was essential for ensuring scientific method and rigour in their classroom research.
Investigating Speed and its Nuances
During the day, student representatives from each centre explained their research process, data interpretation, and conclusions on topics they chose themselves. They transformed genuine curiosity about aspects often linked to their school environment into rigorous questions and investigations. Examples included environmental impacts, sustainability, scientific knowledge applied to daily life, and human health issues.
The Soriano-Montagut students, who have a Magnet alliance with the University School of Health and Sport at the Rovira i Virgili University's Terres de l'Ebre Campus, explored what it means to be fast and why speed varies depending on the activity. Using professional instruments such as photoelectric cells for precision races and radar guns to calculate throwing speed, they compared results from different tests and experiments. This allowed them to scientifically demonstrate that there is no single way to be fast.
To conclude the day, students took part in a workshop where they built various devices from recycled materials to safely observe the solar eclipse scheduled for August.
Promoting Scientific Engagement
'Research Goes to School' highlighted the importance of scientific dissemination and ensuring all children and young people have access to scientific role models. It also positioned children's curiosity as a driving force for learning and critically discovering the world around them. The event is part of the European project #NitRecerCat 2024-26, co-financed by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.
Equitat.org, through Magnet, is part of the consortium of universities and organisations promoting the project. These include the University of Girona (UdG), which coordinates the project and the Girona node; the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the University of Barcelona (UB), and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), coordinating the Barcelona-Vallès node; the University of Lleida (UdL), coordinating the Lleida node; the Rovira i Virgili University (URV), coordinating the Tarragona node; and the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), coordinating the Central Catalonia node. The Catalan Association for Scientific Communication (ACCC) handles communication and coordination for the different nodes.
The Magnet Programme's Impact
'MAGNET. Alliances for Educational Success' promotes alliances between educational centres and leading institutions in Catalonia. The careful and high-quality support from scientific, technological, cultural, or artistic institutions helps to use knowledge, research, and innovation as drivers for educational improvement. It transforms educational projects from within and opens centres to their local environment.
With over 12 years of experience, Magnet has become a key programme, involving 50 participating centres, over 14,500 students, and 1,500 teachers across 33 municipalities. The programme has shown its ability to develop new, quality educational projects and strengthen schools and institutes. Magnet is jointly driven by the Department of Education and Professional Training of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Barcelona Education Consortium, Equitat.org (formerly Fundació Bofill), and the Institute of Educational Sciences of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, in collaboration with local councils.
