The Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) have taken part of European Performance Science Night 2021, a ground-breaking event to bring art and science together. The project was part of the European Researchers' Night financed by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).
This initiative was leaded by the Épica Foundation La Fura dels Baus (a world-famous Catalan theatre company), with the aim of bringing science to the citizen and motivating young people to take up scientific careers. The IGTP with the Institute of Neuroscience of Barcelona, la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Open University of Catalonia and the Laboratoire Parole et Langage (CNRS, ILCB y Aix-Marseille University) participated in different workshops to prepare an unforgettable performance on September 24th that combined cognitive neuroscience, health, linguistics, climate emergency and philosophy.
Meet our scientists and their challenges for the EPSN
Three research groups of the IGTP participated on this project. Each one designed a challenge related to the following topics: the conception of social stigma for people affected by diseases such as tuberculosis or HIV, the defense mechanisms of the immune system and the complexity of the interactions of molecules.
Julia García-Prado, who leads the Viral Immune Evasion and Vaccines (VIRIEVAC) research group at the IGTP and IrsiCaixa
Berta Martin, researcher of the Epigenetics of Cell Differentiation and Cancer group (IGTP) led by Dr Miguel Angel Peinado.
José Domínguez who leads the Innovation in Respiratory Infections and Tuberculosis Diagnosis group at the IGTP.
The process of the European Performing Science Night
In June, the 6 partners got reunited to start the project. During the first workshop, the research teams explained what they do at the IGTP, presented their ideas for the challenges and their goals. All together, they did a series of creative and collaborative exercises to kick off the EPSN.
The second workshop took place in September. The participants continued with the preparations for the final performance. They did trainings, group dynamics and cooperation exercises, as well as planned the final details for the event.
The night of the final performance arrived. On September 24th, the doors of Fundació Èpica opened for a small audience. Those attending were immersed in an experience dealing with specific challenges in scientific research and interacted with an app that guided them during the event.
The science fair on September 25th closed the European Performing Science Night initiative. During the whole day, the citizens of Badalona had the opportunity to meet with the scientists at the Centre Cultural l'Escorxador and participate in experiments, research-related activities and talks.
Do you want to know more about the work done by the IGTP research groups?
At the science fair, the scientists participated in public talks where they explained the importance of their research and shared their experience during the European Performing Science Night.
Viral Immune Evasion and Vaccines (VIRIEVAC)
Innovation in Respiratory Infections and Tuberculosis Diagnosis
Epigenetics of Cell Differentiation and Cancer
Our research teams at the Science Fair
The EPSN in first person
“It has been an enriching and intense experience where both parties, the scientific and the artistic, have provided their vision and learned from the other. We have seen how the worlds of science and art can work together to communicate in a simpler way.”
Sergio Díaz Fernández - Innovation in Respiratory Infections and Tuberculosis Diagnosis research group.
“Being part of the European Performing Science Night has been enriching on a personal and professional level. Artists and scientists working together represents a complex challenge but it ended up a success thanks to the method implemented by Fundaciò Èpica. In just two weeks, the co-creative process has resulted in an unforeseen, shocking and emotional final performance.”
Francisco Moron Duran - Epigenetics of Cell Differentiation and Cancer research group.
Check our articles to discover more about the EPSN 2021
- The IGTP will participate in a European project for the European Researchers’ Night together with the Èpica Foundation of the Fura dels Baus
- The IGTP takes part in European Performance Science Night 2021
- Researchers explain science like never before in the first European Performing Science Night in Badalona