Spring full of outreach activities at the IBB

At the IBB, we’ve welcomed spring with a variety of science education activities aimed at bringing science closer to audiences of all ages. Between 11st of March and 9th of April, we received visits from over 80 people at the institute — from high school students to neighbors from the Casal Verdun.

As part of Escolab, a program promoted by the Barcelona City Council, many research institutes across Catalonia offer scientific outreach activities to secondary school students. Once again this year, the Botanical Institute of Barcelona offered two hands-on workshops focused on plant studies. High school students from the Istituto Italiano Statale Comprensivo di Barcellona had the opportunity to engage in a practical research experience by studying the phylogeny of the Euphorbia genus. Working alongside IBB researchers, student teams observed, formulated hypotheses, and drew conclusions about the evolutionary history of these plants by comparing morphological and genetic data. They also reflected on the importance of combining different approaches and disciplines when conducting research in any field of science.

On the 28th of March, we also welcomed 21 visitors from the Casal de Barri Verdun. This activity was made possible through the “Ciencia en el Barrio” (Science in the Neighborhood) initiative by CSIC, which allows groups with limited access to these types of experiences to enjoy them. On this sunny day, visitors were given a guided tour of the IBB’s facilities, including the library, herbarium, Salvador cabinet, and butterfly conservatory. Several researchers also shared their work, helping to promote scientific culture.

In early April, the IBB hosted three visits from undergraduate Fine Arts students from the University of Barcelona. During these visits, they were introduced to the general herbarium, historic plant sheets, the 17th-century Salvador Cabinet Museum, and the butterfly house.

These activities turned biodiversity research into a hands-on experience, helping to foster scientific culture in the fields of botany, genomics, evolution, and taxonomy.

Throughout April and May, the IBB will offer more outreach activities, open to everyone:

• Visits to the butterfly conservatory, aimed at school groups. Every Wednesday.

• Guided tour on funerary botany at the Montjuïc Cemetery (27th of April). Open to the general public

• As part of the V. Biomaratón de Flora (Spanish Flora Bioblitz), two plant identification activities: one at the Botanical Garden of Barcelona (17th of May) and another at Collserola Natural Park (19th of May). Open to the general public

• Art and Science Day for children and families (24th of May).