The Science helps to discover and improve the world
April 4, 2025
Madrid es Ciencia 2025
From 27th to 29th March, the seven IMDEA Institutes have been at IFEMA, participating in the fourteenth edition of the Madrid es Ciencia Fair, organised by the Fundación para el Conocimiento madrimasd.
It has been three intense days full of science and a lot of emotion: those that have been transmitted to us by the almost 3,500 students from schools in the Community of Madrid who have participated in the fair by exhibiting their research.
In addition to this, there was the enthusiasm and interest shown by the more than 26,000 guests who came to IFEMA’s Pavilion 1.
Thanks to them, around 180 researchers from the IMDEA institutes have enjoyed themselves like children!
Our researchers have explored the hidden world of water, speaking and experiencing its secrets. They have become advocates for water, explaining how some membranes can remove emerging contaminants, and told us how much water our food costs.
We have also been encouraged to embrace our cells, to learn more about the social network of our gut, and to try out a simulator that helps us to know how we will feel when we turn one year older.
Between potions and alchemy, they explained the magic of chemistry, the power of red cabbage as a source of energy, or the power of zeolites to obtain clean water and valuable waste.
They also brought 3D printing to life by explaining how it works, what materials can be used, and its uses in health, aerospace… And they explained how they are working to discover and improve flame-retardant or shape-memory materials.
In the world of communication networks, they have delved into interactive science and technology: from quantum computing to AI. In addition, they have done experiments related to blockchain, computer vision and data transmission through light.
They have also shown us that small is different. Thanks to nanoscience and nanotechnology, we can design things atom by atom, use molecules against cancer cells, or manufacture state-of-the-art photovoltaic panels.
With IMDEA researchers, the public has also learned how to decrypt secret code, challenged Akinator, became hackers for a few minutes or has been able to solve the Towers of Hanoi.
The result of all this work and the enthusiasm of our researchers have been spectacular. More than 450 visitors to the fair have shared their IMDEA experience with us and nearly 2,700 have been awarded the distinction of IMDEA Expert after having participated in the activities of the seven institutes and having obtained all the stamps for their IMDEA Passport.
In these three days, messages have been left on the #experimentaIMDEA wall that have amused us, moved us, taught us, encouraged us to continue with our work… Like Valeria’s, who likes science because she can discover new worlds, or Paula’s, for whom science is cool and is ‘like magic but real’. Or those of Nuria and Sofia thanking their parents and teachers for inspiring and supporting them. In one way or another, almost all of them recognise that science is essential, fascinating, exciting, and that thanks to it we know the world better and we know ourselves better.
Those who have participated in our activities have also left us with unforgettable memories. Like Víctor, who in addition to getting his IMDEA passport, was named honorary IMDEA Researcher for having been the absolute champion in our nutrition escape room and in solving the Towers of Hanoi. Or Laura, who is going to bring her children to Feria Madrid es Ciencia as soon as they are born so that they can enjoy it as much as she did. Carolina also got us excited when she told us that it was the second year she came with her children and that she was thinking of visiting again.
Without a doubt, experiences like these are what make us think that our work is worthwhile, that every effort is not enough to ensure that not only the 26,000 people who visited us, but also the whole world, recognise science as our best ally. See you in Madrid es Ciencia 2026!
IMDEA Water, Energy, Software, Food, Nanoscience, Materials and Networks.
