Event
IFAE brings physics to CosmoCaixa for the European Researchers’ Night 2026
September 17, 2026
IFAEIFAE will bring fundamental physics closer to the public at CosmoCaixa during the European Researchers’ Night 2026, with activities developed within the European Project PICO New Horizons, including an interactive cosmology workshop for families and a live jazz and physics performance.
Com sona l’Univers: jazz i física per a tothom
From 21:00 to 22:00 in the CosmoCaixa Auditorium, IFAE will present Com sona l’Univers: jazz i física per a tothom, a live performance combining music and scientific conversation to explore some of the major questions about the Universe.
The performance brings together the Néstor Giménez Trio and ICREA researcher at IFAE Diego Blas on a journey through concepts such as spacetime, gravity and black holes. Live jazz alternates with short scientific interventions, creating a dialogue between music and physics around patterns, exploration and the unknown.
The proposal builds on the format presented at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) in July 2026 . For Researchers’ Night, the format returns with a broader focus on fundamental physics and the Universe.
The Néstor Giménez Trio is led by pianist and composer Néstor Giménez together with Camil Arcarazo on double bass and Andreu Moreno on drums.
Mission PICO: find your place in the Universe
IFAE will be present at the Science Fair with “Mission PICO: find your place in the Universe”, an interactive activity for families focused on modern cosmology.
Participants will move through three hands-on stations, solving challenges related to interpreting the light from galaxies, the expansion of the Universe and the construction of cosmic maps. The activity combines play and experimentation with direct interaction with IFAE researchers.
The activity will be run by Elisa Legnani, Lucía Flores and Alejandro Cortés, members of the Observational Cosmology Group.
Quantum sensing and dark matter
IFAE researcher Ariadna Gómez del Pulgar Martínez will give a talk on detecting dark matter with superconducting qubits, introducing how quantum sensors can contribute to searches for new physics.
More Researchers’ Night activities
IFAE’s participation in the European Researchers’ Night will continue beyond CosmoCaixa.
On Wednesday, September 30, IFAE will organise a hands-on workshop at Vil·la Urània.
On Friday, October 2, Researchers’ Night activities will take place at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), where IFAE will participate in the Science Fair with activities for the public.
Further details about these activities will be announced soon.
The activities are developed within PICO New Horizons , the European project in which IFAE participates to promote accessible, inclusive and participatory ways of connecting fundamental physics and research with society.
Activity
IFAE launches ‘Ask the Universe’ for the European Researchers’ Night
September 16, 2026
IFAE launches Ask the Universe (Pregunta a l’Univers), a new educational outreach initiative inviting young people to share the questions about the Universe that most intrigue them. The activity is part of IFAE’s programme for the European Researchers’ Night 2026 and has been developed within the European project PICO New Horizons.
Outreach programmes
IFAE brings fundamental physics closer to young students through its 2026 summer programmes
July 23, 2026
Throughout June and July, IFAE welcomed around 100 secondary-school and university students through a series of educational and research programmes designed to bring young people closer to fundamental physics and scientific research.
Event
IFAE's Severo Ochoa programme brings jazz, history and physics together in a sold-out public event
July 10, 2026
A sold-out audience of around 300 people gathered for ‘Sota l’eclipsi: jazz i física de l’univers’, an outreach event supported by IFAE’s Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence programme. Bringing together history, fundamental physics and live jazz, the evening explored how eclipses have transformed our understanding of the Universe while highlighting the dialogue between scientific discovery and artistic creation.