Over the weekend of April 18–19, researchers from the Nanomol-bio group (ICMAB-CSIC)—Judit Morlà, Núria Pujol and Guillem Vargas—together with Esperanza Medina from the NanoCIM group, participated in the 19th Festa de la Ciència, held at El Born (Barcelona), an event that gathered more than 22,000 visitors and over 120 institutions. Within this science outreach festival, they organized the activity “Spherifications: From the Laboratory to the Plate”, aimed at children and families, with three fully booked sessions focused on explaining nanocapsules, their properties, and applications through interactive experiments.
The activity combined different approaches to make nanoscience accessible to all audiences. Participants were first introduced to nanomaterials and fluorescence, followed by a live demonstration of how nanocapsules work. They then engaged in hands-on spherification experiments using sodium alginate, calcium chloride, and fruit juices, and finally explored the concept of nanovesicles by painting and functionalizing model systems.
Outreach has long been a core pillar of the Nanomol-bio group, with activities designed for diverse audiences and contexts. One of the main challenges lies in communicating nanoscale concepts, which are often abstract and difficult to visualize. To address this, researchers rely on metaphors, everyday examples, and application-driven explanations to bridge the gap between the nanoscale and the familiar world.
Beyond sharing knowledge, these activities are also a learning experience for researchers. Adapting language to each audience and ensuring that concepts are both understandable and engaging are key aspects highlighted by the team. At the same time, interaction with participants—especially children—brings fresh perspectives, creativity, and reinforces the importance of fostering scientific vocations while making emerging technologies more approachable to society.
