Joaquim Vives, PhD, Contributing Editor
Banc de Sang i Teixits
Barcelona, Spain
Raquel Güell Alonso, MSc, Post-Graduate Student
Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca
Barcelona, Spain
A pint is a measure of volume used for fluids. For many, this is a reasonable drinking volume, particularly if you are in a pub. Pubs, bars and cafes alike offer a space where local people can meet and socialize. Indeed pubs are perceived by the public as an important place where people from different backgrounds can meet and interact (1). Back in 2012, the success of an event called “Meet the Researchers” at Imperial College London, prompted Dr. Praveen Paul and Dr. Michael Motskin to bring scientists out of their labs to present their work in public places. This was how the Festival Pint of Science started and it quickly took off around the World. Today we can have a Pint of Science in nearly 500 cities every year over three days in May simultaneously in hundreds of venues.
Similar to other initiatives to communicate science and technology (eg. TEDx program for local communities), Pint of Science offers the possibility to scientists to deliver talks on their latest scientific research in an accessible format to the public. Additionally, it provides a platform that allows people to discuss research openly with the actual scientists who carried it out and no prior knowledge of the subject is required. Each event typically features several speakers, with plenty of time for questions and discussion. The goal is to make science engaging and accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or level of expertise, reaching a wide audience. By taking science out of the lab and into local communities, the festival breaks barriers, fosters dialogue and engage the audience in meaningful conversations with researchers.
This is only possible thanks to a network of thousands of volunteers who are passionate about bringing discoveries to the Society. And that is where we come in! We volunteered to organize Pint of Science in Mataró, a small of town of nearly 130,000 inhabitants North of Barcelona (Spain). We were delighted to discover so many talented local scientists, who are experts in diverse fields of research, from biomedical sciences to economy, ecology and archaeology. The proximity to Barcelona and its Universities and Research Institutes makes Mataró a non-scientific destination. Perhaps now, after the success of #PINT24MAT, we have changed this perception!
On the left, audience participating actively during the talk given by Dra. María Molina (pneumologist at IDIBELL). On the right, local coordinators (Dr. Joaquim Vives, Raquel Güell, Dr. Oliver Carrillo i Pol Bartrès) of Pint of Science Mataró with Dr. María Molina (IDIBELL) and Dr. Gerardo Ruales (UIC).
Reference
1. Thurnell-Read T. ‘If they weren’t in the Pub, they Probably wouldn’t Even Know each Other’: Alcohol, Sociability and Pub Based Leisure. International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure. 2021 2021/03/01;4(1):61-78.
#RegionalandPartnerUpdates