The 9th edition of “FEnanoMENOS” will involve 2,000 secondary and special education schoolchildren
A new edition of “FEnanoMENOS” kicks off! The ninth edition of the Nanoscience Fair for Schoolchildren is being held once again this year with the main objective of getting different students in Spain to develop experimental research projects based on the scientific method and on a phenomenon linked to nanoscience. On this occasion, it is expected to have an impact on around 2,000 schoolchildren during the development of the project and 500 students on the day of the final fair, which will take place in May 2024.
This is one of the fairs specialising in nanoscience with the longest tradition in Spain. For the third consecutive year, it is extending its scope beyond Aragon, incorporating the participation of schools from other autonomous communities. In addition, a virtual fair will be held through an interactive image showing the stands of the finalist groups. The visitor, on standing in each of them, will activate a video in which the teams will explain their project in the same way as they will do in the on-site event.
The initiative, aimed at young people in Secondary and Special Education, is organised by the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), a joint institute of the CSIC and the University of Zaragoza, and is funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) – Ministry of Science and Innovation.
NEWS
This year, up to four new features have been introduced. On the one hand, “FEnanoMENOS THINK TANK” will be set up, a laboratory for the co-creation of ideas whose function is to be a centre for intellectual reflection on issues related to nanoscience. On the other hand, the “FEnanoHack” will be organised, a hackathon in the form of a working day in which the different schools of the finalist groups will take part.
Also, taking advantage of the fact that this is the ninth edition, and given that 9 is the “nano number” par excellence, Nanotechnology Day will be celebrated, with a new special action both in person and online for this day (9 October) consisting of 2 workshops and the “Nanotalent Show”.
The latest novelty lies in the design and preparation of 10 teaching sheets adapted to Secondary and Special Education that explain the properties of nanomaterials. They include activities and dynamics that allow class discussion on the future of nanoscience, thus providing ideas for the implementation of projects.
The “FEnanoRANKING”, a tool in which the finalists will have to solve four challenges related to nanoscience and its applications, will remain the same as last year’s edition. The “From FEnanoMENO to FEnanoMENO” initiative will also be maintained.
FEnanoMENO”, a sponsorship and collaboration programme between the groups in both categories in which they merge to help each other.
In addition, there will once again be a joint day of coaching in communication with the finalists of the “Alimentando Vocaciones” project of the Agri-Food Institute of Aragon (IA2). And the winners of the two categories will participate in the V Nanotechnology Gala, organised by the SAMCA Nanotechnology Chair of the University of Zaragoza.
SCOPE
It is estimated that “FEnanoMENOS IX” will generate an impact of approximately 2,000 schoolchildren (around 30 groups from different schools in Aragon and 20 groups from the rest of Spain). In addition, it is estimated that around 500 students will participate in the final fair in person, while around a thousand will take part in the online mode. It will also involve five nanomentoras, top-level INMA researchers who will carry out the evaluation of the findings presented by the participating teams.
The reach will increase thanks to the sending of informative newsletters, publications on social networks, appearance on websites and presence at outreach events such as Researchers’ Night, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science or Nanotechnology Day.
25/09/2023
