LleidaLab magazine, to spark young people's curiosity about science in an accessible and appealing way

The Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida) and the Leandre Cristòfor Municipal School of Art (EAM) today presented the region's first popular science magazine, LleidaLab. The aim of the project is to spark young people's curiosity about science in an accessible and appealing way and to increase their interest in research, encouraging critical thinking.

LleidaLab is designed in a digital format, although 200 copies have also been printed and will be distributed to schools in the western part of the province. In addition, schools have been offered the opportunity to have a researcher give a talk to Year 13 students on one of the topics covered in the magazine. The talks, lasting a maximum of one hour, are aimed at sixth form students and will cover the contents of the magazine. The school can choose from the following topics:

• Is it okay to modify our DNA?
• Is time travel possible in physics?
• Spain has a different time zone than it should. Why? How does this affect health?
• Biographies of women scientists: Lise Meitner
• Monograph on the Nobel Prizes
• Learn about the "Health Bus" project
• The geometry of nature: the hidden language of shapes

'IRBLleida is aware of its responsibility in scientific education, as it is one of the fundamental pillars for ensuring that future research leaders have the right tools to make the best possible decisions,' said IRBLleida manager Eva López Truco.

The magazine was produced through the collaboration of IRBLleida research staff and students from the Leandre Cristòfor Municipal Art School (EAM). 'It has been a project that has lasted throughout the school year and has been fantastic for the students' relationships,' said EAM director Carles Bordons. 'We want students to have information and to awaken their critical spirit,' said researcher and member of the magazine's editorial committee, Marta Molinero García.

For the EAM students, 'the collaboration is an opportunity to bring our ideas to life,' said designer Mar Bourque Martínez.

The magazine features scientific curiosities, short research articles, debunks scientific myths, an interview with a science communicator from Lleida, as well as the biography of a female scientist and several monographs. The two organisations intend to continue publishing the magazine and produce more issues in the coming months. The content of the magazine has been prepared by an editorial committee made up of IRBLleida research staff from different areas and professional profiles. The design, layout and illustrations of the magazine have been carried out by 2nd-year students from the EAM's higher education courses in Illustration, Animation, Photography and Advertising Graphics.

The digital version of the magazine can be found on the IRBLleida website. Two hundred copies of the magazine have also been printed.

In addition, during Research Night, which will take place on Friday 19th from 5pm to 9pm, there will be a workshop to present the magazine.