The IRBLleida, the Paeria de Lleida and Lleida's traders' organisations collaborate with the distribution of 6,250 bags to disseminate the role of science

To raise awareness of the importance of research, knowledge and scientific communication is the aim of the campaign 'The role of science' promoted by the Institute of Biomedical Research of Lleida (IRBLleida), with the collaboration of the Paeria de Lleida and Lleida's shopkeepers' organisations. Thanks to the initiative, 6,250 bags will be distributed in Lleida's shops, in 5 different models, to disseminate the role of science. The campaign was presented today by the manager of the Institute of Biomedical Research of Lleida (IRBLleida), Eva López Truco, the councillor for consumption, trade and markets of the Lleida City Council, Marta Gispert Rocasalbas, accompanied by representatives of the Lleida traders' organisations, Blanca López of the Association of Traders, Entrepreneurs and Professionals of the Zona Alta and Montse Eritja of the Federation of Traders' Associations of the Commercial Axis of Lleida.

"Vaccines do not cause allergies or asthma", "Cancer, AIDS or diabetes cannot be cured with lemon, bicarbonate or diluted bleach", "Conventional therapies are evaluated by studies in prestigious publications". These are some of the questions that appear silk-screened on the "The role of science" bags.

"Detecting false information or news, pseudotherapies, nutritional myths and providing scientific knowledge are some of the messages that all those who buy from shops in Lleida will receive, thanks to the campaign 'The role of Science'" explained the manager of the IRBLleida, Eva López Truco.

"The creation of synergies between commerce and other areas helps to disseminate messages that go beyond the commercial area, to promote social improvement. That is why we are bringing scientific knowledge to the shops in Lleida", said Marta Gispert Rocasalbas, councillor for consumer affairs, trade and markets of the Lleida City Council.

This is a campaign developed in 2020 by the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit of the University of Oviedo in collaboration with the Union of Traders of the Principality of Asturias. The campaign was advised by two scientists from the University of Oviedo, José Manuel Montejo Bernardo, from the Department of Educational Sciences, and Alfonso Fernández González, from the Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, and funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT).

Following the success of this campaign, IRBLleida, in an action also funded by the FECYT, has promoted this campaign in Catalan in Lleida. This is one of the 12 actions of the IRBLleida's scientific dissemination plan to highlight the importance of biomedical research and the role of the IRBLleida in Lleida.

This activity is possible thanks to the collaboration of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and Innovation.