The European Researchers' Night, which in 2026 will take place on 25 September, once again brings together a delegation of CSIC centres. As in previous years, staff from nearly all areas of knowledge will bring the most exciting science to Espacio Fundación Telefónica, in a free-entry event open to all audiences. Madrid's European Researchers' Night is a large-scale science outreach event in which researchers from all fields take their science to the streets so that society can discover it – and enjoy it.
For 2026, eleven CSIC centres have joined forces in an outreach consortium that will celebrate science in style at Espacio Fundación Telefónica: the Madrid Institute of Materials Science, the Institute of Ceramics and Glass, the Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry, the National Centre for Biotechnology, the Institute for Biomedical Research, the Severo Ochoa Centre for Molecular Biology, the Institute of Theoretical Physics, the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, the Institute of Food Science, the Institute of Micro and Nanotechnology, and finally the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain.
As in previous years, the proposal from this CSIC delegation is divided into two parts: a morning event exclusively for school groups, and an afternoon science fair with free and open admission.
Science and art for all audiences
"Schools that secure a spot for the morning activity will be able to enjoy a wide variety of science workshops, as well as our traditional Women Nobel Prize scavenger hunt, our 'Escape Road'," explains Jesús Ricote, Deputy Director of the Madrid Institute of Materials Science (ICMM-CSIC) and coordinator of the event.
Following the success of the previous edition, the podcast 'Ciencia para Leer' will once again take part, with a live recording that will have secondary school students as its audience. This session will be led by Carmen Guerrero, from the CSIC's Deputy Vice-Presidency for Scientific Culture and Citizen Science.
It will be in the afternoon, from 4:00 p.m., when a full-blown science fair begins, with completely free admission: "the CSIC centres that have come together work in practically all areas of knowledge, and there will be workshops or scientific demonstrations on all of them," Ricote continues. The menu includes workshops on fruit, geology, and sunscreens, DNA extractions, demonstrations of superconductivity and vacuum, board games… and much more.
The highlight of the 'menu' will be what takes place in the auditorium of Espacio Fundación Telefónica, which this year opens its doors to scientific art: at 5:15 p.m., staff from the CNB will perform the short play 'Eclipsadas', about women scientists hidden from the history of science; at 6:00 p.m., it will be the turn of 'Biolocas', a pop/rock concert featuring classic songs in their most scientific version; and finally, at 7:00 p.m., the play 'Doro' will be performed.
"'Doro' is a play created at the Madrid Institute of Materials Science to reclaim the figure of Dorotea Barnés, a Spanish chemist, the first person to publish on the important Raman effect, and who was repudiated by the Franco regime," says Rafael Pérez del Real, a researcher at the ICMM-CSIC and director of the play. The theatre piece also features actress Carmen Valero in the lead role.
In parallel, the public will be able to enjoy a walk through practically all the major areas of science: "We invite attendees to get their 'science passport', with which they can visit all the 'stops' on our scientific route to win a grand prize at the end," the researcher continues.
Visitors will be able to wander through the various stands with a wide range of scientific demonstrations, but they can also enter closed-door workshops, where interaction with the researchers will be even closer. In addition, the public will be invited to play and reflect on the role of women in science in the traditional 'Escape Road: in search of the Women Nobel Prize winners'.
The full programme, as well as time slots for some workshops and the talent contest, can be consulted on the ICMM website. Admission is free until capacity is reached.
CSIC centres involved
The centres participating in this activity are the Madrid Institute of Materials Science (ICMM, as organiser), the Institute of Ceramics and Glass (ICV), the Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry (ICP), the National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB), the Severo Ochoa Centre for Molecular Biology (CBM-SO), the Institute of Food Science (CIAL), the Institute of Theoretical Physics (IFT), the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT), the Institute of Micro and Nanotechnology (IMN), the Sols-Morreale Institute for Biomedical Research (IIBM), and the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME). This event is also made possible thanks to the support and funding of the CSIC through its Deputy Vice-Presidency for Scientific Culture and Citizen Science (VAAC).
