Fifty young researchers gathered today at the Science Fair organized by Elhuyar

(Bilbao, 23 April 2016)

Today, at 12 noon, in the Plaza Nueva in Bilbao, Koldo Narbaiza Olaskoaga, councilor of the Basque Country and Education Area of the City of Bilbao, Cristina Uriarte Toledo, Councillor for Education, Linguistic Policy and Culture of the Basque Government, and Leire Cancio, Director General of Elhuycos Technology, along with Basque Initiative.

A hundred youth groups aged 12 to 18 have presented their projects at Zientzia Azoka. In this initiative organized by Elhuyar, young people have worked in group scientific or technological projects throughout the course, and today a great party has been held in which young people are the protagonists.

For the elaboration of the 55 scientific projects and 40 technological projects presented have had the collaboration of professional researchers. In fact, Zientzia Azoka is celebrated in collaboration with the Basque Science and Technology Network, and researchers from UPV/EHU, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, the Public University of Navarra and the University of Deusto collaborate with young people in project development.

Of the papers presented, 21 have been related to health, 25 have been related to the environment and ecology, 22 engineering or technology, 9 with energy and 7 are social sciences. Of all of them, a team of evaluators formed by members of the Basque Network of Science and Technology will select a series of papers and recognize the work done by their authors.

53% of the groups participating in Zientzia Azoka throughout the year were from Bizkaia, 37% from Gipuzkoa, 5% from Araba and 5% from Navarra. Also, in the Zientzia Azoka participate the winning teams in the fairs Galiciencia (Galicia) and ExpoRecerca (Catalonia).

The objectives are to promote the scientific culture in society and to develop in young people the scientific and technological capacities, to awaken vocations and to bring people of the sector to the young. To do this, the Science Fair has the support and collaboration of entities such as Amaia Maseda García (Vice-Rector of the Area of Diffusion and Transfer of the UPV/EHU), Eva Armesto Macías (Director of the Business Promotion Service of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia), Joseba Sanapchís Ginstitucional.

Learn more about the initiative: http://zientzia azoka a.elhuyar.eus/