The UB awards projects from high schools and universities committed to society and the future of the planet

The fifteenth edition of the Peace Research Award, promoted by the UB Solidarity Foundation and the Institute for Professional Development of the UB (IDP - ICE), aiming to promote education on peace in high school and strengthen the culture of peace from a research perspective, has been given to the project Tornen les serps, però muden les pells. Anàlisi política sobre el creixement de lʼextrema dreta, by Joan Subirachs, from Cooperativa dʼEnsenyament Daina-Isard (Olesa de Montserrat).

The jury, formed by lecturers from the University of Barcelona, decided to award the prize to this study that analyses the current circumstances that may favour the rise of the far-right groups and their ideology, as well as the role of the media when covering the phenomenon. According to the veredict, “the jury praises the review of the history of the fascist movement in Spain, which states some of the springs from the past that are projected in the present”. The jury highlighted that the study combines theoretical analysis and empirical development, using information from interviews with social activists and experts for the analysis of the phenomenon, and has highlighted the centrality of this topic in the research for social peace.

On the other hand, the jury awarded five honorary mentions to the projects Sobre lʼobediència, by Laura Bötschi, from Institut Quatre Cantons in Barcelona; “No llegan a tiempo”. Les reparacions de les victims dels ccrims internacionals a la Cort Penal International: quimera o realitat?, by Aina Camacho, from Institut Lluch i Rafecas in Vilanova i la Geltrú; Mentides compartides. Estudi dels rumors sobre refugiats, by Clara Estrada, from the Escola Massana in Barcelona; Fronteras invisibles. Retos en la inclusión de jóvenes que han migrado solos en Gerona, by Fiona Llopart, from Les Alzines Institution in Girona; and Sʼha de donar veu al jovent? La legalització del vot als 16 anys, by Lucas Estruch, from Institut Vinyet in Sitges.

Precisely this latest study has also won the special prize of the Garraf County Council, which awards the best research for peace from a school in the county, according to the verdict of the jury. On the other hand, the Joan Gomis Prize, awarded by the City Council of Santa Coloma de Gramenet for the best study in this municipality, also according to the jury's verdict, has been for the a Els Jocs Olímpics de Berlín de 1936. Superioritat racial o propaganda política?, by Sofía López, from Institut Numancia.

Regarding the first Prize for Posters on Sustainability and Human Rights, it aims to involve the university community in the dissemination of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development as a tool for the protection and defense of human rights, and has awarded four posters made by students of Sociology, Environmental Sciences, Human Nutrition and Dietetics and the postgraduate degree in Environmental Management in Business and Public Administration.

The jury, formed by experts on sustainability and human rights from the University of Barcelona, public administrations and private non-profit organizations (NGOs), has decided to award four posters in three categories.

In the category of problems, the poster Relaciones intergeneracionales y medioambiente. Influencia de los jóvenes en las pautas de alimentación y consumo familiar, by Andrea Rizo, student of Sociology, has been awarded. It analyses the impacts of adopting sustainable eating patterns by young people in seven family environments. The jury valued that the question of how young people can influence the consumption and diet of the family involves the vast majority of the population of the planet, and praised both the interrelation of various elements in the analysis of the problem and the proposal of future avenues of research.

In the research category, the poster Analysis of surface O3 trends for the 2000-2017 period in Catalonia, by Oriol Canal, student of Environmental Sciences, has been awarded. It evaluates the variability of tropospheric ozone, in the period 2000-2017 in Catalonia, and warns of the exceeding legal thresholds and a clear deterioration in air quality, with the resulting impacts on human health and vegetation. The jury emphasized that, at the research level, the issue of air pollution was very well raised and highlighted the studentʼs ability to suggest steps to take to achieve improvements.

In the category of alternatives, two posters have been awarded: Malbaratament alimentari, què podem fer per reduir-lo des de casa?, by Emma Clarella, Xènia Juncà and Maria Soler, students of Human Nutrition and Dietetics; and Movilidad Sostenible por los Derechos Humanos y los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, by Laura Álvarez, Adrià Castro, Martina Fariza, Silvia Fernández and Bernardo Herrera, from the postgraduate course in Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management in the Enterpreise and in the Public Administration: Resources, Communication and Change.

The first poster presents a set of measures to contribute from home to the reduction of global food waste, which is 33% of the food produced and which, in more than half of the cases, is produced in households. The second poster offers a range of actions in several lines to reduce the high dependence on the use of private motor vehicles in the municipality of Palau Solità i Plegamans. In both posters, the jury appreciated the ability of graphic communication and interpellation in a very small space; the ability to interrelate the theme with the 2030 Agenda and, above all, the ability to present solutions to a problem.

All the submitted posters to the call have the endorsement of the responsible teacher for the subject regarding the validity of the presented contents. The jury has agreed to declare void the modality of concepts and the modality that illustrates alliances of the university with the society for the protection and defense of human rights.