The UB celebrates World Radio Day with a live programme at the Aula Magna
News
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Culture
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Academic
(13/02/2025)
The Aula Magna of the Historic Building of the University of Barcelona was the setting for the celebration of World Radio Day, with a special edition of the SER Catalunya’s programme Aquí Catalunya, hosted by the journalist Pablo Tallón, from 7.00 am to 11.00 am. The event, which filled the place with students from the faculties of Information and Audiovisual Media and Philology and Communication, combined interviews, musical performances and reflections on the present and future of the radio.
News
|
Culture
|
Academic
13/02/2025
The Aula Magna of the Historic Building of the University of Barcelona was the setting for the celebration of World Radio Day, with a special edition of the SER Catalunya’s programme Aquí Catalunya, hosted by the journalist Pablo Tallón, from 7.00 am to 11.00 am. The event, which filled the place with students from the faculties of Information and Audiovisual Media and Philology and Communication, combined interviews, musical performances and reflections on the present and future of the radio.
The rector of the UB, Joan Guàrdia, was interviewed in the programme and he emphasized the University’s commitment to culture and dissemination. “The University has the obligation to open up new systems of knowledge. Science has an enormous capacity to step on unexplored territories, and radio is an essential ally to bring this knowledge to society”, said the rector. He also wanted to highlight the richness of the UB’s artistic heritage, pointing out that “we are the second institution in Spain with the most paintings from the Prado Museum on deposit, and each one has a QR code to access more information about the piece”. Guàrdia closed his speech by defending multilingualism as a symbol of the UB: “One of the most radical changes that the University has made is the everyday multilingualism, and this diversity strengthens us. That is why we have adopted the motto ‘Speak Catalan, be international’”.
One of the most interesting moments of the programme was the involvement of the reporter Carles Tamayo, who told the story of the new Bernat Pescaire bar, located in the gardens of the Historic Building. “The name is no coincidence, it has a story behind it”, said Tamayo. “Years ago, a grey heron settled in the ponds of the courtyards and ate the fish. It created a debate on how to manage the situation, but the heron ended up prevailing. Now the UB has wanted to recover this anecdote to baptize the foodtruck that has been installed in the garden”.
David Bueno, lecturer at the Faculty of Biology and science communicator, who recently received the Josep Pla Prize for his essay L’art de ser humans (The Art of Being Human), was another of the distinguished guests. “I am very happy about the award because it is the first time that a scientific essay has won a literary prize. This is like entering through the front door of popular science”, he explained. During his speech, he addressed issues such as creativity and the importance of leisure time to stimulate cognitive capacity: “Everyone should have some time each day to do nothing. It is during these moments of lassitude that the brain regenerates itself, and these are the moments when the best ideas come up”. He also stressed the importance of mental flexibility throughout life: “The brain is flexible throughout life, even more so during childhood and youth”.
On the content of the book, Bueno explained that he has proposed the definition of Homo artisticus for the human species, “because there is no other species that produces and creates art”. He added that “the factors surrounding the phenomenon of aesthetic creation are creativity, the capacity for abstraction and cognitive flexibility. And the origin of all this is the ability to speak”.
One of the most interesting moments of the programme was the involvement of the reporter Carles Tamayo, who told the story of the new Bernat Pescaire bar, located in the gardens of the Historic Building. “The name is no coincidence, it has a story behind it”, said Tamayo. “Years ago, a grey heron settled in the ponds of the courtyards and ate the fish. It created a debate on how to manage the situation, but the heron ended up prevailing. Now the UB has wanted to recover this anecdote to baptize the foodtruck that has been installed in the garden”.
David Bueno, lecturer at the Faculty of Biology and science communicator, who recently received the Josep Pla Prize for his essay L’art de ser humans (The Art of Being Human), was another of the distinguished guests. “I am very happy about the award because it is the first time that a scientific essay has won a literary prize. This is like entering through the front door of popular science”, he explained. During his speech, he addressed issues such as creativity and the importance of leisure time to stimulate cognitive capacity: “Everyone should have some time each day to do nothing. It is during these moments of lassitude that the brain regenerates itself, and these are the moments when the best ideas come up”. He also stressed the importance of mental flexibility throughout life: “The brain is flexible throughout life, even more so during childhood and youth”.
On the content of the book, Bueno explained that he has proposed the definition of Homo artisticus for the human species, “because there is no other species that produces and creates art”. He added that “the factors surrounding the phenomenon of aesthetic creation are creativity, the capacity for abstraction and cognitive flexibility. And the origin of all this is the ability to speak”.
The SER Catalunya broadcast featured the participation of the rector, Joan Guàrdia, the science communicator David Bueno, and several students from the University of Barcelona.
Some UB students took part in the programme. They shared their thoughts on the radio as a means of communication in the digital era, the role of new technologies in radio production and the debate on ideological polarization in the media. During the programme, the IdeaRàdio competition was announced, which will open its call for entries on 3 March. This initiative rewards the best radio programme proposals with the production of a pilot episode.
Among the audience was the director of SER Catalunya and Radio Barcelona, Jaume Serra, and the director of Communication at the UB, Laura Rosel, who spoke about her experience in the play Els contrabandistes de llibres de Darayya, recently performed at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya. Rosel highlighted radio as the medium that has best adapted to new technologies.
Other important guests such as the actor Pere Arquillué, the journalist Imma Sust, the broadcaster Rosa Badia and the artist Sara Roy also took part in the event. The singer performed several songs live and presented a preview of a track from her new album.
Among the audience was the director of SER Catalunya and Radio Barcelona, Jaume Serra, and the director of Communication at the UB, Laura Rosel, who spoke about her experience in the play Els contrabandistes de llibres de Darayya, recently performed at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya. Rosel highlighted radio as the medium that has best adapted to new technologies.
Other important guests such as the actor Pere Arquillué, the journalist Imma Sust, the broadcaster Rosa Badia and the artist Sara Roy also took part in the event. The singer performed several songs live and presented a preview of a track from her new album.
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