From Schrödinger’s cat to quantum technologies
At the beginning of the 20th century, a group of young researchers, mainly from European countries, revolutionized the understanding of traditional physics and the Universe. Well-known scientists such as Heisenberg, Schrödinger, Born, Planck, Pauli and Einstein laid the theoretical and mathematical foundations of quantum science, a discipline that has driven many technological advances. Today we are experiencing a second quantum revolution, which explores the limits of knowledge to decipher the unknowns of phenomena such as the tunnel effect, electron spin, quantum coherence, the Bose-Einstein condensate and Bell’s theorem.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a group of young researchers, mainly from European countries, revolutionized the understanding of traditional physics and the Universe. Well-known scientists such as Heisenberg, Schrödinger, Born, Planck, Pauli and Einstein laid the theoretical and mathematical foundations of quantum science, a discipline that has driven many technological advances. Today we are experiencing a second quantum revolution, which explores the limits of knowledge to decipher the unknowns of phenomena such as the tunnel effect, electron spin, quantum coherence, the Bose-Einstein condensate and Bell’s theorem.
Under of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), instituted by the UNESCO, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first works in the quantum world, the University of Barcelona wants to be at the epicentre of the dissemination of nanoscience and nanotechnology with different activities for society. In line with the IYQ’s objectives, the UB-promoted initiatives aim to “increase public awareness of the importance of quantum science and its applications”.
NanoDivulga: ten years of educational and social outreach
The 2025 programme of activities coincides with the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of NanoDivulga, a project to bring the world of nanotechnology closer to the public, promoted by Jordi Díaz, a member of the Science and Technology Centres (CCiTUB) and the UB’s Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB). Thus, on 1 April, the UB’s Historic Building Paranymph Hall will host the tenth (and last) edition of NanoEduca, a training project to introduce nanotechnology in secondary education and high school, which includes a scientific competition and in which the UB, the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Centre for Specific Pedagogical Resources to Support Educational Innovation and Research (CESIRE), of the Department of Education of the Government of Catalonia, are participating.
NanoEduca was created in 2015 with the aim of bringing together the dissemination actions on the nanoscale aimed at the educational community carried out by various UB entities: mainly the CCiTUB, the UB Institute of Education Sciences and the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), with the support of the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit (UCC+i). NanoEduca received the 2018 National Prize for Science Communication, awarded by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRi) and the Government of Catalonia.
10alamenos9 fest: quantum progress is here
The tenth edition of the National Festival of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 10alamenos9 comes this year with a programme of workshops, round tables, seminars and performances to bring nanoscience closer to society through interactive and informative activities. In the main session, scheduled for 9 and 10 May at CosmoCaixa, the UB will once again play a leading role, as in previous editions.
Nanoinventum: science and nanorobots
On 29 May, the Casinet de les Cotxeres de Sants will host the eighth edition of Nanoinventum, an educational project promoted by the CCiTUB and based on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) methodology. Nanoinventum is a scientific co-creation project for primary school students that encourages creativity and interest in science through the construction of nanorobots.
More activities on the quantum world
Several parallel activities are also planned throughout 2025, such as the Vermut de Nanociencia series of talks in bars and the international nanostories competition, as part of the UB’s Science Fest.
Quantum science is also coming to Barcelona’s libraries through the Visions of Science season, organized by the Catalan Association of Scientific Communication (ACCC), the UB Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTC), the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) and the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. In addition, in collaboration with the IQTC and the ACCC, a series of interviews will culminate in a podcast with the Pere Quart Civic Centre.
In this context, it should be recalled that the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) is also actively participating in the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology by taking part in initiatives such as the Catalonia Quantum Academy (CQA) platform, the UB Science Festival, the City and Science Biennial and 2025 Masterclass in Quantum Physics.
In the field of teaching, Professor Bruno Juliá a member of the UB Department of Quantum Physics and Astrophysics and ICCUB, coordinates the master’s degree in Quantum Science and Technology, promoted by the UB, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), the Institute of High-Energy Physics (IFAE) and the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), in collaboration with local and international companies working in quantum technologies.
Multimedia gallery
The opening ceremony of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) was held in Paris
The nanotech revolution returns with the 10alamenos9 festival
