Timeline of Citizen Science and RRI actions at UPV
Informative talk on the PAID23 project: GeneraXR
Eugenio Ivorra Martínez
Humantech University Institute - Marni Charter School
Workshop: “From the Schoolyard to the Metaverse: Create 3D Content with AI and Extended Reality.” This workshop showed how Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Extended Reality (XR) are changing the way we learn, work, and play. I presented the GeneraRX research project: Democratization of 3D Content Creation for Extended Reality through Generative Artificial Intelligence, which aims to enable anyone, not just experts, to create 3D models using artificial intelligence. We looked at what Virtual Reality is physically, what problem the project solves, how we approach it from the university and the laboratory, and we ended with a live demonstration where students were able to experience these technologies.
links: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSUu12SjAUy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA=='
“VALE” Valencia Air Quality Laboratory & Engagement.
Isamar Anicia Herrera Piñuelas; Alfred Esteller
The VALE @MideelAire Project is a science and citizen participation initiative that promotes environmental awareness.
The project was created with the aim of measuring air quality using citizen science as a tool through the analysis of tree leaves in the public spaces we inhabit. The project combines education, science, and participation, bringing scientific knowledge closer to citizens and promoting participation on issues as relevant as air quality and people's health in relation to the immediate environment around us.
The initiative, funded by the P_CC 2025 (Citizen Science Proposals) program of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), was made possible thanks to the contracting of services from the laboratories of the University of Valencia (UV) and the company Pretzel, led by Carolina López Ortuno, who developed the tactical and creative strategy for media communication and coordination with the participating parties.
links: https://www.instagram.com/mideelaire/
https://www.upv.es/entidades/acu/2025/11/18/valencia-air/
A school in Gilet is chosen for a scientific project by the Polytechnic University. 04-06-2025. https://www.levante-emv.com/morvedre/2025/06/04/colegio-gilet-elegido- proyecto-cientifico-politecnico-118233026.html
Students in Gilet study air quality through tree leaves. 04-06-2025. https://valencia.elperiodicodeaqui.com/epda-noticias/alumnos-de-gilet-estudian-la-calidad-del-aire-a-traves-hojas-de-arboles/369199
Trees in Gilet and Valencia reveal air pollution. 09-25-2025. https://valenciaplaza.com/valenciaplaza/plaza-innovacion/los-arboles-de-gilet-y-valencia-revelan-la-contaminacion-del-aire
International Workshop on Sustainable & Circular Technologies
Hermenegildo García Baldoví
DAM4CO2 - 1CUBE
A two-day event was organised, bringing together 13 of the most innovative EU-funded projects driving innovation in the circular system. Held in Eindhoven, a hub for clean technology and advanced science, this workshop served as a collaborative platform for researchers, technologists, policymakers and industry players dedicated to building a more sustainable, resource-efficient and climate-resilient Europe. During this event, green fuel production technologies, such as hydrogen and CO2 derivatives, were presented, as well as purification methods, such as the use of selective membranes. We attended, representing the Polytechnic University of Valencia, together with our colleagues from the DAM4CO2 project, to present innovations in the production of green fuels obtained through photocatalysis using metal oxide nanoparticles and MOFs.
links: https://www.1cube.eu/international-workshop-on-sustainable-circular-technologies/
Perception of safety in open spaces on the Vera Campus
Natalia García Fernández
Department of Urban Planning, UPV
Research has been conducted into the factors that affect the perception of safety/insecurity experienced in urban environments and how this can limit freedom of use, and how this situation differs according to gender. The specific context of the Vera Campus of the Polytechnic University of Valencia and its urban environment has been studied. To this end, a questionnaire was used to gather the perceptions of different users (students, teaching staff, and non-teaching staff), with 322 people participating (54.35% women, 42.86% men, and 2.80% non-binary).
The results of the research and preliminary data for the drafting of the generA [seg] guide: Transforming urban spaces with a focus on safety and freedom of use, show that, in general, the campus is perceived as safer than the rest of the city's neighborhoods, although there are some trouble spots that cause insecurity: car parks, passages under buildings, isolated gardens, the area around the CPI, boundaries with farmland or traffic routes, etc. The tangible factors, in terms of design or management, that affect this negative perception have to do with lighting, maintenance, and spatial clarity, aspects that we believe help us see our surroundings and avoid harm. But there is always another factor, which has to do with the presence of people who can help in such cases.
The questionnaire also shows that, although perceptions differ from person to person, there are gender biases and common fears among women. Most bad experiences, which cause fear and insecurity, are related to different forms of sexist violence. These are suffered by women and people with non-normative gender identities and expressions.
links: https://www.upv.es/entidades/acu/2025/11/10/presentacion-de-la-guia-genera-percepcion-de-seguridad/
Day II: From Reflection to Action: Towards Sustainable Fashion
Beatriz Garcia Ortega
This day took a more analytical and collaborative approach, aimed at understanding the social and environmental impact of the fashion industry and promoting sustainable change. It began with the collection of information from different perspectives, which made it possible to identify the main issues and needs of citizens in relation to fashion consumption. Based on this diagnosis, a critical analysis was developed on the behaviors and actions of the different stakeholders, encouraging reflection on their role in the transformation of the sector. In addition, measurement tools designed in a previous session with end users were validated, ensuring their usefulness and practical relevance. The meeting concluded with proposals to promote the adoption of more sustainable practices, reinforcing the importance of active participation and collaboration between agents to move towards a responsible fashion model.
links: https://www.upv.es/entidades/acu/2025/10/30/de-la-reflexion-a-la-accion-hacia-una-moda-sostenible/
On va la corda, va el poal
David Estal
The common destiny of the 44 municipalities that initially make up the metropolitan area of the Valencian countryside is reminiscent of the Valencian expression “on va la corda va el poal,” meaning that some depend on others. These relationships have not always been harmonious and well cared for. Eighty years have passed since the Great Valencia to the DANA, and we are still searching for the perfect match.
This citizen science project has reviewed the present, past, and future of this territory in four stages in podcast format through conversations between experts in the fields of architecture, urban planning, geography, sociology, and the environment. In addition, two excursions have been carried out to learn about the problems and future opportunities of this environment in the field, guided by knowledgeable people who do not come from the academic world. The participants formed a diverse group in terms of professions, age, gender, and interests.
links: https://podcast.upv.es/programa/on-va-la-corda-va-el-poal/
Call P_CC 2026
Área Acción Cultural UPV
The call for proposals P_CC 2026 is now open to all members of the UPV university community to propose projects related to Citizen Science that can be carried out in whole or in part during 2025.
This call for proposals is part of the actions linked to Citizen Science and RRI at the UPV, which are listed at https://cc.webs.upv.es/
The aim of P_CC is to encourage citizen participation in projects linked to the UPV and to support them in order to improve their impact on the development of a pluralistic, inclusive and sustainable society.
Science and beers (Ciència i canyes)
José Miguel Carceller Carceller
ITQ-UPV
Scientific outreach activity carried out as part of the Science and Beer / Pint of Science event, aimed at the general public. The activity consisted of an informal informative talk, which explained the concepts of natural evolution and directed evolution in an accessible way, putting into context how Darwin's principles are applied today in the laboratory for the development of enzymes with applications in biotechnology and sustainable chemistry. The aim was to bring current scientific concepts closer to the public in a non-academic setting, promoting scientific culture, interest in science, and critical thinking.
DemanaVLC: towards the Civic University
José Hilario Canós Cerdá
This project, which was titled “DemanaVLC: towards the Civic University” in the P_CC 2025 call for proposals, aimed to prepare for the launch of AskingValencia (AV), an initiative whose purpose is to raise the level of the third sector in the Valencia area using the UPV as a central element of the process. Following the principles already developed and successfully evaluated in the city of Bristol (United Kingdom), where AskingBristol (AB) originated, on whose principles AV is based, we intend to take advantage of the social connectivity that underlies the University to connect third sector entities that have needs with companies and/or institutions that could potentially meet those needs.
Preserving the traditional techniques of the craft of fallero artist-artisan. Material sustainability and social awareness
Antoni Colomina Subiela
University Institute for Heritage Restoration (IRP-UPV)
In this project, it is the research team that implements the scientific methodology to effectively achieve, in this case, the preservation of the craft of Fallas artist as intangible heritage, linked to the identity of the Valencian people. However, it is necessary to rely precisely on the protagonists of this practice as a primary documentary source. Their valuable contribution focuses on drawing on their general knowledge and recording their experience through the recording of audiovisual resources that capture the most significant aspects of the techniques, materials, and procedures developed in the fallas workshop. Similarly, the project requires the collection of data and information, especially extracted from their personal archives (photographs, administrative documents, sketches, drawings, diaries, etc.), with subsequent analysis for identification and description. This documentation also serves as a complementary primary source, in many cases unpublished, for the editing and production phase of the documentary videos and the theoretical-practical manual on Fallas creation. Thus, participatory citizen science experiences, drawing on the establishment of true collective intelligence, are based primarily on data collection and analysis tasks.
Elimination of Organic Contaminants through Photocatalysis to Promote Safe Water Reuse
Maria Luisa Marin and Alberto Blázquez Moraleja
Institute of Chemical Technology
Researcher María Luisa Marín, member of the research team Synthesis of new heterogeneous photocatalysts for the photodegradation of microplastics and other chemical contaminants in aqueous effluents. (PAID-06-24) (01/01/25 - 01/01/27), was selected by the Alicante Science Park to present the #photocatalytic proposal at the #PositiveWater conference, organized by Innotransfer on June 17, 2025.
The event, focused on innovation and water sustainability, brought together professionals, companies, and industry leaders, promoting the exchange of knowledge between the scientific community and society. The presentation addressed the feasibility of applying small-scale photocatalytic technologies in the treatment of industrial effluents, promoting the adoption of sustainable solutions by local companies.
Under the title Elimination of Organic Contaminants through Photocatalysis to Promote Safe Water Reuse, Maria Luisa Marin showed how photocatalysis can become an effective tool for the removal of organic contaminants, including the microplastics studied in this project, and for the promotion of safe water reuse.
Brilliant Science
Marin, Maria Luisa and Blázquez Moraleja, Alberto
Institute of Chemical Technology
The members of the project's scientific team, María Luisa Marín, Luciana C. Schmidt, Ander Diego, and Alberto Blázquez, participated in Expociencia 2025, contributing to the dissemination and promotion of science to society by conducting the workshop “Brilliant Science.” During this activity, interactive games and experiments were developed for children and young people from schools, colleges, and universities, with the aim of showing in a fun and accessible way the fundamental role of light in everyday life and in solving current problems. Likewise, an informative presentation was given on how our research group uses light as a tool to improve water quality and raise awareness of its scarcity.
Day I: Conscious and Sustainable Fashion: A Coffee for Reflection
Beatriz García Ortega
The day took place with a participatory and practical approach, aimed at delving deeper into conscious and sustainable fashion. It began with an introduction that provided an understanding of the fundamental principles of sustainability applied to fashion, offering attendees a solid conceptual foundation. This was followed by a reflection on responsible consumption through interactive activities that facilitated critical analysis of personal habits and their impact on the sector. Finally, creative proposals were developed to apply sustainability in practice, incorporating self-diagnostic and measurement tools that help evaluate the level of responsible consumption. This combination of theory, reflection, and practice fostered a comprehensive view of the transformative potential of sustainable fashion and its relationship to conscious decision-making.
Links: https://www.upv.es/entidades/acu/2025/05/02/moda-consciente-y-sostenible-un-cafe-para-la-reflexion/
The interaction of light and chemistry in the 21st century
Marin, Maria Luisa and Blázquez Moraleja, Alberto
Institute of Chemical Technology
The members of the scientific team for the project “Synthesis of new heterogeneous photocatalysts for the photodegradation of microplastics and other chemical pollutants in aqueous effluents” (PAID-06-24, 01/01/2025 – 01/01/2027), María Luisa Marín, Francisco Boscá, and Alberto Blázquez, have participated as professors at the Senior University in the course “The interaction of light and chemistry in the 21st century.” This activity is aimed at older and retired people, a group that is often distant from scientific practice and dissemination. Through a participatory and informative approach, the team took advantage of this space to bring science closer to the public, showing in an understandable way the value of water as a scarce resource and the role of photocatalysis as an innovative solution for its decontamination and safe reuse. As part of the course, researcher Francisco Boscá gave a lecture on “Photocatalysis as a method of water decontamination,” where he explained the fundamentals and applications of this technology in wastewater treatment.
Bio-Re-St-Art. Theoretical-practical research project for the development of a bioplastic support sheet for drawing and graphic arts
Ana Tomás (IP), Chele Esteve, Rosángela Aguilar (coordinator), Fernando Evangelio, Jonay Cogollos, Carles Méndez, Nuria Beneyto, Tham Casany, and Elena Prado.
CIAE-UPV
The theoretical-practical research we propose addresses a cross-sectional and multidisciplinary study which, based on the technical requirements of graphic art, involves the development of a bioplastic sheet-support adapted to academic graphic and drawing workshops, configuring a materially sustainable model for multiple reproduction printing in the educational language of Fine Arts and its various applications in the Graphic Arts sector: screen printing, intaglio printing, woodcut printing, lithography, photomechanics, laser cutting, and engraving. This work is exploratory in nature and aims to culminate in the contribution of an innovative reproducible material. It is supported by a theoretical foundation for the approach to the problem, without ruling out the practical rigor involved in experimenting with bioplastics and their subsequent technical evaluation in graphic printing workshop processes. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of the research, a methodology derived from objective phases of action is necessary in the areas of action where it is expected to have an impact, such as the fulfillment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, citizen participation, and the dissemination of the results obtained. These processes will be tested at artistic events that reflect a firm ecological commitment and serve as an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the urgent need to mitigate climate change. Bringing together eight collections with 75 participants in each from different national and international institutions, the exhibitions in 15 different cities directly address current environmental and climate processes. Discover the urgent need to reconnect with nature and make a common commitment.
Our approach is based on encouraging active community involvement around the values of sustainability and ecological transition.
The project promotes improved public response at each of the events organized—exhibitions, workshops, and live performances—seeking to generate excitement, reflection, and social integration through art and collective action. These activities are conceived as open spaces for dialogue between citizens, researchers, and cultural agents.
Volunteers from the UPV and Florida University are participating, as well as visitors to the Iberflora fair, Clec Fashion Week, and residents from different neighborhoods in the cities where the interventions have taken place. Collaboration with these groups helps to strengthen environmental awareness and move towards a shared culture of prevention, sustainability, and resilience in the face of current environmental challenges.
P_CC 2025 Call for Proposals
The P_CC 2025 call for proposals is now open to all members of the UPV university community to submit projects related to Citizen Science that can be carried out in whole or in part during 2025.
This call for proposals is part of the actions related to Citizen Science and RRI at the UPV, which are listed at https://cc.webs.upv.es/.
The objective of P_CC is to encourage citizen participation in projects related to the UPV and to support them in order to improve their impact on the development of a pluralistic, inclusive, and sustainable society.
IX Meeting of UPV Doctoral Students
The meeting included the lecture "Citizen science, a vision of the future" by Fermín Serrano Sanz (Ibercivis Foundation) and the round table "What opportunities does citizen science offer to researchers in training" with the participation of:
Salomé Cuesta, Vice-rector of Art, Science, Technology and Society, UPV.
Fermín Serrano, Ibercivis Foundation
Sandra Lucía Hernández Zetina, Professor at the Autonomous University of Mexico, PhD student UPV, developing the thesis "Citizen Science and Voluntary Geographic Information for the prevention of gender violence in the form of street harassment".
Ana Belén Anquela Julián, UPV University Ombudsman, Lecturer in the Cartographic Engineering, Geodesy and Photogrammetry Department, co-director of the thesis.
Moderator: Belén Picó Sirvent. Vice-rector of Research, UPV
Safety Perception Mapathon.
Exploring experiences of our city streets.
The Citizen Safety Mapathon is a collaborative initiative in which groups of volunteers use a specific application designed to report their perception of safety on the streets of the city of Valencia.
They can point out areas where they feel unsafe as well as street harassment situations they have witnessed or experienced.
The application works on both computers and mobile devices, making it easy for a wide audience to participate.
The data collected contributes to the study of perceptions of safety in Valencia and allows the identification of areas that require improvement in terms of lighting, police presence or urban design.
CiènciaLab. Gandia Campus
We open our Campus to future university students and participate in our laboratories in educational, curious and fun scientific workshops.
A scientist in my high school 2024
For the sixth consecutive year, to celebrate the 11th F international day of women and girls in science, we visit the institutes that ask us, from first of ESO to high school, and we give a talk explaining the role of women in science over the centuries, we give a current view of the role of women in engineering and science in general, and we do some activity to awaken vocations and recognize women scientists.
Entity: Gandia Campus
Álvaro Fernández-Baldor (I.P.); Antonia Ferrer Sapena; María Fernanda Peset Mancebo; Pedro Fernández de Córdoba; Carola Calabuig; Alejandra Boni Aristizábal; Miguel Enrique Iglesias-Martínez.
Entities: Orriols en positivo. Observatori de Dades Obertes de la GVA, Cátedra Gobernanza de la Ciudad de València.
DATAUSE. Maximizing the value of data in the agricultural area.
María Fernanda Peset Mancebo y Antonia Ferrer Sapena
Research! Save the Planet!
Inmaculada Romero Gil
Entities: Institute of Water Engineering and Environment (IIAMA), Students of ESO, Bachillerato and Formative Cycles of the Valencian Community.
The project was awarded as an Outstanding Project by the FECYT. It is based on the launching of a public call for "research projects" on water and climate change, aimed at students of ESO, Bachillerato and Formative Cycles of the Valencian Community.
In the research projects developed a blog, poster, scientific article, scientific news and literary story, as well as a presentation and discussion event.
Links: https://salvaelplaneta.webs.upv.es/
https://www.convocatoria.fecyt.es/Repositorio/Proyecto-destacado.aspx?Id=1138
Safor Salut
Pilar Sánchez Rivero and Jesús Alba Fernández
Safor Salut is a cooperation program between key agents of the Valencian health innovation system in the territorial area of La Safor and its surroundings: FISABIO-Gandia Health Department, FISABIO-HACLE La Pedrera, Gandia Campus (UPV) and the Federation of Business Associations of La Safor (FAES).
Collaborating institutions: Mancomunitat de Municipis de la Safor, Ajuntament de Gandia, Fundación para la Investigación Sanitaria en la comarca de La Safor (AISSA), Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer Gandia, Asociación Diagnosticats de Fibromiàlgia i Síndrome de Fatiga Crònica de Gandia i la comarca de la Safor (DIFFAC. GANDIA), Fundació Espurna, Asociación Parkinson Gandia-Safor, Associació de Familiars de malalts de Alzheimer de la Safor (AFA La Safor), Distrito Digital Comunitat Valenciana, Red de Institutos tecnológicos de la Comunitat Valenciana (REDIT) and Confederación Empresarial de la Comunitat Valenciana (CEV).
Project web link
Lecture:
Ciencia abierta, ciencia ciudadana y ciencia común: sobre el cómo, con quién y en dónde liberar el conocimiento. Antonio Lafuente. INGENIO UPV