The University of Almería has announced the educational program for its Natural History Pavilion (PHN) for the first semester, which includes more than 20 activities and a new website. The event, led by Vice-Rector María del Mar Ruiz and PHN Director Juan Gisbert, aims to transform the campus into a vibrant meeting point for science, natural heritage, and the public.
Since last February, the Vice-Rectorate for Culture and Society, specifically the Secretariat of Culture, has taken over the management of the PHN. This vice-rectorate is committed to preserving the heritage collections within the PHN and planning educational and training activities for various educational levels, in collaboration with CECOUAL.
The new website, available at www.ual.es/pabellonhistorianatural, provides access to the heritage value, biodiversity, and geodiversity housed in the pavilion. The platform, designed with an accessible and intuitive architecture, caters to the general public, families, students, and the educational community, as well as researchers.
"It is a space designed for the general public, families, students, and the educational community. While intended for everyone who wishes to approach science in an enjoyable and rigorous manner, it also aims to be an access portal for researchers," explained Vice-Rector María del Mar Ruiz. The website details access information, organized activities, educational programs for schools, collections, and exhibitions.
The website also offers information on the volunteer program for students from the University of Seniors at the PHN, associated with CEATE (Spanish Confederation of Senior Citizens' Classrooms), and practical details for visits, including opening hours (Fridays to Sundays from 09:30 to 14:00, free entry) and the possibility of booking free guided tours for groups.
Juan Gisbert highlighted the variety of activities coordinated by the Pavilion's Classroom, designed to rigorously yet accessibly address the enigmas of the marine environment and the geological richness of the province. He emphasized the role of volunteers, students from the University of Seniors, who act as guides after receiving specific training. He thanked the collaboration of the Director of the University of Seniors, Antonio Codina.
The educational program has already begun with guided tours of the PHN focusing on Almería's geodiversity and biodiversity, accompanied by the opening of the temporary exhibition 'Alborán: The Blue Heartbeat of the Mediterranean'. In October, conferences will be held on the impact of plastics on the marine food chain, the Alborán marine basin, the geology of the Sea of Alborán, and changes in the Almería coastline, along with a night excursion to the Tabernas Desert.
In November, activities will cover Almería's marine biodiversity and 'Blue Almería'. December will feature talks on the evolution of cetaceans, Jimena Quirós (Spain's first oceanographer) presented by Azucena Martín and Mabel Angulo. In January, María Castilla will speak about 'Dolphins in Aguadulce'.
Through this carefully selected range of initiatives, the University of Almería reaffirms its role as a driver of scientific dissemination in the province, inviting the university community and the general public to actively participate in the wide array of planned proposals for the coming months.
