The event, held today, aimed to raise awareness about the urgency of water conservation and the role of science in its protection. Participants addressed issues such as preventing plastics from reaching the sea, developing technologies for cleaning contaminated water, and individual and collective actions to make a difference.
This 'Science Coffee', now in its fourth edition, featured researchers from the Analytical Chemistry Department of the University of Málaga, who presented two workshops: 'Every Drop Counts... And Every Idea, Too' and 'A Day in the Lab'.
The first workshop focused on water pollution and its consequences. "Water seems infinite, but it is not. Every time we throw trash, waste, or chemicals into the environment, some of that damage ends up in rivers, seas, and aquifers," explained Antonio Jesús Ruiz Sánchez, researcher and activity coordinator. "Furthermore, water pollution not only affects the animals and plants that live in it: it also influences our health, the food we eat, and the future of the planet," he added.
The second workshop recreated a typical laboratory day, allowing attendees to learn about better understanding and caring for our waters using novel nanomaterials for decontamination, experimenting with pH, and purifying water with magnetic adsorbents for subsequent use in irrigation. They also learned about pH and how to measure it with natural and synthetic color indicators, comparing their use and understanding how acidity is determined in the lab.
Lourdes Bravo González, coordinator of the Adult Service at Down Málaga, highlighted the importance of these activities: "Committing to activities from other fields means committing to a learning experience very different from what we offer here, which is more focused on personal independence. Undoubtedly, seeing the experiments and participating practically with the scientists is what attracts them the most."
Alongside Antonio Jesús Ruiz Sánchez, participants from the University of Málaga included: Irene Sánchez Trujillo, María del Mar López Guerrero, María Lorente Aragonés, Pablo Montoro Leal, Patricia Romero Delgado, and Álvaro Doblado Onieva.
'Science Coffee' is an initiative coordinated by the Fundación Descubre, in collaboration with leading research and dissemination entities in Andalusia, and funded by the Consejería de Universidad, Industria, Energía e Innovación of the Junta de Andalucía and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology – FECYT.
