Barcelona Science, 15 years of science policies
Barcelona City Council is celebrating fifteen years of Barcelona Science with the publication of a book that reviews the history of this programme, from its launch in 2007 to the present day.
With the creation of the Barcelona Science programme, actions were taken that are still in place today and act as references in the establishment of links between scientific knowledge and citizens. Examples include the Science Festival, Escolab, the opening of the Sagrada Familia Library, specialising in science, the quarterly cycle of talks Visions of Science in the city's libraries and the creation of the Barcelona Citizen Science Office, the Science Advisory Council and the Municipal Universities Advisory Council.
This series of actions got a new boost with the publication, in 2018, of the first Barcelona Science Plan and the second version in 2020. This document was the result of the consensus reached between research and technology centres, companies in the sector, universities, administrations and citizens to specify a joint strategy to implement innovative solutions to address current challenges that have a particular impact on cities, such as the climate emergency, ageing and public health.
The book also looks to the future and delves into the main current lines to continue connecting research with the needs of citizens. These lines favour the scientific fabric of the city and its area of influence, positioning Barcelona as a national and international scientific hub, and shaping a strategy to make science a pillar for a sustainable city model in which to live better.
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