The Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol), part of the Universitat de València, took part in a new edition of Expociència, the annual open day of the University of Valencia Science Park (PCUV), held on 9 May. The event brought together around 3,000 visitors and featured more than one hundred outreach activities organised by over 80 institutions from the research, academic and business communities.

Throughout the day, ICMol offered a range of workshops and participatory experiences for all audiences, with the aim of bringing research in chemistry, physics, molecular materials and nanoscience closer to society. The activities combined visual experiments, sensory dynamics and interactive proposals to show how phenomena that often remain invisible to the naked eye play a key role in today’s science and technology.

One of the institute’s activities was “The almost invisible world of 2D materials”, organised by the CRISOL group and focused on materials made up of extremely thin layers. Visitors were able to discover how these materials are obtained and why they are relevant for the development of new technologies.

ICMol also presented “Feel the science”, an inclusive activity inspired by the operation of an atomic force microscope. Through touch, participants explored a mystery box to understand how it is possible to study surfaces and objects at very small scales.

The programme also included workshops such as “The chemistry of slime”, which explained the science behind slime; “The power of the invisible: magnetism and conductivity”, with experiments on magnetic fields and electrical properties; “Elephant toothpaste”, a visual demonstration of chemical reactions and gas release; and “The shape of sound”, a proposal to observe how vibrations can generate visible patterns.

Another highlight was the Escape Room “In search of Prof. Aurum”, an experience based on solving scientific puzzles using laboratory tools, reagents and hidden messages. The activity used a playful format to introduce scientific concepts and encourage observation, reasoning and teamwork.

Through its participation in Expociència, ICMol reinforces its commitment to scientific outreach and knowledge transfer to society. The event offered an opportunity to present some of the institute’s research areas in an accessible way and to spark scientific curiosity among children, young people and families, within one of the Universitat de València’s main science communication events.

​ ​